Many analysts claim that less time is spent on reading newspapers as the internet is eroding a major portion of newsprint consumers. Dinesh Shetty, unit manager – Mumbai, Sakal Media Group, has a rich experience in the circulation of news dailies and is optimistic about the growth of regional news dailies in Mumbai. Speaking to Indian Printer & Publisher he said, “In Mumbai, Marathi news dailies are showing a stable growth in terms of circulation and advertisements. Every vernacular daily has a set of readers that need to be targeted. Apart from newsprint, regional dailies like Pune-based Sakal have conducted various social activities with the involvement of citizens and have an edge. Readers of Sakal comprise the middle class ranging from the age group of 22 to 50 years.”
Speaking about the challenges faced by Sakal, Shetty said, “Today news is instantly available on smartphones, so keeping abreast with the changing digital landscape, Sakal is making its content available through ePaper and mobile apps. In the past, there was a craze for print media as most of the information was available only through dailies. Today the needs of our readers are met through social media and newsprint. News dailies are using twitter to engage readers for soliciting information.”
Coming up with growth centres is an approach that drives innovation and productivity by focussing on key strategic areas. For newsprint, Sakal has growth centres in Southern parts and suburbs of Mumbai as well as few regions of Thane to enhance circulation and generate advertisement revenues. Today Sakal focusses on content-based advertisements. For example, a mutual fund advertisement would appear on the financial page of the newspaper. It is a useful way to engage the readers and generate a positive response for a particular product or service.
Over the years, a newspaper requires various media to reach its readers. Taniskha, a publication by Sakal Media Group, empowers women and supports civic issues raised by them. For youngsters, Sakal has launched Young Inspiration Network (YIN) – an initiative for the college going students in Maharashtra. It is a platform for the youth to articulate and implement their ideas on the ground. Moreover, Sakal brings out two publications from Goa – Gomantak and Gomantak Times, a Marathi and English language daily respectively. Saptahik Sakal, Premier and Agrowon, a popular daily dedicated to agriculture and farming are also brought out by the Sakal Group, which publishes five daily newspapers with 12 editions, three weeklies, and three magazines in Marathi and English.
In 2015, Sakal received a Punyasbhusan Award from the president of India, Pranab Muhkerjee and the chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, who appreciated the unbiased coverage of news and different social initiatives taken by the Sakal Media Group.
Over the years, a newspaper requires various media to reach its readers. Taniskha, a publication by Sakal Media Group, empowers women and supports civic issues raised by them.
