Media Council News | Stay Updated with Edinbox

Digital health platforms have revolutionized individual and organizational health solutions post-pandemic at breakneck velocities. What was clunky and anonymous is now driving the pack of daily wellness habits. From immune system boosters and home fitness to enabling preventive care and habit formation, platforms are leading an unsung revolution.

With individuals more receptive to long-term wellness and less so for Band-Aid fixes, digital-first solutions are having deeper, more sustained impacts. Here's how that transformation is remaking employee wellbeing and individual health for industries.

MORE THAN JUST FITNESS

There were digital well-being platforms in existence prior to COVID-19 but nothing which had gained mass credibility and consumer acceptance. The pandemic provided a tipping point, says Habuild founder Saurabh Bothra.

It totally transformed the culture to online learning and health coaching, especially in a country like India where the face-to-face look was the traditional way.

Post-pandemic transformation occurred certainly: individuals began to focus on immunity, preventive wellness, and building long-term habits.

POWER OF HABITS AND COMMUNITY

Acquisition of habits is more successful with much social support thereafter, Bothra said. "The quickest way to build a habit is to hang out with people whom you wish to be," he added in addition. To have the exact same people around you both in the virtual and the real space, then automatically there is a change of behavior.".

He also described how the websites help the exercise program to facilitate making it more likely by lessening the 'response time', or the amount of effort or the number of steps to undertake before exercising. In actuality in the gym, the turning over, communiting, or other logistical limitations will make procrastination more likely.

With web sites, the habit is initiated by clicking and habitual consistency with the passage of time is convenient and easy. Community sites are attractive because good habits build day by day in a community environment.

CORPORATES SEE REAL IMPACT

Large companies are increasingly looking for internet wellbeing platforms to increase employees' workplace productivity and reduce absenteeism. Bothra gave the instance of the Central Bank of India where workers' participation in yoga sessions had increased well-being by a significant percentage.

Bharti Airtel has made India’s digital realm flip upside down by announcing the tie-up with the most popular AI answer engine, Perplexity, and the initiative to provide all of its 360 million users a free one-year subscription of Perplexity Pro on its mobile, broadband, and DTH platforms. This subscription that is usually worth 17,000 rupees a year is being offered freely by Airtel users through the Airtel Thanks app, opening the world of more advanced generative AI research to ordinary Indians in an unprecedented connect level.

Perplexity Pro is not one of those ordinary AI chatbots. Users can use such powerful models as GPT-4.1 and Claude, deep research tools, real-time data references, file analysis, image generation, and Perplexity Labs, which allow turning ideas into a draft, visualization, or code. The site goes beyond reference lists; it provides answers in an ordered, reference-substantiated form in a conversational style. Whether it is a student and they have to summarize articles or it is a professional and they have to make reports about clients, the tool will result in huge productivity and a smarter process.

Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, declared the collaboration as a game-changer pointing out that it will enable customers to be in control of the digital world, in a place of confidence and comfort. Moving ahead, Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity, stressed that the shift will allow more Indian people (be it a student, a working professional, a household manager) to access professional-grade AI.

Buzz and Meme Reactions on Twitter

The announcement was fast becoming the new trend in Twitter. Lots of users, particularly students, began making light of the fact that it will take a study buddy that does not judge (memes of an Airtel SIM user bidding farewell to spending long hours at the library and experiencing the stresses of a group project were spreading like wild fire). Screenshots of pitch deck and mails typed within seconds were tweeted by professionals with captions ranging from, “My Airtel recharge finally got my work done at the office!”, “Mukesh Ambani to Jio: It's time you switched on your AI now”.

Some tech analysts have noted that, a day later after Google provided college students a free Gemini Pro, Airtel is even greater, and anyone active can take advantage of them, a move that is being branded as the AI arms race in India. Various meme accounts jokingly posted side-by-sides of charged phones as compared to the supposedly older generation Googlers, mocking that Gen Z does homework, and Millennials did hard work.

What are the Differentiators of the Offer? 

1. Broadest Reach: The deal is offered to all users of Airtel, whether student, professional, businessperson or housewife, without any additional costs or other commercial demands. It is a chance in which Airtel rewards loyalty and invites users to a deeper integration into its ecosystem.
2. Increase in Productivity: Early testers have indicated that they can zoom through assignments, research notes, meeting summary, and revision guides swam through with the assistance of Perplexity Pro.
3. Easy Claiming Process: Users simply enter the Airtel Thanks app, check their Perplexity Pro offer in the Rewards section, and they activate their 12-month subscription by a button click.
4. Extra Cost is Zero This is a direct one off saving of 17000 rupees a year per user which is unheard of in this competitive telecom and edtech arena.

