To combat the rampant weaponization of edited judicial footage, the Supreme Court has barred the unauthorized extraction and monetization of its livestreamed proceedings on social media. Crucially, the bench explicitly protected the rights of the press, noting the embargo does not extend to legitimate news reporting. The Bharat Media Association supports this balanced approach. Unregulated social media deepfakes and selectively clipped courtroom videos have been weaponized by IT cells...

In a severe dereliction of duty, Karnataka police allegedly refused to register an FIR after senior journalist G. Mahantesh, editor of The File, received death threats following his investigative reports on a prominent trust. Instead of providing immediate protection, officers merely registered a non-cognizable report and turned him away. The Karnataka Union of Working Journalists has strongly protested this administrative apathy. The Bharat Media Association demands immediate police action...

The newly drafted Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules 2026 propose a strict 20% equity cross-ownership restriction between television channels, DTH, and HITS operators. While the Bharat Media Association welcomes this crucial step to prevent media monopolies and ensure diverse ownership, we remain deeply concerned by the accompanying rule mandating a steep ₹20 crore minimum net worth for news broadcasters. This immense financial barrier threatens to eradicate...

In a major victory for source protection, the Supreme Court demanded answers from Uttar Pradesh Police for seeking the digital footprint of independent journalist Abhishek Upadhyay. Upadhyay, who exposed alleged corruption in temple donations, was hit with a road-rage FIR, which police used as a pretext to demand his X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube data. Chief Justice Surya Kant questioned the necessity of such digital intrusion. The Bharat Media Association champions this intervention....

The Allahabad High Court stayed an FIR against journalist Amit Yadav, who was booked under severe BNS sections merely for reporting on the lack of drinking water and dirty toilets in a government school. The bench rightly condemned the administration's retaliatory move as an attempt to "kill the messenger," reiterating that journalists must remain free to speak truth to power. The Bharat Media Association strongly applauds this judicial shield. State agencies cannot weaponize criminal laws...

The Editors Guild of India recently issued a sharp condemnation of attempts by officials to justify the Prime Minister's continued avoidance of unscripted, open press conferences. The Guild deplored the narrative that one-way, scripted social media broadcasts are an acceptable substitute for direct public interaction with independent media. The Bharat Media Association fully endorses this stance. A functional democracy demands that top elected leaders routinely face rigorous, unscripted...

In a positive move to honor historic sacrifices in journalism, the Press Club of India (PCI) has announced the prestigious Moulvi Muhammad Baqir Award, to be presented on September 16. Named after the legendary journalist who was martyred during the 1857 uprising, this award aims to recognize exemplary, courageous reporting by modern media professionals. The Bharat Media Association applauds the PCI for institutionalizing this honor. Connecting today's fearless reporters with India’s...

Highlighting the enduring value of rigorous reporting, the Editors Guild of India has officially announced the winners of the 2026 Prem Bhatia Journalism Awards. Akanksha Kumar received the award for Excellence in Political Journalism, while Pankaj Sekhsaria and Rohini Krishnamurthy were jointly honored for Excellence in Environmental Journalism. The Bharat Media Association celebrates these outstanding achievements. Recognizing deep, investigative work on governance and climate change...

The Editors Guild of India has strongly condemned the bureaucratic harassment of R. Rajagopal, former Editor of The Telegraph, whose Indian citizenship is being aggressively questioned during the Election Commission's electoral roll revisions. The EGI highlighted that if a prominent public figure and veteran journalist can be casually disenfranchised by a bureaucratic stroke of the pen, the fate of voiceless citizens is unimaginable. The Bharat Media Association stands firmly with Rajagopal....

In a significant pushback against online defamation, the Delhi High Court has issued summons to two women lawyers over anonymous social media allegations of sexual harassment against journalist Omar Rashid. The National Human Rights Commission had previously closed the inquiry after finding no grounds for investigation. The Bharat Media Association welcomes this judicial intervention. Anonymous social media accounts cannot be weaponized to destroy a journalist's credibility with fabricated...

Highlighting the necessary boundary between digital journalism and criminal incitement, a controversial influencer and podcaster was arrested by Delhi Police and brought from Bulandshahr to Tihar Jail. The arrest followed a viral video broadcast where the podcaster publicly boasted about brutally assaulting a protestor at Jantar Mantar, eventually leading to charges under the SC/ST Act and POCSO Act. This swift judicial and police action serves as a crucial reminder that digital...

In a powerful display of journalistic unity, major media organizations across India have joined forces to condemn recent police violence against reporters. The Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps, and the Delhi Union of Journalists issued a joint statement demanding a swift, fair probe into the alleged assault of two female reporters in Delhi. Furthermore, they have formally appealed to the Press Council of India to take suo motu cognizance of the matter. This rapid, coordinated...