NorthStar Insights has appointed Shalini Singh as Senior Advisor – Strategic Communications, bringing with her over 27 years of multi‑industry experience across renewables, power, cement, automotive, pharma, IT, telecom, and textiles. She began her career at Arvind Mills as Manager – Corporate Communications. Singh shared a press note with Influencing India confirming the new role, where she stated: “I’m excited to join NorthStar Insights at a time when India is emerging as a major force driving global growth and transformation." She highlighted that India’s rapid evolution across industries, innovation and leadership makes it a critical market for organisations seeking long‑term, sustainable growth strategies. Singh added that NorthStar Insights’ launch in India reflects its commitment to sharper strategic insights, deeper stakeholder engagement, and globally informed perspectives. She emphasised that combining global expertise with lo

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government has come under sharp criticism from journalists and media bodies for allegedly removing Tamil news channel Puthiya Thalaimurai TV from the Tamil Nadu government cable broadcast network. The Chennai Press Club has strongly condemned the action, calling it an "attack on press freedom and freedom of expression." In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Press Club said the channel was taken off the government cable platform — Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd (TACTV) — without any prior notice. The move comes amid criticism surrounding TVK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's recent two-day visit to Delhi, during which he reportedly declined to interact with journalists. According to the Chennai Press Club, Puthiya Thalaimurai TV had aired a detailed report on the criticism over Vijay's refusal to meet the media. The channel had also carried reports in recent days on murders reported across Tamil Nadu since the TVK governme

For over two decades, independent journalist Nidhi Jamwal has reported from some of India’s most remote villages, climate-sensitive regions and environmentally fragile landscapes. Covering issues ranging from climate change and rural distress to water scarcity and mountain ecosystems, her work has consistently focused on stories that often remain invisible in mainstream media. Yet journalism was never part of her original plan. Jamwal describes herself as an “accidental journalist.” Raised in a small town in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, she grew up surrounded by rivers, forests, mountains, and a way of life closely connected to nature. Families grew vegetables in kitchen gardens, rivers were clean, and drinking water flowed directly from taps without concern about contamination. Her understanding of environmental issues changed when she moved to Delhi in the 1990s for higher education. The polluted air, dirty rivers, and environmental degradation in the

When pitching Ragtrader’s Christopher Kelly, keep a sharp focus on the fact that the publication is all about the business side of fashion.  The publication is the only publication in that specific market, Kelly said whilst appearing on Influencing Insider. Kelly said he gets a lot of pitches about new fashion ranges, which misinterprets Ragtrader’s niche. “There’s got to be something unique to the business”.  Kelly also urged PRs to research Ragtrader before pitching and include images with media releases.  For PRs seeking same-day coverage, Kelly advised sending pitches by 10 am given the publication’s midday newsletter timing. He added that email was the best way to pitch him.  Among his pitching bugbears were pitches that were too short adding that it’s nice to have all the details in the release.  He also said for those following up, limit it to two or a maximum of three attempts. Kelly said Ragtrader’s focus remained firmly on the commercial side of f

  ABC's incoming Director of News & Current Affairs, Simon Robinson, is an esteemed foreign correspondent and investigative reporter who has fiercely defended editorial independence in the newsroom, embraces change as part of the media business and considers himself a 'journalist who manages'. Robinson is the current Executive Editor of Reuters and was yesterday announced as the incoming ABC Director of News & Current Affairs. He is an Australian national who has been based in Reuter's London office, where he currently manages a newsroom of 2,600 journalists across 150 countries. He will replace Justin Stevens, who made an abrupt exit this week after four years in the Director of News role. Robinson will start in September. What more do we know about Robinson and the impact he might have on Australia's most expansive news coverage? Why Robinson? ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks said in a statement that "Simon Robinson is one of the most exp

Commonwealth launches record $2b PFAS lawsuit against 3M The federal government has filed a landmark $2 billion claim against 3M over PFAS “forever chemicals” contamination linked to firefighting foam, escalating Australia’s biggest legal fight over toxic pollution. Beyond the courtroom, the case raises major questions about corporate accountability, clean-up costs and how affected communities are consulted and compensated. Covered by: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age. Housing tax fight: warnings rents will rise and supply will fall Multiple tabloids lead with modelling claims that Labor’s proposed negative gearing and capital gains tax changes would push rents higher and deter new home building, intensifying the housing crunch. The significance is political as well as economic: housing affordability is shaping up as a defining national battleground, with competing claims over who really pays and whether reform helps or hurts supply. Covered by: Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Th