On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi via a letter to step in and release journalists who are currently in jail in India. According to CPJ, two journalists remain imprisoned on security and criminal charges. One of them is Rupesh Kumar Singh, an independent journalist from Jharkhand, who has been in jail for more than three years and is currently lodged in Patna’s Adarsh Central Jail. His family has alleged that he is facing poor conditions in jail, including low-quality food, limited medical care despite health issues, long hours locked inside his cell, and restricted access to basic facilities. CPJ said that although the number of jailed journalists in India has come down compared to previous years, at least 15 journalists have been investigated under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) since 2014. The UAPA is a strict anti-terror law that allows detention wit

  Ramakant Mahananda, the Rairakhol correspondent of Odia news channel OTV, died in a road accident near Naktideul on Monday. He was 46. According to The New Indian Express, Ramakant was travelling to Naktideul to cover a grievance-related programme of the Sambalpur Collector when his motorcycle hit a culvert. He suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital by locals. He was later shifted to VIMSAR in Burla, where he passed away during treatment. Journalists in the region expressed deep grief over his death and remembered him as a sincere and committed reporter. Many also recalled his warm nature and his interest in literature, which made him well respected in the community

Lisa Visentin is Beijing bound.   Nine has announced The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age will reopen its bureau in Beijing after six years following long-running discussions with the Chinese Government and the embassy in Canberra. Executive Editor Luke McIlveen said the presence of the Herald and The Age in China was essential to giving readers the full picture of the global superpower on our doorstep. “China is obviously the biggest player in our region and a true global superpower – economically, militarily and technologically," said McIIveen. “The bureau will report without fear or favour what makes China such an extraordinary country. Our return to Beijing only strengthens our commitment to having the best foreign correspondents in key global cities.” Lisa Visentin, currently based in Singapore, will take up her Beijing posting in February 2026, filing stories for The Sydney Morning Herald,&nbs

"This is a proud day to be Australian. This reform will change lives", so said PM Anthony Albanese as the Under-16 social media ban came into force yesterday.  Welcome to Thursday and of course lots of media coverage this morning on the long-discussed social media ban officially switching on. Let's start with the Sydney Morning Herald and sister Melbourne daily The Age. The SMH carries a nice picture of two young girls - aged 15 and 14 - at Bondi beach enjoying the summer day without the distraction of social media. Picture by Louise Kennerley. It says there's more coverage on pages 4 and 5 but it turns out it's actually on pages 6 and 7. Whoops.  Anyway, 'Under 16s on social media told ban will affect them' says the headline on a story by Natassia Chrysanthos, tech editor David Swan and Kayla Olaya. Matthew Knott has a great Sketch colour piece on the government's official shindig to celebrate at Kirribilli House, and there

Image source: TOI Bharat, The Indian Express and The Hindu; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has sought a return of paper ballots alleging that BJP has captured the Election Commission (EC) is “colluding” with the governing party to help it win polls and asked why the Prime Minister and Home Minister were so keen on deciding who becomes the election commissioner in the backdrop of allegations of "vote chori" by ruling party. The National Democratic Alliance and the INDIA bloc also exchanged barbs over electoral reforms and the special intensive revision in the Lok Sabha. Hot Off the Press Seizing the Parliament grand stage to raise questions on the “impartiality” of the Election Commission, the Opposition Tuesday demanded a return to paper ballot and an amendment to the law that deals with the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and ECs. Opposition parties also picked holes in the special intensive revision of vote

From today, platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, Twitch, Reddit, X, Kick, Threads and YouTube must block users under 16. Teens who turn 16 will face mandatory age-verification checks before getting access. The ban, drawn up by the federal government with bi-partisan support in parliament, has drawn heavy media attention, with much debate focused on enforcement and the reliability of age-verification technology.  We spoke to leading tech journalists Trevor Long and Chris Griffith for their thoughts on the world-first.  EFTM’s Long said while he understands the need for and the premise of the ban, he maintains it's flawed.  “I think the issue is devices, not social media,” he said. “If parents were correctly managing kids’ accounts, then we would have fewer problems because parents would be more engaged and aware of what their kids are doing. “The biggest problem is that the Prime Minister has said this takes the responsibility away from parent

The world of communications freelancing, while offering unparalleled flexibility, can sometimes be a solitary journey. But for Elle Kress, founder of Worktribes, that isolation sparked an innovative solution now empowering a growing community of independent professionals. Worktribes, a dynamic platform born from Kress's own experience, is rapidly becoming a go-to resource for communications freelancers seeking connection, support, and growth.  "Worktribes was actually born out of a challenge that I faced when I started Hey Good News PR," Kress told Influencing. "I quickly became very lonely and really missed having a team around me." This personal struggle led Kress to create a community platform on Slack, which has since evolved into the comprehensive Worktribes ecosystem.  "Essentially what it is, is a place where you can get resources, you can meet other freelancers, you can post questions about freelancing and really just upskill," she said.  But beyond professional deve