The Hindu's Front Page "Real Estate"
This is the front page of The Hindu today, February 29, 2008. It's a full page ad hocking a new real-estate scheme. For more than a century The Hindu has been considered one of India's best newspapers, but selling its front page to an advertiser is nothing less than editorial treason.And it's just the most recent offender in a long line of terrible advertising ploys that undercut the credibility of journalism in India. Earlier this year the Decccan Chronicle pull a similar shenanigan when they thought no one would notice.
It's true, newspapers do need to support themselves on advertising dollars, but in order to retain credibility there is usually a wall between editorial and advertising. Reporters need to have free reign to write the stories they want, and the paper sells on the basis of those stories. By putting a full page advertisement on the front page the newspaper ceases to be a news source. It makes it the trash that delivery men leave on my doorstep.
I don't think I am going to read The Hindu anymore.
Labels: advertising, India, Newspaper, The Hindu, treason
posted by Scott Carney @ 4:37 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
The Hindu wasn't worth it anyway. I stopped reading it ages ago when I realised that their editorials were so lopsided and totally leftist. I'd strongly recommend The Statesman and The Pioneer; few good newspapers left in this country.
I've always liked The Hindu and thought it was one of the better newspapers (not just in India but in general). So yes, I was severely disappointed this morning to see them sell out like this.
I'm sure there must be more to this story than just someone throwing enough money at them.
IIRC (and Wikipedia agrees) the Hindu used to print ads on its front page up to the 1950s. So they're only reviving the practice.
That said, I agree the Hindu is unbearably stuffy -- it makes the Gray Lady look like a spring chicken.
The Bangalore edition didn't feature this advertising gimmick. I find The Hindu the most readable of all the papers on offer.
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Sometimes I guess to do good journalism, you have to do good business. but I wouldnt say that this was a wise move. It has offended so many loyal readers from its core base. TH is still leagues ahead of many publications that make entertainment or caricaturise every news item.
Well, if you stop reading The Hindu, what else would you read? Times of India is a disgrace. Someone mentioned The Pioneer and The Statesman, but I don't think they're available down South, and if they were, probably won't have any localised content.
Bah, it's The Hindu for now. They do need to loosen up a bit though
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