Read the given passage and answer the following questions:
The Indian Language Newspaper Revolution
The most significant happening in the last few decades has been the Indian language newspaper revolution. The beginnings 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)
Source: National Readership Survey 2002.
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. 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.
What reasons can be attributed to the emerging growth of Indian language newspapers?
Following reasons can be attributed to the emerging growth of Indian language newspapers;
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First, there has been a rise in the number of literate people who are migrating to cities.
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Second, the needs of the readers in the small towns and villages are different from that of the cities and the Indian language newspapers cater to those needs.
- Adoption of advanced printing technology in the field of print media has helped boost the production and circulation of newspapers.
- Moreover, the success of the Eenadu newspaper has given a new dimension to the Indian language press. Basically, the Indian language newspapers are taking up and highlighting the local and regional issues effectively.
