Kumar 2024 Small Hindi Newspapers Problems And Potentials
Summary
Article by Mukesh Kumar of Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University in the International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies, 2024, 6(2), on small Hindi newspapers, defined by the RNI as titles with circulation up to 25,000 copies. Drawing on interviews with editors and owners of 38 newspapers across 19 states and union territories, it finds strong reader trust but high newsprint costs, thin revenue, weak technology and staffing, and unequal government advertising through DAVP. It says the RNI categories let large chains compete as small papers. Recommendations include a Small Newspaper Development Corporation, subsidised newsprint, fair advertising, bank credit and physical verification to curb publication fraud.
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“Kumar 2024 Small Hindi Newspapers Problems And Potentials.”
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International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies 2024; 6(2): 386-393
ISSN Print: 2664-8652
ISSN Online: 2664-8660
Impact Factor: RJIF 8.31
Small Hindi Newspapers: Problems and Potentials
IJAHSS 2024; 6(2): 386-393
www.socialstudiesjournal.com
Received: 15-11-2024
Mukesh Kumar
Accepted: 18-12-2024
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33545/26648652.2024.v6.i2c.317
Dr. Mukesh Kumar
Assistant Professor, Abstract
PG Department of Journalism This study examines the problems, potentials, and policy needs of small Hindi newspapers in India
and Mass Communication defined by the RNI as titles with circulations up to 25,000. Drawing on a literature review and in-depth
Maulana Mazharul Haque interviews with editors/owners of 38 newspapers across 19 Indian states/UTs (including Press Council
Arabic and Persian University, nominees), the research situates small papers as crucial democratic intermediaries that localize
Patna, Bihar, India
information, scrutinize grassroots governance, and often pioneer investigative revelations overlooked
by large chains. Despite their civic value and rising registration figures, small newspapers face
structural disadvantages: high newsprint costs, thin revenues, technological lag, limited professional
staffing, and inequities in government advertising (DAVP) and outdated RNI categorization that allows
large chains to compete within the “small” bracket. Findings underscore that local papers retain strong
audience trust and relevance, and that digital affordances can extend their impact if supported. Policy
recommendations include establishing a Small Newspaper Development Corporation; concessional/
subsidized newsprint quotas; transparent, time-bound, bias-free ad disbursal, enhanced representation
of small papers in the Press Council of India; reformed RNI classification treating chain editions as a
single unit; bank credit and PPP support (treating small papers akin to cottage industries); mandatory
physical verification to curb publication fraud; and structured journalism internships to professionalize
local newsrooms. Implemented together, these measures can secure media plurality, strengthen local
accountability, and sustain small Hindi newspapers as engines of democratic participation.
Keywords: RNI classification, DAVP advertising policy, Small Hindi newspapers, newsprint subsidy,
local journalism, media plurality, press policy reform
Introduction
“Small newspapers are the pillars of democracy in this country as they cater to the needs of
the majority of the Indian population and particularly those who live in the rural areas”
(Sharma, 2006) [2]. The Registrar of Newspapers (India) defines small newspaper as-“A
newspaper with a circulation of up to 25,000 copies per publishing day” (RNI., Press in
India., 2010). “Small newspapers serving their intimate involvement in the local scenario
play a more direct role in the process of democratizing communication and motivating socio-
economic transformation than newspapers published at trade area” (A report: future of print
media, 2001) [10].
The relevance of small newspapers can be brought home with the help of a case study of a
newspaper called “Poora Sach”. A small Hindi newspaper “Poora Sach” that started on 2
February 2002 by Ram Chander Chhatrapati “stood for the complete truth without any cuts
or manipulation-just hard facts. In the very first edition, he wrote editorials on the front page
taking ‘an oath that truth will never be compromised”. It was during this time that
Chhatrapati started writing on the malpractices by the Dera Sacha Sauda Ram Rahim. A few
months later he received an anonymous letter alleging that Ram Rahim sexually assaulted
sadhvis inside the Dera and he started digging deep into the story. After collecting the
necessary information, he prepared a report and went ahead to publish it. Chhatrapati kept
reporting on the matter despite several threats and on 24 October 2002 he was attacked. He
battled for his life for 28 days. Ram Chander Chhatrapati passed away on 21 November 2002
Corresponding Author: in New Delhi.
