Trace out the changes that have been occuring in the newspaper industry? What is your opinion on these changes?

(i)The first modern mass media institution began with the development of the printing press. This modern technique was first developed by Johan Gutenberg in 1440.

(ii) Initial attempts at printing were restricted to religious books. With the Industrial Revolution (1750-1860), the print industry also grew.

(iii) In the mid 19th century, with further development in technologies, transportation and literacy that newspapers began to reach out to a mass audience. People living in different corners of the country found themselves reading or hearing the same news. It has been suggested that this was in many ways responsible for people across a country to feel connected; and develop a sense of belonging or feeling.

(iv) In India in 19th century social reformers often wrote and debated in newspapers and journals. Anti-colonial public opinion was nurtured and channelised by the nationalist press which was vocal in its opposition to the opressive measures of the colonial state. This led the colonial government to clamp down on the nationalist press and impose censorship for instance during the Ilbert Bill agitation in 1883.

(v) Anti-Ilbert Bill agitation or movement led some of the Indian national newspapers like Kesari (Marathi), Matrabhoomi (Malayalam), Amrita Bazar Patrika (English) to suffer the displeasure of the colonial state.

(vi) Under British rule newspapers and magazines comprised the range of mass media.

(vii) Newspapers though autonomous from the state were strictly monitored by the British Raj-newspapers and magazines either in English or vernacular were not very widely circulated as the literate public was limited.

(viii) However, the influence of the newspapers far outstripped their circulation news and information was read and spread by words of mouth from commercial and administration hubs like markets and trading centres as well as courts and towns.

(ix) Newspapers and magazines carried a range of opinion, which expressed their ideas of a free India. These variations were carried over to independent India.

(x) After independence, the print media continued to share the general approach of being a partner in the task of nation building by taking up development issues as well as giving voice to the widest section of the people. However, during the black days of emergency of 1975-77 the newspaper had to face many problems, challenges and censorship of the media. Fortunately, the period ended and democracy was restored in 1977.

(xi) The Indian language newspaper revolution: The most significant happening in the last few decades has been the Indian language newspaper revolution. The beginning of this growth predated liberalisation. The top two dailies in India are Dainik Jagran and Dainik Bhaskar with a readership of 21 million and 17 million respectively. The fastest growing dailies are the Assamese dailies in urban areas (51.8 per cent increase) and the Bengali dailies in rural areas (129 per cent).

(xii) The Eenadu story also exemplifies the success of the Indian language press. Ramoji Rao the founder of Eenadu, had successfully organised a chit-fund, before launching the paper in 1974. By associating with appropriate causes in the rural areas like the Anti-arrack movement in the mid-1980s, the Telugu newspaper was able to reach into the countryside. This prompted it to launch ‘district dailies' in 1989. These were tabloid inserts or sensational features carrying news from particular districts as well as classified advertisements from villages and small towns . of the same areas. By 1998 Eenadu was being published from ten towns in Andhra Pradesh and its circulation accounted for 70 per cent of the audited Telugu daily circulation.