Reading a morning newspaper is like an addiction !
How many of us start to digest their daily morninger even before taking the paste on their toothbrushes ? ... I've seen many a folks who get a morning ''call'' and take their newspaper on the ''call of morning '' ?
Recently, I saw Rajdeep Sardesai of NDTV talking very crucial on newspapers. ''In India, there are majority of poeple who still believe that the news printed in the newspapers are more authentic than shown elsewhere.'' A person like Rajdeep who is almost an icon of Indian TV News Industry can't utter these words merely for filling the gaps.
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Maharashtra Times :
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A child of the monolithic Times of India group, the Maharashtra Times has been regarded as the Best Newspaper over the years.
Published in Marathi, this newspaper has retained its Numero Uno Slot for last so many years.
Although, the recent wars going on in the Newspaper industry about their leadership show that everybody is on top. Its like retaining the top or toppling someone from the top. I'll not go in that controversy, but before these fancy survey could arise, Maharashtra Times was regarded as the Top paper in terms of quality of contents, reader enlightment on social, political issues!
The marketing men put it like this : I will quote an example as to how do the marketing guys from this newspaper sell the advertising space. This is in light of the intellectual contents that it carries. ''Sir, hamara paper ghar-ghar me jata he, zopadmatti me to XXXXXX ka paper jata he. Now u decide, where to advertise about ur products ? '' The newspaper is definitely banking on the reputation it has built over the years.
Ma.Ta. : This is what the Maharashtra Times is called in every household. Ma.Ta. is must for many people in Maharashtra with their breakfast or in their train journeys.
Circulation : Well, if one talks of intellectual contents, one must forgo the rural circulation. Ma. Ta. is widely read in the major cities and other urban areas of Maharashtra. Its strongholds are regions like Mumbai, Thane ,Kalyan-Dombivali and other major suburbs.
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In changing times
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Ideology : I've been reader of Ma.Ta. for last 15 years (When I was a kid, I used to read sports and film page !!) and I have seen this newspaper not shifting its ideology frequently.
In Maharashtra,there are two kind of newspapers. One who stick to their political ideology and the other who shift their ideologies according to the ruling party and affiliation of their editor with such party.
Ma.Ta. do not strictly belongs to either of these categories, but had shades of second category where the ideologies change as per politicla ruling party.
But inspite of these shift in ideologies, Ma.Ta. always believed in delivering contents that are intellectually satisfying and are in tune with time.
Patra navha mitra : Ma.Ta. always kept itself tuned with times so that it is not left high and dry in rapidly changing readers habits. When it comes to any newspapers, the reader always selects the one which strikes right chords for him.
This slogan of Patra Navhe Mitra means that this is not a newpaper, but it is a friend of yours. This slogan was coined in last 80's and was used till late 90's.
Patra navhe,Smart Mitra: This slogan means that this newspaper is changing with times. From the late 80's and 90's when it used to be his friend, it has come to a stage when the reader wants someone who is not just a friend, but some advisor, someone smarter.
Today, we are in such a state when it often seen that people are switching more to the E media rather than going for the print media. In this time, it is necessary to adopt to some style which hip and cool with the youngsters. Otherwise, it will be an old-fashined thing and will be forgotten easily.
In this hip look, it has not left its traditional readers who go for intellectual reading and some serious newspaper stuff. The hip and cool is stuff is stuffed in a separate daily supplement. The serious news are in the main part.
I will put it like this way : Ma.Ta. has been positioned in a better manner compared to its peers.
Paper quality: The quality of paper on which the morninger is printed definitely matters. One should feel like holding on to the piece of paper. Ma.Ta. also scored in that area over its rivals.
Price : Although, it is regarded as Numero Uno, it is competitively priced.
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I ponder on this
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In our society, where every single piece of work is becoming a ploy to earn money, a way where many people are looking toward it as a career, newspapers are certainly being looked after a ploy to generate money. Those days when Lokmanya Tilak started ''Kesri'' for ingniting the passion among countrymen for their freedom struggle , are long on. So one need not really expect someone to be very ''doodh ka dhoola''.
Its time for you to be well-informed and be smater. Read newspapers for being well-informed.