Dr. Mukesh Kumar Chhatrapati's favourite statement “there is only truth and lies, there’s nothing between (sach
Assistant Professor, aur jhooth ke beech koi teesri cheez nahi hoti)”. The fight that Chhatrapati started in 2002
PG Department of Journalism
and Mass Communication
reached its decisive conclusion in 2017.
Maulana Mazharul Haque When all the corporate media houses refused to publish the anonymous letter in the sadhvi
Arabic and Persian University, episode, he published it first and hence paid the price by his own life.
Patna, Bihar, India
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Fig 1: Front Page of Newspaper Poora Sach
Fig 2: Front Page of Newspaper Dainik Jagran
‘The story had all the elements of a journalistic scoop. And audiences, may realize. If all news is local, then this sector
the letter had been in circulation since 2002. So why hadn’t will continue to matter for a long time to come” (Radcliffe,
any mainstream media organizations touched it? (Tripathi, Damian; Ali, Christopher, 2017) [9].
2018) [8]. The struggle of small newspapers regarding this
case depicts the relevance of the local media in a global and Small Newspapers in India
a monopolized scenario. The practices and performance of the mainstream media
The future of small-market newspapers is “not certain and have been dominated in the above paragraph. This section
the road ahead will continue to be rocky and unpredictable. casts a look at this small newspaper in the Indian context.
But the foundations of small-market newspapers are more “India is the largest democracy in the world; it becomes
solid than some people, including local journalism and local very important that the citizens have access to information
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for the proper functioning of its institutions. In the past, the supplements to the main paper. These, no doubt, affect the
print media shouldered the responsibility of disseminating circulations of the local paper but they are not, at least not
information and news regarding the happenings within and yet, able to compete with the local newspapers in terms of
outside the country” (RNI, Press in India, 2010). “Small coverage of local news. The local press enjoys this edge
newspapers are the pillars of democracy in this country as since it has its finger on the pulse of the local populations. It
they cater to the needs of the majority of the Indian focuses on the comparative importance of local personalities
population and particularly those who live in the rural areas” and events and more attuned to local tastes and dislikes. It
(Sharma, 2006) [2]. The Registrar of Newspapers (India) enjoys a further advantageous position in terms of
defines small newspaper as-“A newspaper with a circulation advertisement potential at the local /district level of limited
of up to 25,000 copies per publishing day” (RNI, Press in services and products” (Ray, 2005) [11].
India, 2010). According to Surendra Pratap Singh “The cement scam of
“Small newspapers are brought out by people with small A.R. Antualy was first exposed in the regional small
means. They come out both from big and small towns and newspaper with huge reliable evidence. The infamous
carry local news and cover problems concerning the local incident of Bhagalpur blinding case was first published in
public. Many of them are also working on specialized small Hindi newspaper” (Anuradha, 2011) [12].
subjects like science and technology, health, family
planning, religion, etc. The small newspapers generally Literature Review
speak the local language of the people and are read and Small newspapers ‘as they cater to the needs of the majority
understood by them and thus are capable of influencing or of the Indian population and particularly those who live in
building up public opinion at the grass-root level. They rural areas, the allegations against small newspapers are lack
serve as a bridge between the people living at distant places of professionalism, manipulating circulation figure for a
in the interiors of the country on the one hand and the local bigger share of government advertisements. These
administration, state government and the central government newspapers have also been called fake and have been
on the other” (A report: future of print media, 2001) [13]. accused of fraudulent reporting. Nonetheless, small
According to the report of RNI (RNI, 2017), the total newspapers have time and again posited a challenged to the
number of small newspapers in India registered with RNI is dominance and authority displayed by big newspapers
3652 and during the year 2014-15 the total number of dailies (PCI., 2001) [13].
being published is 8474 of the total number of newspapers The internet is posing a serious commercial challenge to the
being circulated, 43% are the small newspapers. According local press that is why they say ‘if newspapers stick to the
to the report of RNI ‘Press in India’ the total number of ink they will sink’ (Sargeson N and Astill P, 2005) [14].
