Slide 1

Access to Indian Online Newspapers:
problems and prospects

Avijit Chakrabarti
Assistant Librarian

Barasat College


Slide 2

Introduction


An online newspaper is a newspaper that
exists on the World Wide Web or Internet,
either separately or as an online version of a
printed version.



Going online created more opportunities for
newspapers in presenting breaking news in a
timelier manner.


Slide 3

Advantages


There are some advantages of online
newspapers for their users:
– online newspapers are still mostly free of
charge,
– often updated throughout the day,
– easily accessible for everyone with an Internet
connection,
– they can be visited while working at one’s PC


Slide 4

Types


Online only newspapers



Hybrid newspapers



Soft-copy news sheet


Slide 5

Online only newspapers


Online only paper is a paper that does not
have any hard copy connections. It is
independent web only newspaper.


Slide 6

Hybrid newspapers


There are some newspapers which are
predominantly an online newspaper, but also
provide limited hard copy publishing.


Slide 7

Soft-copy news sheet


A news sheet is a paper that is on one or two
pages only. Soft-copy sheets are like online
newspapers, in that they have to be
predominantly news, not advert or gossip
based. These sheets can be updated
periodically or regularly, unlike a newspaper.
They must also like a newspaper be
regarded as a news outlet by media groups
and governments.


Slide 8

Online newspaper published from India


India has 28 states with 22 official
languages. Online newspapers in all major
language published from India.


Slide 9

State-wise online newspaper


Andhra Pradesh
–

–
–
–

Telegu – Eenadu, Sakshi, Vaarttha, Andhra Bhumi, Andhra
Prabha, Andhra Jyothy, Leader, Netinizam, Rakshana,
Pramukandhra, Kalanjali, Netibharatam, Prajasakti,
Kaliyuga Narada, Praja Darbar, Viniyogadharula Vedika
Urdu – The Siyasath Daily, The Etamaad Daily, The Munsif
Daily
Hindi – Praja Sahayata
English – E-Sameeksha, Takeed, Today Freedom, Tirupati
Times, Hindustan Times, Consumer Guide, Pathanjali News


Slide 10

State-wise…..


Arunachal Pradesh
–



Assam
–
–



Assamese – Dainik Agradoot, Dainik Jugasankha,
Samayika Prasanga, Sentinel Assam
English – The Assam Tribune, The Sentinel, Voice of
Assam

Bihar
–



English – The Arunachal Times

English – Bihar Times, Patna Daily

Chattisgarh
–

Hindi – Dainik Bhaskar, News Guru India


Slide 11

State-wise…..


Goa
–



Gujrat
–
–
–



Gujrati – Divya Bhaskar, Jai Hind Daily, Naubat, Sandesh,
Sambhaav
Hindi – Loktej
English – Lok Prabha

Hariyana
–



English – Navhind Times, Gomantak Times

Hindi – Sach Kahnoon

Himachal Pradesh
–

English – Himtimes


Slide 12

State-wise…..


Jammu & Kashmir
–
–



Jharkhand
–



Urdu – Roshni, Etalaat, Mashriq Kashmir, Neab
International, Khidmat, Wadi ki Awaz
English – Daily Excelsior, Greater Kashmir, Kashmir
Observer, Kashmir Times, The North Lines, J and K news
English – Ranchi Express

Karnataka
–

–

Kannada – Janatha Vani, Kannada Prabha, Praja Pragathi,
Praja Vani, Udayavani, Janatha Madhyama, Vishva
Kannada, Prajodaya
English – Deccan Herald, Islamic Voice, Sahil online, Kranti
Daily


Slide 13

State-wise…..


Kerala
–

–



Madhyapradesh
–



Malayalam – Deepika, Kerala Kaumudhi, Madyamam,
Malayala Manorama, The Jasnews, Deshabhimani,
Mathrubhumi, Kerala Online
English – Cochin 2 day, General Daily, New Kerala
Hindi – Nai Duniya

Maharastra
–
–
–
–

Marathi – Pudhari, The Mumbai Samachar, Maharastra
Times
Urdu – Aurangabad Times, Inquilab
Hindi – Dainik Aikya
English – Indiatimes, Mumbai Mirror, DNA, Punecity, Raza
Academy


Slide 14

State-wise…..


