Morning, welcome to Thursday and to start today's proceedings a great front page picture from The Sydney Morning Herald - taken by Louise Kennerley - of surfer Stephen Scott back in the water at Maroubra. The official advice is still to keep out of the ocean due to persistent shark attacks across the city's beaches, with better water conditions expected to arrive, but not until the end of the long weekend, following rain deluges last Saturday and Sunday that made it murky out there.    And talking of deluges and attacks, and if you really want to stretch it - the sharks are circling and there's blood in the water as the National-Liberal Coalition looks to be in tatters following the mass resignation of all National shadow ministers following the hoo-hah over federal hate laws legislation. Lib's leader Sussan Ley looks to be in all sorts of trouble. And you've got to hand it to the Herald Sun, they sure know how to put a strong and dra

Two senior journalists passed away recently, marking a moment of mourning in the media fraternity. Veteran journalist Dasu Krishnamoorty passed away on Monday morning in New Jersey following a brief illness. He was 99, just six months short of turning 100. Krishnamoorty was part of the first batch of Osmania University’s journalism course in 1954–55. During a long and distinguished career, he worked with leading newspapers including The Indian Express, The Times of India, and Patriot. According to Telangana Today, he also served as a guest faculty member at Osmania University, Andhra Pradesh Open University, and the University of Hyderabad, mentoring several generations of journalism students. He moved to the United States in 2001 to live with his daughter and was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Osmania University alumni in 2024. In a separate incident, senior photojournalist Vidyasagar also passed away in Hyderabad. He was known for his decades-lo

The Laadli Media Fellowship 2026, supported by UNFPA. The fellowship invites journalists interested in gender-sensitive and ethical reporting.  The theme for this year is Child Marriage in India: Exploring Its Gendered and Intersectional Dimensions. Journalists are encouraged to report on the social and human realities that sustain child marriage, including adolescent health, SRHR, poverty, climate change, migration, community roles, masculinity, survivor voices, and inter-generational impacts.  Journalists with 3–5 years of experience in social or development reporting can apply. The fellowship will run from February 1 to March 30, 2026. Selected fellows will receive an honorarium of ₹20,000 for two original, in-depth stories published in their media outlet.  The deadline to apply is January 28, 2026.  

Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   Here’s the thing. The most effective form of intimidation doesn’t always arrive with handcuffs. Sometimes it shows up as paperwork, quietly stamped, politely worded, and endlessly renewable. In Jammu and Kashmir, journalism is being disciplined not through bans or arrests, but through a slow procedural grind that turns reporting itself into a liability. Summons. Undertakings. Bonds. Hours of questioning. Promises not to repeat what has already been published. This is not law enforcement correcting errors. It is the state training journalists to anticipate punishment. That is the real story behind the recent summoning of reporters from national outlets such as The Indian Express and Hindustan Times for covering the police’s profiling of mosques, imams, and seminaries. The reporting was not the provocation. The visibility was. According to detailed reporting by The Wire and Madhyamam Online, Indian Express reporter Bashaarat

Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have voiced concern over the recent summoning of Srinagar-based journalists by police, calling the move an overreach and a threat to press freedom. Over the past several days, reporters working with national media organisations have been summoned to the Cyber Police Station in Srinagar for questioning in connection with a January 13 report on the profiling of mosques and imams in the Union Territory. Journalists said they were questioned about routine reporting, with some claiming they were asked to sign bonds or undertakings. One reporter from a national daily was reportedly called for questioning for three consecutive days. Hindustan Times reporter Ashiq Hussain also received an oral summons, but the newspaper has sought a written notice stating the reasons before responding. The controversy follows criticism on January 14 over police distribution of forms to village officials seeking details of mosques and madrasas, including financial rec

The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal to swiftly and impartially investigate a series of attacks on journalists covering protests in Murshidabad district and to ensure the safety of members of the press, particularly as the state heads into elections in the coming months. At least four journalists were assaulted over two days beginning January 16 while reporting from Beldanga in Murshidabad district. According to CPJ, On January 16, Soma Maity, a journalist with broadcaster Zee 24 Ghanta, and her cameraman were attacked by a mob while reporting from the area, according to multiple news reports and the journalist, who spoke with CPJ by phone. Maity said two men grabbed and lifted her, pulled her hair, restrained her legs, and tore at her clothes while others touched her body. Her cameraman sustained head injuries during the assault and was hospitalised. The following day, ABP Ananda reporter Parthapratim Ghosh and photo

She Circle India (SCI) on Monday evening honoured 47 journalists from Udaipur with the Satya Kalam Awards at an event held at Hotel Sitara Grand in Nakoda Puram. The programme was attended by eminent personalities from various fields and was graced by Nivritti Kumari Mewar, former member of the Mewar royal family, as the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, she urged journalists to continue raising the voice of the common people with greater strength and responsibility, highlighting the vital role of the media in a democratic society. SCI founder Tarika Bhanupratap said the Satya Kalam Award recognises journalists who practise fearless and unbiased journalism and contribute to social awareness through their reporting and writing. She said the initiative aims to strengthen the core values of journalism. According to Pressnote, a total of 47 journalists were recognised for their contributions to the profession. The awardees included Anand Sharma, Anshuman, Avinash Jaganawat, Bhagw