small newspapers in India registered with RNI in Therefore ‘more radical strategy for the future of local
5931during the year 2017-18 and total number of dailies papers was emerging-one that exploited the distribution
being published is 8921 of the total number of newspaper potential on the internet (Pilling R, 1998) [15] ‘It is also an
being circulated, 66% is the small newspapers (RNI., Press opportunity to expand access to local journalism beyond the
in India., 2019). Data shows that small newspapers are borders of the locality for which it is primarily intended.
increasing. Digital printing technologies have made it easier to transmit
“Small newspapers serving their intimate involvement in the paper copies of local newspaper overseas cheaply and
local scenario play a more direct role in the process of quickly (Mcnair B, News from a small country: the media in
democratizing communication and motivating socio- Scotland., 1998) Print is still at the heart of the business
economic transformation than newspapers published at trade (Astill, 2005) [14].
area” (A report: future of print media, 2001) [13]. Small Small newspapers are accused of lacking professionalism.
newspapers play an important role in the local scenario. It is To combat this, one can enforce what was followed in 1980
also observed that these newspapers ensure accountability to in the UK. As per the ‘National Union of Journalist (NUJ)
the voters of the people's representatives from panchayat, had an agreement with nearly all the national newspaper that
parliament, and bureaucracy at the grass-root level. So, the they would not hire journalists unless they had worked in a
role played by these newspapers in ensuring the vibrant and regional press either for three years if non-graduate, or two
effective democratic government cannot be exaggerated. years, if a graduate (Cole, 1998) [17].
Scandals and scams have been exposed by small newspapers Local journalism today is changing in part because of the
in the country. larger changes underway in our media environments. This
The aim of the small newspapers is to access the remote transformation puts the future of local journalism in danger.
villages where big newspapers don’t even care to look at. The existence of local media is in question because the
Local news is the mainstay of these small newspapers. For business models are under tremendous pressure and because
the government, local news is also important as much as of the very social and dynamic significance of categories
national and international news. Small newspapers are like ‘news’ and ‘journalism’. The digital media
catering to the majority which is illiterate and deprived and environment, undoubtedly, represents considerable potential
this section of the public requires extra support and care to for inspiring new forms of local journalism (Nielsen, 2015)
[18]
realise democracy in its true spirit. .
“In the largest democracy of the world, small newspapers Newspaper reading is declining across all countries, among
catering to the overwhelming majority of the people, mostly all demographics, older people are an important target
poor and uneducated, need special patronage and care, to segment for regional papers markets. Many of the problems
make democracy meaningful” (Future of print media, 2001) of regional daily papers are driven by the changing social
[13]
. structure. Traditionally the ‘evening paper’ was either
“The small press has faced a new threat over the past 3-4 home-delivered or habitually collected on the way home.
years with the big newspapers launching regional This pattern of consumption was closely associated with a
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workforce based in large factories and offices who kept only managed their newspaper but also wrote nearly all the
regular hours and travelled a relatively shorter distance to articles’ (Gupta, 1977) [23]. The same situation can
their job on foot or by public transport. Flexible hours, sometimes be found at small-scale newspapers in India.
shrunken workforces and constantly changing shift patterns, GN Ray in his speech published under title ‘Problems and
coupled with commuting by car, have disrupted these habits prospects of small newspapers’ stressed that the majority of
(Aldridge, 2007) [19]. the Indian population today lives in rural areas, hence the
There is stiff competition between small newspapers and the need for the flow of information to and from the rural area is
metropolitan press. With most publications, the issue has even greater. The bigger and the more well-known papers
been with the machinery; it was either old or an out-dated, are mostly from large cities and towns, not fully aware of
its turn out was slow being as it only generated a few the needs and problems of the rural or small-town public or
hundred copies an hour-resulting in the paper coming out even of the local taste. The small newspapers enjoy the
late, in some cases even later than the metropolitan papers. potential to bridge this gap (Ray GN, 2005) [11].