Reactions of Netizens  

Feedback across social platforms is overwhelmingly positive. This move,  as working professionals describe, is like “having an extra team member who works 24/7.”. Some of the users, though, noted whether data will be private, and others should not be too naive to trust any AI facts unless you make sure that certain information is critical.

Here are some notable social media posts and reactions on AirtelAi initiative that people are loving and relating with:

"First Jio gave me free data, now Airtel giving me free AI. My phone is officially smarter than me.”

"When AI meets 5G — now even my “what is pani puri?” search loads before I finish craving it! Perplexity + Airtel = Buffering ko bhi ab jobless kar diya! "

“That’s a win for the curious minds! 1-year Pro version of Perplexity free for Airtel users? Love to see Indian telcos backing AI-driven knowledge like this “

"College group chats when Airtel drops Perplexity Pro for free: ‘So now who’s going to cite sources? AI, bro. Always AI.’ "

"Drafted a client email, researched the topic, and summarized 3 articles in 5 minutes. Airtel x Perplexity is the real productivity hack."

"12 months of @perplexity_ai free with Airtel. Is this @AravSrinivas’s Jio moment for AI in India? Give people a taste — and they’ll stop Googling. They’ll start thinking with AI. Massive move for AI adoption."

"After free Apple TV & Amazon Prime subscriptions… Now Airtel is offering free Perplexity Pro?! Absolutely crazy stuff from Airtel lately. Who needs paid AI when your phone plan just leveled up to genius mode? "

In conclusion, Airtel and Perplexity collaboration will take a great step in democratizing advanced AI in India. With Airtel it does not matter whether they are completing their homework, penning legal briefs or even coming up with their marketing strategies, Airtel users now have the smartest assistant in the whole world and that too at no extra cost. There will be new memes, better productivity, and, possibly, some higher expectations of what a mere mobile subscription may provide in the coming year. 

The Registrar's Office Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has issued a corrigendum to its previous advertisement (No. 04/2025-26 dated 3rd July, 2025) for the engagement of contractual assistant professors and guest faculty for the academic session 2025-26. The corrigendum, issued on July 9, 2025, lists a number of changes in faculty needs in different departments. The closing date for registration is July 14.

For the social work department, the corrigendum makes it clear that the one Assistant Professor (Contractual) position already advertised will now be specifically for teaching MA (Social Work) and BA (Hons) Social Work. Also, out of the four Guest Faculty positions mentioned above, three will be earmarked for MA (Social Work) and for instruction in Multidisciplinary Courses (MDC) and Value Added Courses (VAC) at undergraduate level and one guest faculty member will be recruited to handle Financial Management, specifically for students of MA (Human Resource Management), with subject specialization being necessary.

In the Persian department, the initial notice had referred to one Guest Faculty each for Persian and Pashto (both part-time courses). The new notice now combines this to one Guest Faculty member for Persian/Pashto to cover the part-time course.

At AJK Mass Communication Research Centre (AJK-MCRC), for the MA Convergent Journalism (Self-Financed Scheme) course, the corrigendum revises the faculty requirement to two Guest Faculty members, with specific teaching assignments – one on Print Media Software and one on Television and Video Journalism.

At the hospital management and hospice studies department, the new structure consists of two assistant professors (contractual), one for MBA Pharmaceutical Management and one guest faculty.

The post in the Applied Art department has now been revised to one assistant professor (Contractual) in specialisation in Computer Software-based design, UI/UX Design, or Web-based application appropriate to contemporary graphic design.

Three guest faculty for illustration, packaging, typography, and design for advertising and product. Those applying should be experienced in 2D/3D animation, digital media, and contemporary design education.

"Other terms and conditions of the aforementioned advertisement will be the same," JMI said while issuing the corrigendum.

A recent Atlassian survey reveals that 88% of Gen Z workers consider emojis a vital part of workplace communication, not just a fun element that is added with the text. These emojis and the tone, punctuation, and reaction time form what is now referred to as digital body language by the experts. This new lingo is being embraced in distant and hybrid offices where it is filling the space caused by the lack of in-person communication.

The evolution of the Emoji

To a number of Indian professionals of older generations, emojis may be regarded as entertaining garnishes or simply distractions. However, Gen Z, a generation that has seen rapid change and upgrade in lifestyle, cannot live without emojis. They facilitate the translation of emotions and purposes in a place where physical gestures such as the use of hands and facial expression or a simple smile is absent.

Digital body language does not only refer to the words a person types. These punctuation choices, fast or slow pace, tone, and above all emojis say what mood one is in, how much urgency is there, or how approachable one is, the report read.

