As the old saying goes, once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, thrice is enemy action. Or, as we say in journalism, a trend. In the space of just 20 days, two Members of Parliament have been found dead. The first, 7-time MP Mohan Delkar, was found hanging in his hotel room in Bombay in February.…
Tag Archives: Hindustan
J-POD || Podcast || “Phone is king. Less is best. Follow stories, not editions. Newsrooms must be a zoo of different animals” || Life-lessons from news design guru Mario Garcia
At a time when consumers are exposed to beautifully crafted products from around the world, the first object Indians pick up every morning is The Daily Shame. Barring the odd exception, most Indian newspapers in every language look like a dog’s meal—a mishmash of leftovers of all colours, shapes and sizes with barely any clarity…
J-POD || Podcast || “Hindi media has swung majorly towards Modi govt. Big newspaper chains have become mammoth like Google and Facebook. News desks are at the forefront of communalisation” || ex-Hindustan editor Mrinal Pande
*** Hindi journalism has been such an unquestioning and uncritical proponent of majoritarian establishment causes for so long that it is an accepted axiom now, but the outbreak of #Coronavirus has decidedly taken it to the next level. The ease with which newspapers and news channels in the heartland have surrendered their professional tasks and…
When your paper has six mastheads, it’s news
It isn’t everyday that the front page of your newspaper also sports the mastheads of other newspapers, but this is how the front-page of the Hindustan Times looks today, as it announces an advertising tieup with the Ananda Bazaar Patrika group in Calcutta and the Hindu group in Madras. A bunch of advertisers—Amul, Britannia, Fortune…
‘3 out of 4 women’s mags are bought by men’?
On international women’s day, the newspapers are replete with advertisements and supplements marking the occasion. Rajya Sabha TV, however, takes the cake with an advertisement (above) in most newspapers that shows the faces of all 42 women employees of the channel, from peon to boss, from reporters to editors (and guest co-ordinators). *** In the…
Meanwhile, Chidambaram on the morning after
There is something about the Union budget, a dreadfully dreary two-hour affair (interspersed with cliches and couplets that owe their origin to the origins of the respective finance minister) that unleashes the wildest, orgiastic spirits in Indian print newsrooms—and art cubicles. The morning after, readers are greeted to the marvels of PhotoShop, some to good…
Another boilerplate redesign from Mario Garcia
Hindustan, the Hindi newspaper owned by the Hindustan Times group, has undergone a redesign in its 75th year. On top is the relaunch edition with the new design by Mario Garcia; below is yesterday’s front page, with an anchor story heralding the new design. Hindustan Times had been redesigned by the same designer in July…
Who said good journalism can’t be good business?
The brand managers and consultants in the English media will harangue you that scams and scandals don’t pay. That bad news is, well, bad news. That populating your pages with happy, smiling faces with fell-good stories of success, wealth and achievement is the way to greet readers first thing in the morning. Maybe, but there’s…
How a newspaper’s prank exposed websites
Mrinal Pande, the chairperson of the Prasar Bharati Corporation and former editor of the Hindi daily, Hindustan, throws light on an April 1 prank by a Hindi newspaper (click on the image for a larger frame). Newspaper facsimile: courtesy The Indian Express Also read: How a giant pig fooled American media The classic April fool…
Lifetime awards for a lifetime of funny lines
Seven veteran Indian cartoonists were honoured with lifetime achievement awards by the Indian Institute of Cartoonists in Bangalore on Monday. In the front row are the cartoonists (from left): E.P. Unny (The Indian Express), Vasant Sarvate (Lalit), Madhan (Ananda Vikatan and Junior Vikatan), Kaak (Hindustan), Thomas alias Toms (Malayala Manorama), Prabhakar Raobail and T. Venkat…
IJR 