Newspaper with a predominance has been accused of Ironically, small newspapers printing a few hundred copies
displaying, “power of the holder of a monopoly to influence draw a newsprint quota for the thousands. Money can be
their public in any way” by small newspapers. This was the made by selling newsprint. Small newspapers recognized by
complaint that was made to the RR Divakar Committee by state or union government draw regular government
small newspapers. According to ‘Reports of the enquiry advertising. Circulation claims are rarely checked for small
committee on small newspapers’ one of the newspapers. Proprietors need to print only a few copies to
recommendations for new ventures is to have them run on a satisfy government authorities that the solicited advertising
co-operation to advance money for new ventures to be run has appeared (Jeffrey R, India's Newspaper Revolution,
on a co-operative basis. Another is to set-up publicly owned 2000) [20].
printing shops which are at the disposal of newspapers in Jeffrey highlighted some negative aspects of small
smaller places. The other recommendation of Diwakar newspapers. He describes that ‘small newspapers can be
committee for small newspapers is that all allotment of used for blackmail'. These practices are known to be found
government display advertisements to the smaller papers, in newspapers of all languages (Jeffrey R, Urdu: waiting for
the supply of newsprint to minor dailies on a subsidized citizen Kane?, 1997) [24].
price, a summary telegraph service for a nominal charge, Many small newspapers do not maintain accounts and no
free training of personals etc. (Jeffrey R, India's Newspaper financial data regarding their capital, expenditure, revenue
Revolution, 2000) [20]. profit, and loss is available. They hardly have any sense of
Eapen stresses that the Hindi newspapers have a potentially modern business methods applicable to newspapers. It is
larger audience than the population of the US but face many found that a large majority of the small newspapers are not
problems. The pattern of ownership is among the most capable of self-sufficient growth and cannot be regarded as
disturbing factors of Indian journalism (Eapen KE, Daily economically sustainable (Rao, 1966) [22]. Sharma argues
newspapers in India: their status and problems, 1967) [21]. that small newspapers are the pillars of democracy in this
According to Rao, one handicap with small newspapers is country as they accommodate the needs of the majority of
the paucity of good news and feature services at cheap rates. the Indian population and particularly those who live in the
While the big papers subscribe to most of the news and rural areas (Sharma, 2006) [2]. However, ‘the problems of
feature syndicates and besides have their own small newspapers are the same in every state. They relate to
correspondents and news services as well, small newspapers the lack of transport and communication facilities,
find it beyond their means to subscribe to news agency inadequate printing machinery, costly news services,
services, let alone having their own correspondents. They inadequate information sources, untrained staff, lack of
often have problems filling their pages with quality material. economic support, absence of credit facilities and
They have many difficulties but small newspapers always consultation service, shortage of newsprint, insufficient
do remarkable work in the Indian press (Rao, 1966) [22]. advertisement in important ones’ (Rao, 1966) [22].
Surendra Pratap Singh apprises that it is common Anurag Tripathi describes the struggles of small newspapers
knowledge that some scams and scandals in the country in chapters such as ‘Poora Sach’ (the complete truth) and
were first exposed by small newspapers. ‘The cement scam ‘Lekha-Jokha (The chronicle). In the chapter, “A journalist
of Antualy was first exposed in a small regional newspaper is silenced”, he highlighted the problems and potential of
with reliable evidence. The infamous incident of the small newspapers (Tripathi, 2018) [8].
Bhagalpur blinding case due to which an English newspaper
received international recognition was first reported in a Research Methodology
small newspaper in Hindi’ (Anuradha, 2011) [12]. Objective of the study
Small newspapers serve as a bridge between the people To identify the problems faced by owners and editors of
living in the interiors of the country on the one hand and the such publications.
local administration, state government, and the central To identify the potentials of small Hindi Newspapers of
government on the other (PCI., 2001) [13]. India.
