Tag Archives: times of india

Sans Serif: Indian newspapers pilot talking ads

Volkswagen is running an ad in two Indian newspapers, the Hindu and the Times of Indian, that talks to readers, Sans Serif writes. A light-sensitive speaker has been added to the paper from which an advertising message is broadcast when triggered.

In some ways its a fairly basic addition, but as Sans Serif points out:

[T]his must be the first time daily newspapers of the size and reach of ToI [Times of India] and Hindu have done it at a time when American newspapers like the New York Times and Washington Post are just about coming to terms with the reality of advertisements on the front page.

Full post on Sans Serif at this link…

#WANIndia2009: Serving the biggest circulation in the world – The Times of India

“Treat your reader as you would your CEO,” says Ravi Dhariwal, CEO publishing for Bennett, Coleman & Co. (Times Group), India, admitting to his obsession with readers. Without patronising them, newspapers should treat their readers with the same care as they would children, he adds.

“Our inclination is always to side with the reader rather than with the nation. We are optimistic and hopeful and you will see this reflected in the paper. We believe in and celebrate diversity,” Dhariwal tells delegates at the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) conference.

Dhariwal has good reason to be optimistic – his paper has the world’s largest circulation. But this massive audience carries great responsibility, suggests Dhariwal.

While the paper has its own views on stories and events, to treat the reader with respect it will frequently print counter arguments to its own editorials.

Keeping it brief will also help satisfy the reader, says Dhariwal. The Times rarely exceeds 40 pages in length and its stories aren’t very long.

A recent drop in price to 5c saw circulation explode, he says, and four million copies of the paper are delivered to homes each day in more than 2,000 towns and 20,000 vendors.

More convenience for the reader: 95 per cent of the Times’ copies are home delivered.

India has not yet reached a stage of multiple news websites and large online audiences for its newspapers – print is a far bigger medium here.

“The future of print in India is bright. In the next 10 years I really don’t see any other medium coming close,” says Dhariwal.

With 23 editions and an additional weekly magazine for high-end readers, Dhariwal stresses the importance of relevance to print’s future. The paper’s ethos and content must be relevant to its readers, he says.

All coverage of #WANIndia2009 from Journalism.co.uk at this link
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Journalism Daily: AutoTrader tips, Technorati’s ‘original content’ and the online anonymity debate

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Times of India: Protests in journalism department over ‘commercialisation of education’

Protests continue in India over the the ‘commercialisation of education’ at Allahabad University. Journalism students are disputing the introduction of a new bachelor course in media studies run by the Institute of Professional Studies.

The Times of India first reported the row between two rival departments – the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) – at this link.

Yesterday it reported that disruption continues:

“Even as the entire arts faculty was turned into a fortress on Thursday, the students of department of journalism and mass communication continued their ongoing protest. The students expressed their resentment through cartoons made on placards.”

Full story at this link…

Times of India: Bloggers outraged at Supreme Court verdict

Outraged bloggers vented their ire in cyberworld against the [Indian] Supreme Court’s take that they may face libel, even prosecution, for airing their views online,” the Times of India reports. “Believing their freedom of expression is in danger, bloggers railed at the SC’s refusal to quash a criminal complaint against a fellow blogger,” the report continues.

Full story at this link…