Manipur
–



Meghalaya
–
–



Khasi – Mawphor
English – The Shillongtimes

Nagaland
–



English – The Sangai Express

English – Nagaland Post, The Morung Express

Orissa
–
–
–

Oriya – Dharitri, Orissa Sambad, Odisha, The Samaj
Hindi – Sanmarg
English – Kalinga Times


Slide 15

State-wise…..


Punjab
–



Rajasthan
–
–



Hindi – Pratahkal, Khaskhabar, Rajasthan Patrika,
Myjhunjhunu
English – Khabar Express

Sikkim
–



Punjabi – Ajith Jalandhar, Sanju Savera, Parvasi

English – Haalkhabar, Sikkim Express

Tamilnadu
–
–

Tamil – Daily Thanthi, Dina Karan, Thamil Sudur, Dinamalar,
Akash Jyoti, That’s Tamil
English – Pathrika Online, South India Times, The Hindu


Slide 16

State-wise…..


Tripura
–
–



Uttaranchal
–



Bengali – Daily Desher Katha
English – Tripura News, neindia
Hindi – Amar Ujala

Uttar Pradesh
–
–
–

Urdu – United News Network, Urdu net
Hindi – DLA, Rajdhani Times, Sahara Samay, UP Khabar,
Deshbandhu
English – Agra News, Day after India, News Track, Public
News


Slide 17

State-wise…..


West Bengal
–

–



Bengali – Aajkaal, Uttarbanga Sambad, Bartaman Patrika,
Ganashakti, Anandabazar Patrika, Sangbad Pratidin, Daily
Desher Katha, Century Sambad, Gold News, Amder Malda,
Abasor
English – Cal online, The Telegraph, The Statesman,
Darjeeling Times

Delhi
–
–

Hindi – Navbharat Times
English - Times of India, Hindusthan Times


Slide 18

Quality factors










Readability
Design
Layout
Usability
Information Architecture
Frequency of update
Language factor


Slide 19

Problems








Font problem for Indian languages
Presence of loud and stylistically unpredictable
advertisements on the main page
Poor layout and design
Confusing and inconsistent navigation
Questionable typography and paragraph
configuration
Unable to generate sizeable revenues
Poor ICT infrastructure in India


Slide 20

Prospects









Low cost compare to newsprint
Increasing computer literacy in India
Emphasis on the development of infrastructure
including ICT by the Government of India
Increasing popularity of forums
Short concentration span of Internet users
Concise text captures more attention
Increasing attraction for Advertiser as their ads
carried by online papers for as long as necessary


Slide 21

Future








Online publishing is seen as having the potential to open up
broader prospects for the newspaper industry
The current development of Web newspapers is underlined
by newspaper publishers' desire to turn the Internet into an
opportunity to help reverse the trend in declining readership
rather than a threat to the print newspaper
Publishers and online editors believe there is little chance for
the print newspaper to be replaced by the electronic version
The future of a new medium depends on whether it is simply
a replica of an existing one and to what extent it can add
value to it
Indian online newspapers seemed to be more optimistic
about their future


Slide 22

Conclusions






The forums, chat facilities and e-mail contacts allow
greater interactivity among the community members
and between the readers and editors than the
traditional print newspaper
Compared with the print paper, the online paper is
clearly at a disadvantage in maintaining the
traditional sources of newspaper revenues
advertising and subscription charges
It will take time for advertisers to assess the online
readership and the effectiveness of online
advertising


Slide 23

Suggestions






Online newspapers have to make full use of the limitless space
provided by the Internet to offer better services for advertisers
Effective use of search engines by the online newspapers will
make it more convenient for readers to select what they need
There should not be fixed means for online papers to generate
revenues but papers with a large readership base and more
specialized orientation tend to be more successful with
advertising and subscription charges while smaller papers tend
to rely on Internet services for revenues
If online publishers can focus on turning out a value-added
product rather than a replica of their print product, online
papers will become cost effective operations with the
development of new technologies and growth of the Internet
community


Slide 24