Tehelka made its debut with a big bang. In fact the echoes of that bang can still be heard. So obviously I was expecting a lot of sensation and at least a few dingy revelations from our unseen political world in the shiny new newspaper by the Tehelka guys.
First the format. The newspaper is a weekly, that comes out ever Sunday ( I am not sure about Sunday), it costs Rs. 10. It of the size of Sahara newspaper (which is smaller than most of the daily newspapers). This makes it very easy to hold and read, without having to stretch out the hands painfully for long durations. There are about 40 pages in the newspaper and all of them were glossy (like the TOI Sunday supplements).
Till now I have read just 2 issues of the paper. So what ever opinion that I have formed is based on just these 2 editions.
Overall this is an all purpose newspaper. The stories are general, which one can find in India Today and Outlook. In fact I would not even call it a newspaper. It should be called a newsweekly. The stories were much too political (as expected from any newsweekly) and pessimistic (another met expectation). The quality of writing was decent and nothing remarkable. Very much in line with the competition. The editorials were of decent quality and the authors presented their views in a nice manner.
There was a leisure section as well. But that was a pure disappointment. Some page 3 news, a horoscope, some leggy photos and that?s it. Not much scope for intellectual simulation. (Mind game on TOI Sunday was brilliant).
What disappointed me the most about this newspaper was the lack of something new. I was expecting a lot more from it as it was coming from the Tarun Tejpal camp. I agree even Tehelka cannot bring out a sensation every week, but cant help but keep expectations high from this newspaper because of their past record.
But overall a good Sunday reading paper with a countrywide roundup of the political happenings and an editorial to give their views about the news and its implications.
I have decided that I will read this newspaper regularly for the following reasons
? Till now as good as the competition.
? They have vowed to expose corruption and criminalization of politics and I wish to support their cause.
? I like Tarun Tejpal as a Journalist and would like to see his future work.
But they seriously have to put a lot more content into it, as the India Today and Outlook have too famous and until a product far superior to theirs comes into the picture, it will not have a chance to make it big.