In 1965 an inquiry into small newspapers revealed that six
proprietors who ran their publications were doing so at a Considering the objectives of this study, two Hindi
loss; as missionary work (Jeffrey R, India's Newspaper newspapers each from 19 States (including 3 union
Revolution, 2000), ‘Generally a vernacular journal was the territories) were selected for the study, amounting to a total
product of a singlehanded effort where usually an individual of 38 newspapers. The selected 19 states are the only states
was the editor, the owner, and also the publisher. A regular which show a significant presence of small newspapers in
body of the staff was almost unknown. These editor the Hindi language.
proprietors all over the country working on their own not
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Keeping in mind the objectives of the study, the Shyam Singh Panwar (Jan Samna)
interview of the following was conducted Keshav Dutt Chandola (Raput Maryada)
Nominated members of the Press Council of India Editor/Owner of the concerned newspapers.
from the category of Small Newspaper
Table 1: List of editors and owners for interview
No. Newspapers Name Owner’s Name Editor’s Name
1. Swatantra Vaartha Aga Publication Ltd. Radhey Shyam Shukla
2. Swatantra Vaartha Aga Publication Ltd. Radhey Shyam Shukla
3. Dainik Purvoday Purvoday Publication Ltd. Satyanand Pathak
4. Dainik Purvoday Purvoday Publication Ltd. Satyanand Pathak
5. Bihar Ki Hakikat Kumar Abhimanyu Kumar Abhimanyu
6. Mona Times Surendra Prasad Surendra Prasad
7. Pehli Khabar First Newsmedia Pvt. Ltd. Surrendra S. Hooda
8. Jansatta The Indian Express Ltd. Mukesh Bhardwaj
9. Samachar Khoj Ganesh Singh Rajpoot Ganesh Singh Rajpoot
10. Chhattisgarh Swar Sai Kripa Trading Pvt. Ltd Ganesh Singh Rajpoot
11. Savera India Times Naresh Agrawal Naresh Agrawal
12. Ashli Azadi Maruti Nandan Publication Vijay J. Bhatt
13. Rashtrawadi Times Chandra-Jyoti P. Pvt. Ltd Ram Sakal Tiwari
14. Ishan Times Sanjay Rai Sanjay Rai
15. Janabhumi erald Harishbhai M. Sapkal Harishbhai M. Sapkal
16. Jan Hitaisi Laxmichand G. Agrawal Laxmichand Agrawal
17. Babyian Times Manju Gupta Manju Gupta
18. Tyagi Times Dharampal Tyagi Satpal Tyagi
19. Dainik Bhaskar D.B. Corp. Ltd. Uttam Sen Gupta
20. Dainik Jagran Jagran Prakashan Pvt. Ltd. Sanjay Gupta
21. Chamakata Aiyna Binay Kumar Shukla Jai Prakash Rai
22. Apna India Alok Kumar Soren Prakash Kumar Jha
23. Dainik Jagran Jagran Prakashan Pvt. Ltd. Abhimanyu Sharma
24. Northern Times Ashok Kumar Raina Ashok Kumar Raina
25. Dopahar Ka Sammna Prabodhan Prakashan Bal Keshav Theckeray
26. Tarun Mitra Kailash Nath Swatantra Kumar
27. Dainik Alok Mohammad Hamid Khan Mohammad H. Khan
28. Kirti Kranti Umesh Dixit Lokesh Dixit
29. Dainik Jagran Jagran Prakashan Pvt. Ltd. Sanjay Gupta
30. Dainik Jagran Jagran Prakashan Pvt. Ltd. Sanjay Gupta
31. Asian Standard Anilkant Sharma Anilkant Sharma
32. Hello Times Kailash Chandra Muta Kailash Chandra Muta
33. City Times Media Communication Pvt. Ltd Shailendra M Tripathi
34. News Reader P. Kumar P. Kumar
35. Rudra Times Amit Kumar Sharma Sneh Lata Sharma
36. Kumaon Times Krishna Kumar Gupta Krishna Kumar Gupta
37. Hind Samvad Imtiyaz Khan Imtiyaz Khan
38. Rajasthan Patrika Rajasthan Patrika Pvt. Ltd. Govind Chaturvedi
Theoretical perspective newspapers, individual circulation is low and their markets
Social theory of the Media: The freedom of the press is are different local areas. They do not, therefore, attract
important not just to democracy but also imperative for enough advertisement grants from big advertisers, such as
human development. The role of media in facilitating Indian companies, or even from the central government;
human development as well as democratic consolidation what to speak of support from the Multinational companies.
