A REVIEW OF NEWSPAPERS
When the first ray of sunlight, streaks through your curtains and awakens you from your deep slumber, you do what you have been doing every morning since you learned to read. You pick up a newspaper. If, God forbid, by some freak accident the paper isn’t where its supposed to be, your wrath knows no bounds. Utter pandemonium rages throughout the house, and until u get a copy of the daily newspaper, your day will almost definitely come to a standstill. Such is the importance of a two rupee newspaper, which most of us take for granted. However just like society have evolved through the years into its present state so has the role and function of a newspaper.
Looking back at the pre-independence days, newspapers like the amrit bazaar patrika, evoked a sense of patriotism, which they were meant to do, The role of a newspaper then was to bring the British government’s anarchies to light and to create a feeling of resentment towards the invaders. These newspapers were so effective that they were banned to curb their influence on the masses.
Post independence we saw an era where newspapers were of paramount importance and commercialism had not entered our simple lives. It was not only an era of making people aware of everyday occurrences but it also advocated social responsibilities and promoted free thinking .In short the paper did not think for you, but made you, the reader, think.
Fast forward to the present times. This decade’s maxim will definitely be “Work hard, but party harder”. Instead of the life altering decisions of the government being printed and debated upon, you would more often than not find the headlines stating “Salman’s being a bad boy again” or “Sachin is gifted yet another Ferrari”. Scandals and Celebrity dramas were never Front page news, they usually belonged in the inner recesses of the paper. Current affairs being replaced with Celebrity affairs is definitely not happening. Maybe it’s a reflection of what society wants today, in short more gossip and less substance. As in movies, sensationalism sells, and newspapers are more than willing to bend over to make a quick buck or two. My question is, since when did newspapers need to boost their sales by selling such nonsense? .Maybe its just plain avarice. Lets take a look at some of the newspapers you read everyday
THE TIMES OF INDIA
The Times has more or less given unbiased reporting over the years. However more than 25% of the first page is devoted to advertising . After the first page one skips directly to the last three pages for the sports update, for we know we haven’t missed anything of substance in between. Nearly 50% of the paper is full of advertisements, with around 30% of genuine news.
PROS
1.Excellent India and City coverage. Fantastic editorials from noted personalities.
2.Sports, especially cricket is covered well, often given an entire page !
3.Thought provoking articles on Sunday by Jug Suraiya and co.
4.Editing and Designing are top notch. Certainly one of the classiest newspapers around.
5.Recent increase in international coverage is encouraging !.
CONS
1.Local sports has hardly any mention in the sports pages
2.Bombay Times should be renamed as Bombay Skins. A smorgasbord of gossip and nymphs on display with a voyeuristic look at the higher strata of society.
MID-DAY
Established by Dr khalid A-H Ansari , this paper delivers what it promises, Mumbai.
In depth coverage of Mumbai, including the mindless dramas that occur everyday.
Always at daggers with the Times ( has exposed blunders of TOI, more than once), it provides a refreshing alternative.
PROS
1.Excellent Mumbai coverage.
2.Sports coverage is very good. Local and international sports are given equal importance.
3.Since this paper has a morning and afternoon edition, you get latest information, especially on matches that have finished late at night! .
4.Daily dose of mirch masala present in the Hitlist. Reporting is decent and of a quality higher than the times.
5.The Sunday mid-day is simple superb in its coverage of a wide range of articles.
Reviews by well known personalities in the field of sports and politics.
CONS
1.International coverage is worse than the Times
2.Mid-day mate, being right on the 3rd page gives the paper a cheap feel. However many would beg to differ! .
3.More than 60% advertisements
INDIAN EXPRESS
Exploded on the newspaper world three decades go just like AR Rehman did on the music world a decade ago. A sensational newspaper that isn’t afraid to stand by its motto of “Journalism of Courage”. However The Express is always playing second fiddle to TOI.
PROS
1.Does not give an opinionated view. Leaves the readers to do just that.
2.The Sunday edition is packed with variety, what with articles on Arts, Sports, Living, Body and Mind etc.
CONS
1.Is guilty of copying images and stories from the Times of India! .
2.The newspaper is losing ground everywhere, hence quality of printing is poor.
ASIAN AGE
The Asian Age is a newspaper that simply polarizes the opinions of its readers. It’s also one of the cheapest newspapers priced at Rs 2.
PROS
1.Crisp editing and overall a colourful paper.
2.Articles picked up from the New York Times make interesting reading.
3.Equal coverage to local and international news
4.Sunday edition carries articles by Dave Barry and MJ Akbar. Need we say more ?
CONS
1.Quality of printing is abysmal. Black and white pictures are indecipherable
2.News is diplomatic and not incisive enough
In conclusion I would like to say that sooner or later, online editions of newspapers will become more widely read than the crappy print versions !!.
