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

Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   In democracies, defamation law is meant to protect reputations. In India’s current media climate, it is increasingly being used to discipline journalism. That is the central warning in a recent report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which documents what it calls the big corporations’ “relentless legal offensive” against journalists. The concern is not one lawsuit or one angry response. It is the scale, repetition, and design of the legal actions. According to RSF, Adani-linked companies have initiated at least ten major legal actions since 2017, targeting more than 15 journalists, editors, and digital platforms across civil and criminal defamation proceedings. Several of these cases involve multiple respondents in a single suit, a tactic that dramatically raises legal costs and procedural pressure on independent reporters. The targets are not anonymous trolls or tabloid publishers. They include investigative journal

Bloomberg Media has launched a new digital video platform that brings its live TV, original shows, and on-demand content into one place. The updated experience is now available worldwide on Bloomberg’s website and through a new “Stream” tab on its mobile app, with plans to expand to other streaming platforms by the third quarter of 2026. The platform combines over two million hours of Bloomberg TV, Originals, and digital video. It is designed to help viewers easily find video news, analysis, and documentaries across devices. It also brings live broadcasts, podcasts, and video programmes together in a single space, with improved streaming quality and faster loading. Bloomberg said the new system allows its editorial teams to quickly highlight breaking news and important stories. The redesign also places greater emphasis on mobile viewing and short-form videos, while some content will now be available only to paid subscribers. The launch includes new and returning

This year marks Pickr’s 10th anniversary, which according to founder and editor Leigh Stark, means it’s now a pre-teen.  And to celebrate the milestone, he’s introduced new features to the site.  “Where this whole concept started was the idea of making the web page just completely more useful for everyone, whether on mobile or desktop,” Stark told Influencing.  He added that the reworking of the Pickr website was an evolution.  “What kicked this off was the table of contents, which I tried to make work in its existing place before. Then after weeks of trying, I thought, ‘nah, got to redo everything.’ From that point, I thought, what else can I do?”  Accessibility alongside transparency, Stark believes, is one of the core themes of the website’s transformation.  “You're giving people different ways to consume your content. The logic being that most people will read an article. But

Digital news platform Newslaundry celebrated 14 years of independent, reader‑funded journalism on February 7, with journalists and media professionals sharing congratulatory messages on X. Co‑founder Abhinandan Sekhri, in a post, credited the platform’s survival and growth to the generosity and faith of thousands of readers. He also acknowledged co‑founder Madhu Trehan for trusting him early in his career and later partnering with him as an equal to build the organisation. “Few have such a large heart. Come build with us,” Sekhri wrote. Journalist and The News Minute co-founder Dhanya Rajendran praised Newslaundry for delivering journalism “with a dash of fun” while staying committed to its ad‑free, subscription‑supported model, urging readers to subscribe and support independent reporting. Naresh Fernandes, editor of Scroll, also congratulated the team, noting the value of collaborative projects with Newslaundry and wishing them many more succes

The Press Council of India (PCI) has issued a notice clarifying the procedure for obtaining a “No Dues Certificate” (NDC), cautioning publishers and newspaper owners against depositing levy fees online without first confirming their actual outstanding dues. In its advisory dated February 6, 2026, PCI said it had observed that some publishers were making payments through the PCI website payment gateway without ascertaining the exact amount payable and then seeking issuance of the NDC. The Council advised publishers who have not received a formal Demand Notice to contact the Levy Section before depositing levy fees, to confirm the precise amount due for their newspaper or periodical. PCI also stated that the 'No Dues Certificate' will be issued only to those publishers who have cleared all outstanding dues in full. Payments made in instalments or partial payments will not qualify for issuance of the certificate. For further clarification, publishers may contact the PCI Levy Sec