Developments in Print Media

POST – INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PRINT MEDIA

Developments in Print Media 

Print Media at the Time of Independence

The number of newspapers and magazine grew at a medium pace. Bombay Samachar, the olds newspaper of India, continued to surge ahead in terms of circulation and depth of its editorials. The Press of India was concentrated in only four metropolitan cities before independence. However, after 1947, it expanded its operations. New towns and small townships became important for newspapers and magazines alike. The north-eastern regions were also explored by many newspaper publishers. Anand Bazar Patrika, Jugantar, and Bengali dailies dominated all other dailies of India in terms of circulation. However, in terms of number of dailies, Hindi newspapers were much ahead of Bengali newspapers.

Type Face Block Period in Print Media

In the meantime, new printing machines were imported by many media groups. The sixties and seventies were the times of the Type Face Block. In this system, each letter used to be picked up by the operator to form a line and eventually, a page, The ‘page’ used to be made (or set) with the help of wooden strips, iron cuboids. These materials were helpful in making the text lines straight and presentable. The DTP technology was not available during the seventies and early eighties. Printing was done in the letterPress. The technology for color printing was available. Newspapers were printed in a single color. However, some newspapers also used to bring out color editions of their respective newspapers at least once a week. It was difficult to print a sheet of newsprint two or three times (to impart colored text or photographs to it) due to the limitations of the printing technology.

 PRINT MEDIA DURING SIXTIES

During the sixties, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, Amrit Bazaar Patrika, National Herald and Bombay Samachar reigned in the world of print media. In Kottayam, Malyala Manorama did well. During the seventies the number of dailies and magazines increased at a fast pace. In Delhi, Sarita, Mukta, and Champak were published by Delhi Press. The headquarters of the organization are located at Jhandwalan, New Delhi Now-a-days Sarita and Griha Shobgha offered handsome entertainment to women householders. These also gave them tips on health, education, beauty treatment, and home management. These magazines also contained some fictional material (like short stories and articles) of popular or budding authors. Many of these stories and article were appreciated by the readers of those times.

PRINT MEDIA DURING SEVENTIES

The seventies saw the advent of film magazines on the scenario of the print media. Filmy Kaliyan was the most popular magazine (dedicated to Hindi cinema) during the seventies. Punjab Kesari dominated in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. It was published in Hindi. Its sister publication, Hind Samachar, was published in Urdu. Punjab Keari competed with Rozana Ajit (Punjabi) and The Tribune (English). Lala Jagat Narain, the sprit behind the Punjab Kesari Group, Started a Pujanbi Daily, Jagbani. It was an instant hit during the early eighties.

In the south, The Hindu, The Daily Thanthi, Kal Nirnay, and Malaya Monorama ruled the roost. The Hindu is still the most dominating English daily of the entire southern region. Besides, some Telugu Newspapers also appeared in Hyderabad, but these could not become national dailies.

During the mid seventies “The Illustrated Weekly of India” dominated the literary scenario of India. This magazine was published on  a newspaper – sized paper and colours were used to illustrate it. However, during  the eighties, its sixe was reduced to make it a weekly of small size.  Khushwant Singh contributed a lot to make it a success. Nevertheless, it a weekly of India dominated the literary scenario of India. This magazine was published on a newspaper sized paper and colors were used to illustranc it. However during the eighties, its size was reduced to make it a weekly of small size. Khushwant singh contributed a lot to make it a success. Nevertheless, it faced competition form other magazines  and periodicals. Hindi magazines also eroded the market of English magazines because people were more comfortable while reading Hindi magazines or the ones in their respective native languages. English magazines and newspapers were supposed to be associated with upper–middle, educated, and bourgeoisie segments of the Indian society.

PRINT MEDIA DURING EMERGENCY PERIOD

Ms Indira Gandhi declared emergency on June 26, 1975. The freedom of the Press was restricted. The print media were required to write and print what ever the Government  wanted. However, the media defied the dicta of the State and worse what they deemed right. During the days of the emergency many Press reporters, writers, and columnists were harassed by the Government . The Press became fully free when emergency was lifted Ms Indira Gandhi lost the Parliamentary election to Mr Raj Narain by 55,00 votes (in 1977). This shooked as a lesson for her. She never dared restrict the freedom of the Press in her lifetime. She captured the corridors of power (in New Delhi) again in 1980 She never interfered with the operation of the Press and its freedom until her death in 1984. She also ordered the closure of National Herald. This newspaper was a mouthpiece of the Congress and had been facing financial difficulties for quite some time.

GROWING PACE OF PRINT MEDIA DURING EIGHTIES

At the end of 1983, the total number of newspapers in India was 20,578. There were 1,423 dailies, 6,122 weeklies and 13,105 other publication in India at the end of 1983. On December 31, 1983, the total circulation of newspapers/ periodicals was 5, 53,91,000 copies. Newspapers were not published from Arunachal Pradesh and Lakshadweep (in 1983)

Uttar Pradesh published 2,912 newspapers, the highest number in 1983. It was followed by Maharashtra (2,654), Delhi(2,637) abd west Bengal (2,274). The data of other states has been give as follows:

    Tamil nadu (1,289)

    Rajasthan (1,142)

    Andhra Pradesh (1,123)

    Kerala (1,085)

All these data relate to newspapers that were published in 1983. Further, in the same year, 26 foreign missions were also involved in publishing operations. The Embassy of the USSR brought out 49 various publications in 1983. It worked in liaison with Progress Publishers, Moscow.

