Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Sharm TOI ko magar nahin aatee.....

Shameless Times of India (ToI) forgets its not the only newspaper in India, or even Mumbai.

On the day Mumbai was inundated and millions affected by the incessant rains, like all other newspapers TOI also could not reach its readers. The bundles were dumped and biased critics like us would say that the readers were saved of TOI at least for a day.

But the chutzpah on the next day was shocking. It did a big big story on how more than half-a-million readers were DEPRIVED of the newspaper. The story focused on what the readers felt about their day without TOI.

Celebereties from Kumaramangalam Birla to those in the Bollywood were sought for comments even as lakhs were stranded in Mumbai. The newspaper cried that the hardwork of its reporters could not reach the readers and all the citizens felt miserable without ToI.

It was the worst day for the Mumbaiites in history because they did not have ToI with their cuppa. But how many had a normal cuppa? Did the newspaper had an idea?
Anyway. To set the record straight.

You ToI editorial and management, listen. ToI is not the only newspaper in Mumbai. There is a vast Marathi, Hindi, Urdu and even Gujarati readership in the megapolis.

If thousands in Thane did not start their day with Lokmat or Loksatta, an equal number on Mohammad Ali Road and in Nagpada and Andheri were looking for the mass circulated Urdu dailies of Inquilab and Urdu Times.

The fledgling HT and the Indian Express are no small fries. Yes ToI is an important paper. But once again you showed your true colours.The story could have been on a day when people missed their newspapers but by focusing on the ToI only, the newspaper showed its self-centric, arrogant and deplorable style for the nth time.

Read more...

Monday, August 01, 2005

DNA's launch: Another competitor to TOI in the Mumbai

Daily News Analysis (DNA) was launched recently. I am not going to review the first day edition. Also, it is difficult to say if it was the right time for a newspaper's launch. Mumbai has been through a lot recently.

There was no scope for special news stories. The first day paper, I must say, I found disappointing from the front page itself. Mr Adhikari wrote a piece. Sorry, but I found it boring. The story on Dawood Ibrahim was not so great either.

Just because HT had published a similar story, it was not necessary for DNA to do a similar 'breaking story'. It could have been delayed. The front page lead looked like a poor imitation. Though reporter can't be held guilty.

But still good wishes for the DNA employees. The newspaper should grow and along with HT break the citadel of the arrogant Jains, this is what we all pray. So what if Agarwals and Birlas are no less Banias (sorry for being casteist).

Times of India is not horrible paper. But it shamelessly tom-toms that it is the best. Now readers have alternatives. They can switch to either Hindustan Times or DNA. TOI needs a lesson. For years, they had no competition and that made them not just complacent but also arrogant.

Read more...

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