At its inception, the Mid-Day (then, an eveninger) pushed the TOI’s publication out of gear and virtually monopolised that market. It boasted of splendid and mostly accurate reporting and offered far more entertainment value (read paisa vasool) than any newspaper in that segment.
By that measure, the Mid-Day (which they proudly declare is a profit-making company listed on the NSE & BSE) is today a shadow of its former self. Once known for its crisp reporting and precise editing, it has decided to gloat on past laurels. Complacence has set in, and it is evident as one reads through the pages. The subbie deserves to be shot for every mistake I find (which on an average is at least 10). The reporting is well-rounded only occasionally. Constant error has become the hallmark. Read the paper only for the columns, the MID-DAY MATE, their crosswords, and the editorials.
This does not dilute the fact that this is a widely read and discussed paper. There are some features that have spawned worthy(?) imitators(BT, anyone?). The news you get is fresh and as always tantalising. But very little research goes into the big stories. The paper is known for its gimmicks. Anyone who has read this daily will tell you how honest Mumbai really is. Or whether one gets special treatment at VIP locations just by virtue of the conveyance make. Or how easy it is to get married. Or divorced for that matter.
There are a few columnists (Anil Thakraney and Mukul Sharma, in particular) who catch your eye for their trademark wit. This paper is so popular with advertisers that if weighed, the classifieds would weigh double the weight of the rest of the paper.
The layout of the paper is easy on the eyes. The pictures are usually perfect. One wonders why the best writing you could find in the MID-DAY is only on a Sunday. That’s when the real ’stars’ come out to shine. The content is far more superior.
As far as dumbing down content is concerned, it beats ToI or BT hands down.
Read only for pure shock value. Or occasionally the lack of it.