emanates from its ‘watchdog’ function. Free media The lack of newsprint at an affordable price and
increases government accountability and public awareness, unavailability of trained journalists on account of their small
leading to enhanced possibilities of human development. budgets is also a major problem. The symptoms of attrition
The communication media as essential for the maintenance are visible in local newspapers everywhere: losing or
of society and enquires about the press as a true or a false stagnant circulation, falling advertising revenues, poor
carrier of news and information. Tonnies considered production values, non-existent marketing set up. The
newspapers to be a ‘printed marketplace’ now as the press review of literature also substantiates this (Rao, 1966) [22],
was construed as the organ of the public opinion. The social (Jeffrey, 2000) [20], (Eshbaugh-Soha, Matthew; Peake,
theory of the media contributes to any formulation of the Jeffrey S., 2006) [26], (Ninan, 2007) [25].
media’s role in the triangle of democracy-media- Small newspapers are also “losing the battle on printing and
development. technical quality” (Ninan, 2007) [25]. As printing technology
became cheaper, there was an increase in the newspaper
Discussion business which made it easy for the owners of small
The problems of small Hindi newspapers: For small newspapers. However, that is not sufficient, as a newspaper
needs the support of the readers, advertisements, and that of
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the state (Jeffrey, 2000) [20]. Nireekshak comments on the which were then sold in the black” (Ninan, 2007) [25].
entry of foreign media and points out that, ‘the foreign According to a report issued by the inquiry committee on
media with its vast resource would complete with small newspapers, many small newspapers print news
indigenous press in a way that Indian press will be without any affirmative confirmation of an incident and
eliminated “along with the indigenous small, medium, and hence do not abstain from the sensational, defamatory, and
languages press, the domestic news agencies will also have abusive language in their write-ups. The Amrit Varsha from
to wind up’ (Nireekshak, 2000) [27]. Also substantiate, Dhanbad (Jharkhand) has been notorious for blackmailing
(Gupta, 2016) [33], (Khan MH, 2017) [31], (Tyagi, 2017) [32], the sales officials (Jeffrey, 2000) [20]. Ram Shakal Tiwary,
(Kumar, 2018) [39], (Agrawal N., 2018) [35], (Agrawal L. G., the editor of Rashtrawadi Times newspaper published from
2018) [35], (Bhatt, 2018) [39]. Delhi, told a researcher that he also uses pressure tactics on
Due to a lack of monetary strengths, ‘Journalists are government’s officials in order to obtain news which is
streaming out of the industry because ‘along with low pay, unacceptable as this newspaper is not published officially.
journalists working in local papers complain constantly of The “commercial instincts of Hindi press were honed early
overwork, long hours’ (Barter, 2005) [36]. Hence, low budget on by developing pragmatic political linkages to procure
is an essential problem witnessed by the small Hindi land and favours. Both big and small Hindi newspapers have
newspapers. As per the research, most of the government benefited from governments” (Ninan, 2007) [25].
advertisements are distributed through the Directorate of Small newspaper journalists received many threats for
Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). The rates of publishing local news if it reveals wrongdoing or oppression
DAVP are relatively low. The barriers of red-tapism have to by people in powerful positions. On October 3rd, 1980, a
be overcome to get recognition from this organization. Big 23-year-old woman journalist named Chhavi Rani was
newspapers get the ads automatically but it becomes a murdered after being raped as she had exposed corruption
problem for small newspapers. DAVP pays 1/3 of the rates her small newspaper 'Pragativadi' in collaboration with her
to English newspapers for the advertisements as compared husband. In April 1991, Mohammed Shaban 'lawyer', editor
to regional language newspapers (Bhargava, 2009) [37]. of 'Alsafa', a small Urdu newspaper was killed in Srinagar
According to Table 6.1, we can see that the DAVP offers because he criticized both sides (Jeffrey, 2000) [20]. The
many benefits to the big corporate house newspapers. editor of Hind Samwad newspaper which is published from
This claim has also been substantiated by (Khan I., 2015), Asansol told the researcher that ‘he was threatened many
(Gupta, 2016) [33], (Khan MH, 2017) [31], (Tyagi, 2017) [32], times from anti-social elements for writing against them.
