As the race for trending topics continues to dominate news cycles, questions over journalism’s role, service versus spectacle, have reignited. While the public often criticises the media for chasing viral stories and neglecting serious reporting, many journalists argue the industry is simply responding to consumer demand, not shaping it. “What you see is what you ask for. The media doesn’t operate in a vacuum. It works on demand. It works on ratings. It works on survival,” said Megha Upadhyay, a journalist at ABP Network. “We reporters and anchors don’t decide what goes on air... it’s a job -- with bosses, directives and deadlines.” Strategic communications advisor Nishant Saxena countered, “Real journalism is not a crowd-pleasing act; it’s a truth-seeking service. When we start treating news like Netflix content, we commodify conscience... a spineless media cannot speak truth to power.” A former journalist-turned-digital content creator shared that multiple

Nine’s The Sydney Morning Herald, Melbourne-sister paper The Age, and The Australian Financial Review (AFR) have posted strong readership growth, according to the latest Total News Publishing figures released by Roy Morgan today.  The Age maintained its national lead over its main competitor, recording a total multi-platform readership of 5.23 million over the 12 months to March 2025. One in five Australians accessed The Age during this period, driven by its investigative reporting and premium lifestyle coverage. The Roy Morgan results are the first to incorporate Ipsos iris digital measurement data into the Roy Morgan Single Source. Print readership for The Age‘s Monday to Friday editions rose to 280,000, up 12% year-on-year and 11% quarter-on-quarter. The Saturday edition climbed to 412,000 readers, a quarterly increase of 8%, while The Sunday Age saw a 9% annual gain to reach 383,000, in contrast to a decline for The Sunday Herald Sun. The Sydney Morning Herald cemented i

“We want local stories with local quotes. That’s what does better for us,” Tech Day publisher Sean Mitchell said as he joined Influencing Insider last Thursday.  “Our readers prefer local stories/quotes, even if it's a global announcement. We would like to have the ANZ quote and local examples there. “For me, it is imperative that there are local agencies. It doesn't work out in almost every instance that a vendor goes and appoints a global agency. We see a massive drop-off in our coverage and less interest in the stories when there are global instead of local [stories].  The local story focus is so important the Tech Day team has changed tactics when it comes to receiving PR releases.  “We used to discourage people from sending duplicate releases, as in a local version and a global version, but now it's the exact opposite,” said Mitchell.  “We want all the different localised versions of the releases, and now we're well set up to handle it and are doing so i

  Nisar Malik.   Are Media has this morning announced the appointment of Nisar Malik as Head of Sales, Victoria, with a remit to fuel digital growth across the lifestyle publisher.  The company says Malik will play a pivotal role in Are Media’s continued digital transformation “as the company solidifies its position as Australia’s #1 women’s lifestyle publisher”. In his new role, Malik will lead sales operations in Victoria, driving growth across Are Media’s diverse portfolio, which spans digital, print and programmatic solutions.  Reporting to Director of Sales, Anna Quinn, he will work closely with Are Media’s sales leadership team to carry out the company’s omnichannel strategy and expand its reach across key media platforms.  Malik has held senior roles at Nine Network, where was a Group Business Director, and at ViacomCBS (now Paramount) as National Sales Director. He has also worked as Sports Sales Director at Network Ten.  Malik said: “I’m exc

The Advertiser editor, Gemma Jones.  Over the next four weeks, News Corp Australia plans to recognise some of the nation’s most innovative and inspiring teachers as part of its annual education advocacy initiative, Australia’s Best Teachers. Now in its third year, Australia’s Best Teachers celebrates the remarkable educators making a positive impact in classrooms and communities across the country. Launching today across The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier-Mail and The Advertiser, the editorial series explores what makes a great teacher, how they can be better supported and why Australia is seeing an increase in school leavers choosing a career in education.  This year the initiative is supported by Officeworks, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, Education Perfect and Big Ass Fans. State and Communities Commercial Director, John Lehmann, said: “At News, we're committed to shining a spotlight on the unsung heroes of our education system. Together with our

Veteran broadcaster Geraldine Doogue AO will deliver the 2025 Andrew Olle Media Lecture presented by ABC, reports David Knox at TV Tonight. Doogue is one of Australia’s foremost journalists and broadcasters with a career across print, television and radio spanning more than 50 years. “I’m honoured to be presenting the Andrew Olle Media Lecture,” she said. “Andrew represented a terrific example of broad, generalist and above all curious journalism that needs lionising, now more than ever.” Robyn Leonard OAM, Founder and Director of Brain Cancer Australia, said, “Brain cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers and it’s unacceptable that survival rates have barely changed in the 30 years since we lost Andrew Olle to this devastating disease. “The Andrew Olle Media Lecture plays a vital role in raising both awareness and funds to support our mission. Brain Cancer Australia is building the infrastructure, collaboration and national momentum that will drive breakthr

Bahubali Shah, co-owner of the Gujarati daily Gujarat Samachar, has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in Ahmedabad in connection with an alleged financial fraud case. The arrest followed an ED raid on the newspaper's premises late Thursday night. According to Ahmedabad Mirror, Shah was taken for medical checks at VS Hospital and later to Zydus Hospital before being placed in custody. “Yes, Bahubalibhai has been arrested in an old case. We don’t have much details as yet about the charges. We are being targeted,” said Shreyansh Shah, Managing Editor of Gujarat Samachar, speaking to Deccan Herald. The action drew criticism from Gujarat Congress president and Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil, who posted on X, “Punishment to stand up for Truth has been the motto of the BJP government... I strongly condemn this excess by the Modi government. The media, doing its job, is being ruthlessly targeted.” The arrest comes just two days after an Income Tax raid on the paper a