The Times of India has launched a new initiative called the Systematic Intelligence Plan (SIP) to combat the spread of fake news, particularly in television broadcasts. This campaign aims to reinforce TOI’s image as a reliable and trustworthy news source amid growing concerns about misinformation. The campaign comes at a crucial time, as several TV News channels are being criticised for disseminating sensationalised content and potentially false narratives. These concerns were heightened during India’s recent military operations in Pakistan during ‘Operation Sindoor’, which targeted terrorist infrastructure across the border. Several reports emerged after Operation Sindoor, highlighting the spread of fake and exaggerated narratives in the media. Some television channels ran unverified headlines, including one that falsely labelled an innocent civilian killed during the conflict in Poonch as a ‘terrorist’, and the Indian armed forces had captured various Pakistani cities

For decades, India upheld its end of a treaty that many believe was fundamentally unfair. The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 with World Bank mediation, granted Pakistan control over 80 per cent of the shared river waters, even though the rivers originated in India. While wars raged and terror attacks unfolded, India didn’t once cut off this vital supply. But that era of patience seems to be over. After the brutal Pahalgam attack, where 26 civilians were killed, India didn’t just retaliate militarily through Operation Sindoor, it reached for the strategic lever of water. Prime Minister Narendra Modi signalled that this wasn’t just about revenge, it was about rebalancing a lopsided equation. The message: no more free rides for terror sponsors. Hot off the Press India has formally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, halting data sharing and putting hydrological cooperation on ice. According to the Times of India's Vishwa Mohan, the decision cuts off Pakistan’s acce

An advisory issued by the Indian government on May 8, directing streaming platforms to take down all Pakistani-origin content, has yet to see widespread compliance. Major services like Spotify, Apple and YouTube have not responded to repeated queries regarding takedown action. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had instructed platforms to remove all Pakistani films, web series, songs, and podcasts—paid or free—citing national security concerns following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which was linked to Pakistan-based actors. The advisory, cleared by the competent authority, applies to content that may impact India’s unity, sovereignty, or public order under rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules. Despite the directive, multiple podcast episodes and music tracks of Pakistani origin remain accessible on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. As OTT platforms with editorial autonomy, such services usually operate under licensing agreements and retain control over published c

The rise of short-form news formats—Instagram reel explainers, 60-word summaries, and bite-sized updates is reshaping how audiences engage with journalism. While long-form reporting once dominated public discourse, today’s brevity-driven audience is steering news consumption into new territory. “In a busy routine, consuming news daily through traditional media is difficult. Sitting with a newspaper and skimming through the content takes time and effort. Scrolling the same content on my mobile, in 60 words whenever I find time is more convenient and keeps me up to date on any trending issues,” said Sailesh Krishnamurthy, an IT professional. However, he added that for important developments such as “Operation Sindoor”, long-form stories were still essential to understand context. Sreekrishna Balasubramanian, a bio-tech professional, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Reading a newspaper needs some concentration and attention. One has to dedicate some time to sit and re

When International Women’s Day came around last year, Karissa Breen and the KBI.media team decided to do “something different” so they launched IWD Digital Magazine. This year, the team took it up a notch.  “Last year, we added a different dimension to what we do daily outside of the usual podcast, which was successful,” Breen told Influencing. “This year, we wanted to make it more creative, more fun, [producing] something I’d see as a kid, when I used to pick up magazines. “It’s now something we thought to make each year to highlight the fantastic, dedicated women involved in tech for International Women’s Day.” This year’s International Women’s Day Digital Magazine launched on March 8. The magazine’s  overarching theme of ‘Accelerating Action” was covered through interviews, articles, and listicles across the 23-page editorial.  “We spoke to women who are breaking barriers and engaging in projects that perhaps people within the space aren�

  Hans van Leeuwen. Australia’s loss appears to be the UK’s gain as experienced international journalist Hans van Leeuwen gets to grips with global reporting on economics and politics for London's The Telegraph.  “It’s a very wide-ranging brief. To say the least,” said van Leeuwen on his LinkedIn page after taking on the role of International Economics  wide editor at the Telegraph in London, adding, “First stop: Germany.” The journo’s previous position for almost seven years was a Europe Correspondent for the Australian Financial Review where he wrote the kind of insightful stories only someone based on the continent could.  But back in March, the Fin decided to dispense with van Leeuwen’s services, bringing the Europe-based role back home and in-house with journalists making occasional forays to Europe.  Based in London for the Fin, the UK capital is still van Leeuwen’s base and an ideal jumping off point to cover all European news - no capital city b

In a scroll-hungry world, art journalists are crafting quieter, more lasting stories--documenting brushstrokes, clay and culture with nuance while adapting to the evolving rules of digital storytelling. Bombay-based journalist Riddhi Doshi, whose work spans BBC to Condé Nast Traveller, says the art beat didn’t begin with Instagram. “Before curated feeds and digital galleries, I was already walking into artist studios, talking to creators, building relationships on the ground. I've always been drawn to the intimacy of those moments,” she shared. Yet even she acknowledges that “Instagram isn’t just a source of ideas anymore; it’s become a real-time newsroom.” Reflecting on her reporting process, she added, “Sometimes I spend hours on the intro or conclusion, just trying to reconnect to the emotional thread of a piece. When you're under a deadline, you write fast, but often you still need to hear the story aloud in your head before it makes sense on paper.” Doshi