When Arunava Banerjee describes himself, he doesn’t reach for the usual journalistic labels. He doesn’t say reporter, editor, creative, or content strategist. He calls himself something far more poetic: a cartographer — someone who maps worlds, connects pathways, and charts meaning for people who may never visit those worlds themselves. It’s an unusually introspective way of seeing journalism, but in many ways, it fits him perfectly. Across a decade-long journey that has swung from the newsroom of The Statesman in Siliguri to the algorithm-heavy chaos of Republic World, from consulting and sub-editing at Aadhan Media to the hope-filled ecosystem of The Better India, Arunava has kept one compass steady: the story must matter. And the man mapping these worlds didn’t begin with a degree in journalism at all. When he walked into The Statesman’s Siliguri newsroom as a fresh graduate, he had no formal training, no plan and, by his own admission, &ldqu

Gen Z is no longer just the audience — they’re inside newsrooms, shaping scripts, influencing tone, and redefining how stories are told. Their presence is visible across workplaces, social media, and editorial spaces, where a new vocabulary, work ethic, and creative rhythm are taking root. Even national leadership has taken note. While unveiling India’s first private orbital rocket, Vikram-1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the rise of “Gen Z startups,” underscoring how youth-led innovation is accelerating across sectors. Influencing India examined how Gen Z language and behaviour are transforming newsrooms, corporate workflows, storytelling styles, and online communication. The shift is not superficial; it’s changing everything from tone and collaboration to how organisations frame their messaging. Nona Walia, Consulting Editor at The Pioneer, said Gen Z slang now appears regularly in headlines, scripts, and social content. Expressions

Influencing CEO Phil Sim at last year’s event. Influencing has announced the return of the IT Journalism Awards - widely and fondly known as the Lizzies - with the 2026 ceremony locked in for Friday March 27 at Sydney’s Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf. The annual celebration brings together technology reporters, editors, creators, and publishers to recognise excellence in Australian tech journalism. Entries for the 2026 awards open today, Tuesday December 2, and close on 6 February 2026. Get your entries in now.  Peer-judged and independently run, the Lizzies will again honour standout reporting across 28 categories. This year’s program also expands to include five new awards, among them Best Editorial Series Coverage, Best Specialist Titles, and a new Gold Lizzie for Best Coverage. Phil Sim, CEO of Influencing, said the additions reflect both the growth of the awards and the need to spotlight a broader spectrum of outlets. “As the Lizzies have grown

CPR Global has bagged the communications and public relations mandate for str8bat, a fast-growing sports technology company known for its cricket performance analytics tools. Under this partnership, CPR Global will lead str8bat’s media relations, strategic communication and stakeholder engagement efforts across India, aiming to boost the brand’s visibility in the sports-tech space. str8bat, which offers real-time performance insights for cricketers, is known for its flagship devices — the str8bat Classic and the AI-powered str8bat Pro. Both tools help players track and refine their batting technique with precision. The company has collaborated with major cricketing institutions, including Cricket Australia and Rajasthan Royals, and is endorsed by former cricketers Kiran More and Greg Chappell. The brand has also expanded its reach globally, now present in 10 markets including India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa. CPR Global said the partn

Picture Courtesy: The Sentinel The Sports Authority of India’s Regional Centre in Guwahati organised a FIT India Cyclothon and Walkathon on Sunday, November 30, drawing participation from journalists, media professionals and members of the city’s cycling community. The event was held under the FIT India Movement, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 to encourage regular fitness habits. Kripa Shankar Yadav, Additional Director General of the Press Information Bureau in Guwahati, attended as the chief guest. Media persons took part enthusiastically in both the walkathon and cyclothon, promoting physical fitness and highlighting growing concerns around lifestyle-related health issues. Cyclists from Guwahati’s active cycling community also joined in. Among them were Arshel Akhtar, the Bicycle Mayor of Guwahati, and cyclist and environmentalist Kaushik Guha, who spoke about the need for sustainable mobility and the benefits of daily cycling. SAI Deputy Director Shamb

Picture courtesy TNIE Senior journalists at the SOA Literary Festival 2025 voiced concern over the increasing dominance of narratives and noise over factual reporting, stressing that journalism must return to evidence-based news. The discussion took place during a session titled Noise, News, Narrative: Whose Truth Do We Trust on Sunday. Santwana Bhattacharya, editor of The New Indian Express Group, said the primary duty of a journalist is to present the truth. “There is noise, often deliberate and engineered, but our responsibility is to pick up facts from the ground and present them to people. News is evidence-based and should not follow a narrative,” she was quoted by The New India Express. Citing the recent Bihar elections, she noted that a narrative regarding Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s health and the special intensive revision of the voters’ list had been built from Delhi. However, during her visit to the state, she found ground sentiment reflecting sympathy for Kum