The Times of India today news headlines and news articles contain a variety of content that is relevant to the readers of this newspaper. These articles will include topics like current affairs, history, and the practice of paid news in India.
History
The Times of India is one of the largest English-language daily newspapers in the world. It has been published since 1838 and continues to be the leading news organization in India. Founded as the Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce, the paper’s first edition was issued on November 3, 1838.
By the end of the 19th century, the newspaper was a popular medium for advertisers to reach its audience. In the early years, the Times of India employed about 800 people.
The newspaper began with news from Britain and local, regional, and national news. It also covered communal disturbances, such as the Indian Independence Movement. But after independence, the newspaper’s working style changed. Rather than concentrating on local issues, the newspaper started to represent the common man.
In the early years, the newspaper was published two times a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Eventually, the newspaper’s circulation expanded to more than three thousand copies. This was made possible by the introduction of a payment plan that assured positive coverage of the news.
The first editor of the newspaper was J. E. Brennan. He was responsible for the establishment of India’s first news agency. Later, his son Robert Knight became the editor of the newspaper. His fight for the freedom of the press led to the newspaper becoming national in scope.
Practice of paid news in India
The practice of paid news in India has been around for a while now. It involves the publication of news items favourable to political parties or corporates for a fee. While this may not be a new phenomenon, its ubiquity has increased over the last few years.
During the 2009 elections, many politicians paid newspapers to publish a number of positive articles about them. Newspapers also provided them with free advertisements and other publicity. But the scale of paid news was much higher in the 2011 Assembly polls in Maharashtra.
The Election Commission of India warned all chief electoral officers to ensure that they did not allow political parties to pay media houses for coverage of their campaigns. This practice is illegal under the Representation of People Act.
Using paid news, media houses helped political parties campaign more effectively. They were able to prepare lower electoral budgets. In some cases, they even conceptualized brilliant advertisements.
While some advertorials tried to walk an ethical tightrope, others simply dished out cash. Black money was involved in the vast majority of ads disguised as news.
As a repository of public trust, the press has an obligation to provide correct and timely information. However, the press is increasingly being compromised by corruption within its ranks.
Current affairs
One of the oldest newspapers in India, the Times of India has been around for more than a century. It was once a contender for the best newspaper in the country. It is a venerable print, electronic and online publication headquartered in Mumbai. The flagship paper is a daily, and a weekend edition has been on the books for a while. As of the time of writing, the editorial staff is counted at around 800.
For the record, the paper was acquired in 1892 by Thomas Jewell Bennett. Today, the newspaper is part of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate known as The Times Group. This is home to the eponymous flagship paper, as well as the Mumbai Mirror, the Economic Times, the Indian edition of Business Week and other notable publications. In addition to these, the group publishes a number of smaller regional papers. A handful of notable titles include the oh-so-tame Ahmedabad Mirror, the Bangalore Mirror and the Maharashtra Times.
The eponymous newspaper has a circulation of about a hundred thousand, and is available in over a dozen Indian languages. It also has a sister English paper. Its competitors include the Financial Express and the HT Media Group’s Hindustan Times. Besides being a well-oiled publishing machine, the Times of India has earned a cult following for its snazzy and sassy coverage of the political quagmires of the nation’s capital.