The Importance of Emojis to the Younger Workers

Employees of generation Z aka young employees have been raised on texting, chatting, and digital interactions on social sites, where nonverbal communication is substituted by digital communication. This is how emojis assist the Gen Z to connect and communicate in the work place:

1. Tone Clarification: Emojis can help convey nuances such as sarcasm, excitement, or friendliness, clarifying the intended meaning behind a message.
2. Emotional Signals: A smiley face or a thumbs up without a smile or a nod would indicate to colleagues whether a message has been positive, supportive or reassuring.
3. Connection Building: Reacting with emojis will create the feeling of belonging and comfort, making relationships in a team, especially in a remote team.
4. Speed and Productivity: You can occasionally appreciate a message or agree with it by just a simple emoji, without using the words. For eg, dropping a thumbs up to an email instead of drafting a reply mail. 

Digital Body Language is the New Business Skill

This intricate network of cues is known as the digital body language. Emoji literacy does not only mean deploying emojis more frequently, it means reading the room, virtually.

Generational Gaps at the workplace

• Comprehension: Employers and important colleagues need to be aware of the shifting norms and the ways in which they can communicate truly through the use of digital tools.
• Inclusion: Groups that have adopted digital body language with emoji will find it easier to connect with one another because in-person communication is a key component in remote or hybrid environments.
• Equilibrium: As much as emojis help in communication, use of emojis excessively and misinterpretation of a message can be a distraction. The most significant element is norms in the team about online communication.

A knowledge of, and acceptance of, digital body language will be invaluable to collaborating and connecting as Gen Z grows to become part of the workforce. Where emojis were previously dismissed as lightweight, they have become the only reliable means of conveying tone, establishing trust, and maintaining team alignment where body language is unavailable.

The real world of work used to shake hands or nod, and the world of emoji now may be telling us just as much by a simple smiley face or emoji with raised hand. To Gen Z, it is not only improved communication but a better workplace. 

The dynamics of journalism in India are more vibrant in 2025 than ever before as they are even more challenging. The politics of culture in news media is not only an academic lesson to journalism students, but a necessary step to have a fulfilling career in news media. And now, let us take a closer look at why culture, politics, and journalism have become such a relevant issue nowadays and what you, prospective journalists, should remember about.

Culture determines all this, the stories that can be covered, who is heard and even the manner in which things are reported. Journalism in India has always been a subject of the cultural point of view because the country is home to numerous languages and religions. The newsrooms do not remain neutral and only reflect the backgrounds and inclinations of the individuals employed there, as well as the expectations of the listeners and readers.

The necessity of cultural preservation and the role of media diversity has been highlighted recently in events such as Global Media Dialogue (GMD) held at WAVES 2025. The leaders of India and the world professionals are currently discussing the need to reduce bias, to democratise the content, and to promote ethics in journalism. The idea is to establish an inclusive and technologically superior media ecosystem, which cannot however lose the authenticity of culture.

The Indian mass media is becoming extremely pressurized. On the one hand, the press is supposed to challenge authority, as well as giving the voice to the marginalised. The threats are on the rise on the other end of the scale, namely censorship, control by corporate entities, and even aggression towards journalists. Investigative journalists are usually reported or beaten up and even killed, especially those who exploit the status quo by uncovering corruption.

To give one example, in the state of Uttar Pradesh or in other parts of the country such as Jammu and Kashmir the journalists have been subjected to criminal charges or to real abuse by physical defamation or even to cut off the internet sources to keep people quiet. The fact remains that there are forces of politics and culture that can be used to empower as well as limit journalism so it is essential that the students gain insight on what the threats and should be with regard to them. 

Media Consumption: Echo Chamber and Public Spheres

A study  titled, “Threats to Journalists in India: Journalism in the Age of Intolerance and Rising Nationalism” notes that news media usage is extensively determined by party and cultural affiliations. Indians tend to select news sources that reflect their worldviews, forming their own echo chambers where only like minds are affirmed. This selective consumption has the potential to even widen the social and political gaps because individuals rarely experience the thoughts of others beyond their domain.

This is the reason behind the idea of the existence of what have been referred to as public spheres; areas where individuals can openly reason and debate. It is the work of the journalists to unite these gaps, to introduce different voices to the conversation and get rid of their own biases.

The Digital and AI Era: Opportunity and Ethical Challenges

The media industry in India is experiencing a revolution as news generation and distribution methods are undergoing change owing to digital media and artificial intelligence assisted tools. Although such technologies allow accessing new audiences and personalising the content, they are also associated with such challenges as false information, algorithmic bias, and unequal revenue distribution.

AI models are now being trained on news content, sometimes without fair compensation to journalists and media houses. This raises questions about sustainability, ethics, and the future of independent journalism. As students, you must be ready to adapt to these changes, learning both the technical and ethical sides of digital journalism.

What should Indian Journalism students do?

