Picture Credit: The Indian Express  India has climbed to the 151st position out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), marking a steady improvement from its rankings of 159 in 2024 and 161 in 2023. Despite the upward trend, India continues to be classified under the “very serious” category, reflecting persistent challenges to press freedom. The RSF Index evaluates the degree of freedom journalists enjoy in each country, based on their ability to report independently and safely, without political, economic, legal, or social interference. The 2025 report underscores that journalism in India remains “difficult,” with editorial interference by media owners reported as “always” or “often” present in 92 of the 180 countries assessed—including India. Globally, Norway retained its top spot, followed by Estonia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, and Czechia. In Asia, Sou

Image source: Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, ETV Bharat and Reuters; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   As Bangladesh continues to be embroiled in one of the most volatile chapters in its political history, a special tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for “crimes against humanity” during last year’s student uprising — a verdict delivered in her absence, rejected by her as politically motivated and immediately weaponised by Dhaka to demand her extradition from India. The ruling has triggered public fury, deepened partisan divides and placed New Delhi in an unenviable diplomatic corner: navigate the collapse of a long-time ally while safeguarding its strategic interests in a neighbour slipping into uncertainty. Hot off the Press Sachin Parashar for The Times of India reported that India responded with measured caution, saying it had “taken note” of the tribunal’s decision and would “engage constructively with all stakeholders” in the

Siddh Multispeciality Hospital has onboarded PRable Global as its PR and digital strategy partner to strengthen its presence and amplify its focus on accessible, world-class healthcare, right here in western UP. PRable Global will oversee Siddh Hospital’s integrated PR and digital communications mandate, spanning public relations, media relations, social media, and digital campaigns, to enhance its visibility and showcase its patient-first philosophy and high-quality care at a reasonable price. Known for its 360-degree approach, PRable Global supports brands with PR, digital campaigns, social media and influencer outreach, and has made a mark across sectors such as healthcare, IT, banking, startups and BFSI, building a strong portfolio of brands that trust it for strategic PR and digital communication. “Our role is to bring Siddh Hospital’s story of accessible and ethical healthcare to the forefront and show that quality medical care is a basic human right. We aim to highligh

The Press Council of India (PCI), the statutory autonomous body established under the Press Council Act, 1978, has reiterated its commitment to preserving press freedom and improving professional standards across newspapers and news agencies in the country. The Council considers complaints filed by media professionals on issues such as curtailment of press freedom and assaults on journalists under Section 13 of the Act. These are processed in line with the Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) Regulations, 1979. The body is also empowered to take suo motu cognisance of matters affecting press freedom and the maintenance of high standards within the industry. Since its inception, the PCI has played a key role in shaping ethical journalism practices, PCI noted in its press release from Nov 16. In 2023, it adopted a report on the representation of the LBTQ+ community in the media, aimed at encouraging fair and responsible coverage. The same year, it drafted guidelines for reporting du

Dish TV reported a 132.65 crore consolidated net loss for Q2 FY26, compared with 37.38 crore a year earlier, citing alternative entertainment options, inflation, and currency depreciation. Operating revenue fell 27.41 per cent to 291.13 crore from 395.62 crore, while EBITDA dropped 77.9 per cent YoY to 31.8 crore, though the company expects new initiatives to deliver results ahead. TheWeek reported that total expenses stood at 431.94 crore, down 1.3 per cent YoY. Subscription revenue slipped 16.5 per cent to 232.4 crore, operating revenue fell 26.4 per cent to 291.1 crore, and advertising revenue doubled to 10.3 crore. Quarterly income stood at 299.29 crore, down 25.28 per cent, while H1 FY26 consolidated income rose 26.48 per cent to 633.40 crore. Best Media Info quoted the CEO Manoj Dobhal as saying that the India’s evolving entertainment landscape offers an opportunity to redefine home entertainment. Dish TV, which runs Watcho OTT apps and FLIQS, expanded into VZY Smart TVs. Eng

Public relations professionals looking to get coverage for clients in Information Age should prioritise insightful commentary on industry issues over product announcements, according to Senior Technology Reporter Tom Williams.  Speaking on Influencing Insider, Williams offered a candid look into the editorial process, and said the publication's focus is, "issues focused rather than announcement focused" content. Williams also pointed to the sheer volume of pitches received, particularly around artificial intelligence.  "We get so many pitches about AI and yet it's still obviously a very big important topic," he said.  However, he quickly clarified that generic AI announcements – such as a company adding a new AI feature – rarely pique their interest.  "That stuff doesn't really interest us in terms of our coverage," he said. Instead, Information Age is keen to explore broader industry trends and significant developments.  Williams advised PRs to identify "something hap