News

Bennett, Coleman and Co Ltd (BCCL) is entering the public relations business in partnership with Mumbai-based PR consultancy and advertising group, Adfactors PR Pvt Ltd, says a Mint report. The new entity, Tatva Public Relations Pvt Ltd, will be a 33-67 joint venture, with the Adfactors group holding the majority stake. Tatva will manage and build the public image of firms in which BCCL holds...

Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd, publisher of Deccan Chronicle and majority owner of Asian Age Holdings, which publishes the Asian Age, and MJ Akbar, editor-in-chief of both dailies, are parting ways, Mint has reported quoting anonymous sources. There have been ongoing disagreements between Akbar and Deccan Chronicle over the terms of stake dilution in Asian Age Holdings. Deccan Chronicle increased...

Ninety-five journalists and other media workers were killed worldwide because of their professional activities in 2007, with Iraq and other conflict zones accounting for more than two-thirds of the deaths, the World Association of Newspapers said Thursday. Forty-four journalists and other media workers were killed in Iraq last year. Somalia was the second deadliest place for journalists, with...

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today condemned a Maltese news web portal for its decision to ban political coverage and commentary. “We are shocked that a major media outlet would ban political reporting right before the general elections,” said EFJ General Secretary Aidan White. “It is a craven act of self-censorship at a critical time when the public needs reliable political...

Leaders and representatives of journalists’ associations and trade unions across the Asia-Pacific region will work together more closely within the new International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia-Pacific, launched in Kuala Lumpur at the weekend. IFJ affiliates, gathered for a regional meeting on February 2-3, pledged to work together in a formal group to fight for the rights of journalists...

Doing a balancing act in Supreme Court after being called on to answer whether sting operations intruded on the privacy of individuals, the Centre has said it may set up a Broadcasting Regulatory Authority to take cognizance of programme code violations by TV channels. The affidavit of the information and broadcasting ministry came in response to a petition filed by 'Pilot Baba' who had accused TV...

The World Association of Newspapers has welcomed the release from prison of Chinese journalist Li Changqing, the laureate of the 2008 WAN Golden Pen of Freedom, and called on Chinese authorities to release all imprisoned journalists before the Olympic Games in Beijing next summer. Li, who was jailed three years ago for alerting the public to an outbreak of dengue fever before the authorities had...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the recent closure of Zanan, Iran’s leading women and pro-reform magazine, after authorities said it provided a “dark picture” of the Islamic Republic of Iran. “The Iranian regime must end its censorship of the media and intimidation of journalists and activists fighting for decent rights for women in the country,” says Aidan White...

The situation at NewsX has taken an ugly turn with journalists alleging assault and I&B ministry referring their complaint about the company's source of funding to finance ministry, the Times of India has reported. Vir Sanghvi, the channel's editorial head, had quit a few days back following "differences" with its chief, Peter Mukerjea. Since then, many recruited by him have quit. Those who did...

The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry has approached the telecom regulatory authority of India (TRAI) for recommendations to 'review and restructure' the foreign direct investment (FDI) caps in all sectors of the media, save print, according to a report in the Economic Times. Some details: TRAI has also been asked to give its recommendations on creating a new structure and guidelines for...