The Wire’s Instagram account was blocked in India for nearly two hours on Monday, February 9, following the posting of a satirical cartoon critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The digital news outlet said a “confusion” allegedly led to the temporary takedown of its main account, followed by 1.3 million users, though only a single video cartoon was meant to be restricted. Access to the account was restored by 8.30 pm, but the cartoon remains inaccessible. Facebook has also blocked the same cartoon in India. Users attempting to open The Wire’s Instagram page during the disruption saw a message stating the account was “not available in India” due to compliance with a legal request. However, the account remained visible to users accessing from outside India or via VPN. The Wire has written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Meta, which owns Instagram, seeking an explanation for what it called a random takedown without prior notice.

Mid-Day has rolled out a refreshed print edition aimed at offering readers a clearer, faster and more personalised reading experience. Announcing the changes on its social media handles, the Mumbai-based tabloid said the updated edition features customised sections to help readers quickly access topics of interest, quick highlights for those short on time and a crossword section with Bollywood-themed content for leisure reading. The revamp also brings a cleaner layout with brighter visuals and sharper presentation.

The Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) held its 20th National Meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, from February 6 to 8, marking 24 years of the collective’s work in strengthening women’s voices in journalism. Women journalists and media professionals from across the country, including those from remote and underrepresented regions, participated in the three-day gathering. The meeting, themed “Media at the Crossroads: Independence vs Influence,” focused on the challenges facing journalism today. Sessions addressed a range of topics such as Kerala’s gender paradox, palliative care, reporting violence against women, climate and environmental journalism, artificial intelligence in newsrooms, and women in cinema. The annual meeting provided a platform for dialogue, learning, and collaboration, rooted in solidarity and collective action. Writer K.R. Meera unveiled the souvenir and presented it to veteran journalist Kalpana Sharma during the event.

Sphere PR co-founder Louise Roberts is feeling very proud to have gone on the journey she’s had since launching Sphere back in 2005. “Twenty years ago, tech PR was a bit different to what it is now. It was much more about media relations and announcements. Today, it's definitely more about being closer to the executive table,” Roberts told Influencing.  In those 20 years, Sphere PR has also changed, with Roberts citing the company’s evolution through the Dot Com hangover, Global Financial Crisis, the Cloud, SaaS, Covid and now the potential AI bubble.  “You've got to make sure you're doing the right things, and moving with the times. So [currently we’re doing] much more video, using AI ourselves and becoming more sophisticated about what we do so that we can do more with what we have.”  Sphere PR marked the occasion in October last year, holding a celebratory event and sending out gifts to its worldwide clients. Sphere PR was founded in October 2005 by Roberts,

Morning, welcome to Tuesday and much coverage this morning on the protests against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, with confronting scenes as police waded into the crowds. It was hard to watch some of the videos circulating in socials and featured at digital outlets including Guardian Australia last night. Friends in the UK and the US called me this morning, shocked after seeing police officers punching protestors. Interestingly, the power of video was much on display, including a short one passed on to the Guardian by Greens MP David Shoebridge, which showed a police officer violently punching an elderly protestor, the latter with his hands in the air. Over 4500 people and climbing commented on that one. The Guardian's rolling coverage by reporter Jordyn Beazley who was at the protest in Sydney, was very good, and Cait Kelly also added to the reporting and Nine had photographers there too - this one by Wolter Peeters for The Sydney Morning Herald.  Meanwh

Police detained two men on Saturday in connection with an alleged attack on journalist Hem Bhatt in the Race Course area in Dehradun on Friday night. A third accused is on the run. According to Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh, Bhatt was riding home on his two-wheeler when he was confronted by three youths following a roadside dispute. The men allegedly abused him, physically assaulted him, and threatened his life. An FIR was filed based on Bhatt’s complaint. Mohammad Kaif (21) and Mohammad Tabish (20) were taken into custody for questioning, while Sameer remains absconding. Police said preliminary questioning revealed the altercation began after Bhatt did not yield to their vehicle despite repeated honking, Deccan Herald reported.

The rapid growth of digital and social media journalism in Jammu and Kashmir has reshaped news consumption and widened public participation, but the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework has triggered concerns over misinformation and declining professional standards, Kashmir Reader reported. Media observers note that the rise of unregistered social media reporters operating without editorial oversight has led to an increase in unverified content, sensational headlines, and selective narratives. With individuals publishing directly on online platforms, accountability mechanisms remain limited, making it difficult for audiences to distinguish credible reporting from misleading information. While digital journalism enjoys constitutional protection under Article 19(1)(a), experts point out that reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) allow regulation to safeguard public order and integrity. Jammu and Kashmir’s Media Policy 2020 acknowledges digital platforms and empower