Mumbai-based communications agency Madchatter Brand Solutions has joined the Worldcom Public Relations Group, a global network of independent PR firms. This strategic move will enhance Madchatter’s ability to execute campaigns for both Indian and international clients.  With access to Worldcom’s network of over 80 firms across 40 countries, Madchatter can now support global mandates, offer India-focused insights, and deliver tailored communication strategies for brands in diverse markets.  Rachna Baruah, Founder and CEO of Madchatter, called the partnership a key milestone. “At a time when regional boundaries in business are blurring, this alliance gives us direct access to global expertise, helping us deliver culturally nuanced, globally aligned strategies.”  Worldcom’s rigorous selection process evaluates each agency’s operational strengths, regional understanding, and alignment with the group’s collaborative ethos. Bjorn Mogensen, Recruitment Chair

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism annual Digital News Report for 2025 has just been released and reveals social media use overtook TV for the first time and news consumption on platforms is supercharging the rise of news influencers.  Authored by Nic Newman, Amy Ross Arguedas, Craig T. Robertson, Rasmus Nielsen and Richard Fletcher, the report is based on an online survey of almost 100,000 people in 48 markets and is the most comprehensive study of news consumption worldwide. Here are five key findings from this year’s report:  1️⃣ Dependence on platforms keeps rising while engagement with traditional media sources continues to fall. In our US poll, right after Trump's inauguration, social media use (+6 points) overtook TV for the first time, but there was no equivalent ‘bump’ for traditional sources 2️⃣ Online video is king. Across 48 markets audiences have become more dependent on platforms with 44% of 18-24s saying these networks are

Image source: The Washington Post, Brookings Institution, India Today, Hindustan Times and Stimson Centre; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   As Israel and Iran edge closer to a full-blown regional conflict, India has begun urgently relocating its citizens from the epicentres of danger in both countries.  Hot off the Press According to The Hindu’s Kallol Bhattacherjee and Suhasini Haidar, thousands of Indians, including students, have been moved from Tehran, Qom and Mashhad to safer areas within Iran. Indian officials are coordinating with neighbouring countries such as Armenia and Azerbaijan to facilitate potential land evacuations as Iranian airspace remains shut. Meanwhile, Hindustan Times' Rezaul H Laskar reported that in Israel, the Indian Embassy has been guiding citizens toward land crossings with Jordan and Egypt, as aerial routes remain suspended. Emergency control rooms have been activated in Tel Aviv and Tehran, with MEA teams working around the clock to ensure the safety

Supporting freelance games journalism and wanting to be part of a broader movement towards subscriptions in gaming journalism, has led writer and owner of the Infinite Lives Substack, Harrison Polites, to introduce a paid subscription. Polites said he’d considered the paid subscription model since reaching the Substack's one-year milestone.  “When I announced the paid subscriptions, I added six paid subscribers, which is phenomenal, so I managed to get six paid subscribers on my first day of announcing paid subscriptions, which is pretty remarkable. So far, so good, and I hope to keep the pace up.” The genesis of paid subscription came about because, “I’m working towards trying to afford my first freelancer piece on the site…I've thought about the movement to subscription-based games journalism, and traditionally, gaming media has been resistant to asking its audience to pay, as major publishers get high traffic from articles”, said Polites. “This means it's he

Media Watch presenter Linton Besser.  The ABC is investigating a senior defence correspondent over allegations he travelled to Germany on a trip paid for by a major weapons manufacturer without disclosing the arrangement to the broadcaster or its audience. The issue came up yesterday evening on Media Watch with presenter Linton Bresser revealing ABC defence correspondent Andrew Greene is reported to have travelled to Japan and Germany last year, attending press events funded by foreign organisations and arms manufacturers. While his trip to Japan was financed by the privately funded Foreign Press Centre Japan, his recent visit to Germany was reportedly paid for by TKMS. According to Media Watch, Greene did not inform ABC management of his German trip, which involved a business class flight and stays in premium hotels, estimated to cost around $16,000. And Greene did not disclose to the ABC audience that the arms company had funded his travel. The ABC claims it was unaware of

  The RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group has acquired India Lifestyle Network (ILN), the parent company of MensXP, iDIVA, and influencer platform HYPP, for approximately $9 million. The deal marks a sharp 85 per cent drop from ILN’s earlier $60 million valuation, according to media reports.  ILN was previously owned by BRND.ME (formerly Mensa Brands), which had acquired the assets from Times Internet in 2022. Industry insiders say the sale reflects BRND.ME’s strategic shift away from non-core assets, as it now focuses on scaling its health, wellness, and lifestyle portfolio. ILN founder Angad Bhatia, who built MensXP into a notable player in men’s digital media, exited earlier this year and has joined Network18.

India has secured seven shortlists for three impactful campaigns at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025. According to Adgully, FCB India leads the way with its innovative ‘Lucky Yatra’ campaign for Indian Railways. This campaign transformed train tickets into lottery tickets as a creative strategy to reduce fare evasion and build goodwill among passengers. The campaign has been shortlisted in four subcategories, including Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants and Fast-food Chains; Local Brand; Social Behaviour; and Breakthrough on a Budget. Grey India, Mumbai, has also made its mark with the ‘Most Ignored Painting’ campaign for Volvo Cars, which was shortlisted in the Use of Events and Stunts subcategory. Meanwhile, Ogilvy Mumbai, in partnership with Avian WE New Delhi, has secured two shortlists for the ‘Box to Beds’ campaign for Amazon. This initiative was recognized in the Use of Events and Stunts category as well as Cultural Engagement. These