(Kumar, 2018) [39], (Agrawal N., 2018) [35], (Agrawal L. G., The journalist had exposed black marketers as well as
2018) [35], (Bhatt, 2018) [39]. contractors and was threatened to remain silent. Such
A small newspaper does not even follow the guidelines of incidences have also been substantiated. (Gupta, 2016) [33],
the Press Council of India. Example-Newspaper Chamaktha (Agrawal LG, 2018) [35].
Aiyna (Jamshedpur) had published pictures of Nirbhaya in Small local papers have also realized after big newspapers
Nirbhaya case in 2012. Also substantiate by (Annual Report invaded their markets that they cannot afford to be only and
1990-91, 1991). truly local because they have a low budget and cannot
As per the report of the inquiry committee on the small compete with the big boys of the publishing industry which
newspaper, it is found that due to inappropriate and the have made a big impact on the regional language sector.
supremacy of big press owned by big business houses, the Small newspapers also realized that the big ones would not
small-scale newspapers are not being established. Small do the stories the smaller papers covered such as exposing
newspapers are available but they do not get advertisements corruption, or pollution caused by the industry as it would
or get fewer advertisements. They cannot stay in affect the revenue they earned from their advertisers.
competition with the big newspapers (Jeffrey, 2000) [20]. (Ninan, 2007) [25].
Small newspapers have continued to ask for more According to a report issued by the inquiry committee on
advertisements from the central and state governments. In small newspapers, the government allocates newsprints in
1971, they argued the government to 'direct all advertisers to the name of promoting small newspapers. However, these
give 25 per cent of the total advertisement budget to small newspapers present exaggerated consumption figures with
and medium newspapers’. Although the Government of increased numbers and sell their newspapers at higher
India and the public establishments have announced prices. After 1991, the newspapers were given an exemption
protection for small and medium newspapers but this has for importing the paper directly, but on the condition that
not been implemented in real terms (Jeffrey, 2000) [20]. This they have to purchase a fixed quota of Indian Newspapers
has also been substantiated by editors of small Hindi too (Jeffrey, 2000) [20].
newspapers of India.
Small newspapers run into losses, but journalists keep on Local Matters: Potential of Small Newspapers
publishing these newspapers to serve social causes and in If the news is our window to the world, then local news is
public interest. A report from 1965 shows that although a set our window to the part of the world we actually inhabit.
of small newspapers was undergoing losses, the owners of Local news tells us what is happening in our own backyards
those six newspapers continued to publish newspapers in and streets. Local journalism is part of the social cement
order to serve society (Jeffrey, 2000) [20]. Also substantiate which binds communities together and, is widely and
the same (Gupta, 2016) [33], (Khan MH, 2017) [31], (Tyagi, rightly, viewed as an essential element in the construction of
2017) [32], (Kumar, 2018) [39], (Agrawal LG, 2018) [35], a viable local identity. Local news and local journalism are
(Agrawal N., 2018) [35], (Bhatt, 2018) [39]. important for communities and the broader information
Alternatively, such publishing can continue for one of the ecosystem. Local newspapers are the main media sources of
following “three reasons: for blackmail, for government and information about local news and politics.
public sector advertisements, and for newsprint quotas
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International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies https://www.socialstudiesjournal.com
Local newspapers scrutinize local democracy intensively 11. Ray GN. Problems and prospects of small newspapers.
and also demonstrate the distinctive position of a newspaper Future of Print Media. Kolkata, West Bengal, India:
in a community. Localization provides media access to Press Council of India; 2005 Aug 13.
everyone without restrictions. The local press writes about 12. Anuradha R. Patrakarita Ka Mahanayak: Surendra
issues of the common man and is very influential. Local Pratap Singh. New Delhi: Rajkamal Prakashan; 2011.
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