Here are some of the practical advice on how to put up with the politics of culture in journalism:

1. Be culturally knowledgeable: Be aware of how you have your own biases and learn how to know the cultural background of your stories.
2. Be ethical: Never be sensationalist nor rely on rumours, but report in balance always checking the facts.
3. Connect with a variety of people: Address various communities through the digital space and hear their issues.
4. Keep abreast: Keep track of online journalism and artificial intelligence trends and regulation developments.
5. Advocate press freedom: Champion the right of the press to be open, democratic and to be safeguarded.

Due to the politics of culture in journalism, the future of news in India is being shaped. As journalism students, it is not only your role to deliver facts, but to comprehend and orient yourself in the world of culture, politics and technology that are intertwined in myriads of possible complexes. That means making yourself inclusive and embracing diversity, maintaining ethical standards, and being flexible to handle the emerging problems to contribute to the inclusion of the media in India by 2025 and beyond.

The dynamics of journalism in India are more vibrant in 2025 than ever before as they are even more challenging. The politics of culture in news media is not only an academic lesson to journalism students, but a necessary step to have a fulfilling career in news media. And now, let us take a closer look at why culture, politics, and journalism have become such a relevant issue nowadays and what you, prospective journalists, should remember about.

Culture determines all this, the stories that can be covered, who is heard and even the manner in which things are reported. Journalism in India has always been a subject of the cultural point of view because the country is home to numerous languages and religions. The newsrooms do not remain neutral and only reflect the backgrounds and inclinations of the individuals employed there, as well as the expectations of the listeners and readers.

The necessity of cultural preservation and the role of media diversity has been highlighted recently in events such as Global Media Dialogue (GMD) held at WAVES 2025. The leaders of India and the world professionals are currently discussing the need to reduce bias, to democratise the content, and to promote ethics in journalism. The idea is to establish an inclusive and technologically superior media ecosystem, which cannot however lose the authenticity of culture.

The Indian mass media is becoming extremely pressurized. On the one hand, the press is supposed to challenge authority, as well as giving the voice to the marginalised. The threats are on the rise on the other end of the scale, namely censorship, control by corporate entities, and even aggression towards journalists. Investigative journalists are usually reported or beaten up and even killed, especially those who exploit the status quo by uncovering corruption.

To give one example, in the state of Uttar Pradesh or in other parts of the country such as Jammu and Kashmir the journalists have been subjected to criminal charges or to real abuse by physical defamation or even to cut off the internet sources to keep people quiet. The fact remains that there are forces of politics and culture that can be used to empower as well as limit journalism so it is essential that the students gain insight on what the threats and should be with regard to them. 

Media Consumption: Echo Chamber and Public Spheres

A study  titled, “Threats to Journalists in India: Journalism in the Age of Intolerance and Rising Nationalism” notes that news media usage is extensively determined by party and cultural affiliations. Indians tend to select news sources that reflect their worldviews, forming their own echo chambers where only like minds are affirmed. This selective consumption has the potential to even widen the social and political gaps because individuals rarely experience the thoughts of others beyond their domain.

This is the reason behind the idea of the existence of what have been referred to as public spheres; areas where individuals can openly reason and debate. It is the work of the journalists to unite these gaps, to introduce different voices to the conversation and get rid of their own biases.

The Digital and AI Era: Opportunity and Ethical Challenges

The media industry in India is experiencing a revolution as news generation and distribution methods are undergoing change owing to digital media and artificial intelligence assisted tools. Although such technologies allow accessing new audiences and personalising the content, they are also associated with such challenges as false information, algorithmic bias, and unequal revenue distribution.

AI models are now being trained on news content, sometimes without fair compensation to journalists and media houses. This raises questions about sustainability, ethics, and the future of independent journalism. As students, you must be ready to adapt to these changes, learning both the technical and ethical sides of digital journalism.

What should Indian Journalism students do?

Here are some of the practical advice on how to put up with the politics of culture in journalism:

1. Be culturally knowledgeable: Be aware of how you have your own biases and learn how to know the cultural background of your stories.
2. Be ethical: Never be sensationalist nor rely on rumours, but report in balance always checking the facts.
3. Connect with a variety of people: Address various communities through the digital space and hear their issues.
4. Keep abreast: Keep track of online journalism and artificial intelligence trends and regulation developments.
5. Advocate press freedom: Champion the right of the press to be open, democratic and to be safeguarded.

Due to the politics of culture in journalism, the future of news in India is being shaped. As journalism students, it is not only your role to deliver facts, but to comprehend and orient yourself in the world of culture, politics and technology that are intertwined in myriads of possible complexes. That means making yourself inclusive and embracing diversity, maintaining ethical standards, and being flexible to handle the emerging problems to contribute to the inclusion of the media in India by 2025 and beyond.