Newspapers were brought out in 91 languages – 16 Principle languages and 75 other regional languages. Since 1983, newspapers have also been published in Gangte and Marathi. The highest number of newspapers was in Hindi (5,936) followed by the number of magazines in English (3,840)

By the end of the eighties, the Press assumed a great role as an informer, motivator, and opinion maker. The free market wave swept through the corridors of the print media as well. Many new publishers tried to start new magazines and newspapers.

RESULTANT OF DEVELOPMENTS OF PRINT MEDIA AT THE END OF NINETIES

At he end of 1997, the total number of newspaper and periodicals was 41, 705. Among these, there were 4,719 dailies, 325 tri/bi weeklies 14,743 weeklies and 21,918 other periodicals. Newspapers were published form all the states and UTs. Uttar Pradesh claimed the top spot in the field of newspapers with 7,449 news papers to its credit (in 1997). It was followed by Delhi, Maharashtra, and west Bengal. More than 1,000 newspapers were also brought out form Rajasthan, MP, TN, Karnataka, AP, Bihar and Kerala. In the case of dailies, UP remained at the top slot with 735 newspapers. It was followed by Bihar, MP, Maharashtra, and TN. The highest number of newspaper was published in Hindi (2,118), followed by Urdu (495) and English (338). As on December 31, 1997, the total circulation of newspapers and periodicals was 10, 5708,97 copies . Note that this figure in 1996 was 8,94,34,000. In 1997, Hindustan Times emerged as the larges circulated single edition daily, with a circulation of 5, 40,915 copes. The Times of India (Mumbai) came a close second, with 5, 30,504 copies, Anand Bazaar Patrika came at the third spot with 4, 90,763 copes. Among the multi – edition dailies, Roudramukhi Swar topped with a circulation of 12, 92,277 copies (in 16 editions). The second position in this category was claimed by the Times (Hindi) with seven editions and a circulation of 12, 43,603 copies. Malayala Manorama (a weekly) was declared the largest circulated periodical with a circulation of 11, 27,414 copies.

PRINT MEDIA AT THE APEX IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

The free market system (1989 – 2003 ) gave a fillip to the print media. By 2001, the number of magazines and newspapers had torched dizzy heights.

Newspapers published

In 2001, the total number of newspaper and periodicals in India was 51,960 this was 49,145 in 2000. In 2001, there were 5,638 dailies. 348 tri / bi-weeklies, 18,582 weeklies, fortnightly magazines, 14,634 monthly magazines, 3634 quarterly magazines, 49 annual magazines and 1,774 other publications. Newspapers were published formal the states and UTs in the country. In 2001, the largest number of newspapers was published from UP (8,397), follows by Delhi (6,726), Maharashtra (6,018) and MP (3,555), UP also had the largest number of newspapers (841) followed by Maharashtra (573), and Karnataka (479).

Circulation

In 2001, the total circulation of newspapers was 11,82,57,579 copies. The Hindu was published form Chennai and printed at Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Madurai, Visakhapatnam, Delhi, Thiruvanathapurnam and Kochi. It is the largest circulated single edition daily with circulation of 9,37,222 copies. It is followed by Hindustan Times and English daily published form Delhi and printed at New Delhi, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Jaipur, Raipur Kolkata, Rajkot, Mazaffarpur, Bhaglpur, Varanasi and Patna. It has a circulation of 9,09,278 copies. Anand Bazaar Patrika stands at the third spot in terms of circulation (8,76,727 copies ). It is published from Kolkata. Finally The Times of India, which is published from New Delhi, is at the fourth spot, it has circulation of 8,43,874 copies.

Data related to Some Newspapers and Magazines

The Time of India had nine editions and atonal circulation of   21,52,046 copies. it is the first an multi- editing dailies. Malyala Manorama hags nine editions with a circulation of 12,72,823 copies at the second spot in the list of multi edition dailies. Dainik Jagran has eleven editions and a circulation of 12,72,715 copies. It occupie the third spot in the list of multi – edition dailies.

Saras Salil, a Hindi fortnightly magazine published form Delhi, was the largest circulated periodicals in 2001. Its circulation was 1,01,598 copies. The Hindu Magazine, the English weekly published from Chennai, was second in terms of circulation. Its circulation was 9,95,469 copies (in 2001) The Sunday, The Time of India, a weekly published from Delhi, was at the third spot in this list; it had a circulation of 7,59,942 copies,. Malayala Manorama occupied the fourth spot in the same list its circulation was 6,35,701 copies in 2001.

The scenario

In surn, the circulation of Hindi and English dailies and fortnightly magazines is increasing in India. As per census (2001), the literacy rate of our country is 65.38 per cent. The rising levels of literacy have also promoted the sale of English  dailies. That is because people can understand and read English with ease, but they are not keen to learn regional languages of other areas or states. The English is emerging as a common language for mass communication and education in India. Regional newspapers and magazines do not bind the nation but English newspapers (even if they are regional ones) give a unique identity to our masses. The concept that “ only literate people read English newspapers and magazines” has become obsolete. Many moderately educated people also read English newspapers and periodicals with enthusiasm.

See Also :

Print Media and Communication	Freedom of Press - The right to Publish and Privacy
Communication and Print media	Council Guides to Journalistic Ethics
Introduction to Print Media	Censorship in the Press and Media
Developments in Print Media	Media Laws
Contribution of News Papers	Press Ownership and Monopoly
Contribution of Magazines	Media Organisations and News Agencies
Press Commissions and Councils	The Mass Media
The Power of Press	Functions of Mass Media
History of Indian Journalism	Theories of the Press or Media
Press Censorship under the Emergency	Code of Ethics for Journalists
News Values in Journalism	Readership and Popularity of Magazine
Magazine genres-Types of Magazine