Gone are the days when people read local morningers over their cuppa of tea. Dailies with traditional newsprint are passé. With the competition in full swing, the newspapers with glossy and colored papers and additional supplements are in. The circulation of newspapers in national capital has taken a quantum jump in the last few years. Delhi is the second largest state, which has more than 8,500 registered newspapers. With the central government’s approval on foreign investment, media industry is poised to get a boost. The onset of major multinational companies, including business outsourcing, technology, tourism and hospitality industries in national capital region (NCR), in-home newspaper publications are working in tandem with international standards. Delivery of digital newspapers and e-papers through Internet-based technology is another feather to its cap.
The English language edition of The Times of India is the largest circulated daily, while The Hindustan Times holds third position with nearly 11,3700 subscribers throughout Delhi. With headquarters in national capital, Dainik Jagran is the largest circulated Hindi daily, which prints 15 editions as compared to The Times of India, English that publishes only six editions. In order to capture and retain youth readership, most of the publications have been shifted their focus to feature-based supplements and tabloids. Through collaborations and ventures- Metro Now and Mail Today have made their presence, while Mid-Day has already launched its much-hyped Delhi edition.
Interest of readers in global capitalism and sports activities has added another dimension to the newspaper industry. In addition to regular pages that covers local, national and international news, crispy features and health-related issues, most of the dailies are giving additional space to business and sports news. Mergers, acquisitions, closures, investments and stock markets are getting preference over the traditional financial reporting. With e-publishing and newspapers-on-demand, the newspapers published from the national capital are now widely sought by the overseas readers, including non-resident Indians and business communities with interest in Indian economy and markets.
In addition, several newspapers offer free online version, which can be accessed instantly from anywhere through Web browser. Thus, the shift in preference for net-savvies is obvious. Today, information technology sector is in progressive phase. Several thousands of technical jobs and business solutions have been created worldwide with major operations are being managed in India, China and Malaysia. Hence, outsourcing industry has been recognized as one of the leading sectors by mass-media organizations, headquartered in Delhi. Needless to say that IT industry is one of the most preferred areas covered by business newspapers, such as The Economic Times, Business Standard and Financial Express.
Newspapers published from Delhi are spontaneous to regional and global issues and careful, while selecting news under PRB Act as the city has emerged an activity hub for national and international media organizations and associations. On the other hand, cross-cultural and traditional events are yet to get regular place in most of the dailies other than fewer ones, which carry such reports in special weekly supplements and on periodical basis. Be it a regional, national or international edition, Delhiites can have their favorite morninger at their doorstep.