TOI - Times of India OR Totally Obnoxious/Obscene/Obscure Irritant, claims to be largest selling newspaper in India. It has evoked mixed responses from people. Some are ardent fans of this journal and some hate it. I just thought of putting my thought on MS for this largest(??) selling daily.
~:o:~ Coverage ~:o:~
TOI provides best coverage for what others can’t even think of and that is “Junk”. According to them News means Bollywood, Scandals, Underworld and what not. Politics for them is only dirty. Why can’t they try to highlight some positive aspects of India. India is not that bad, but if you go by newspaper, then we are living in a place full of Dons, corrupt police, bureaucrats. Oh my God, are the times so bad?
~:o:~ Newsmakers and Newsrakers Consortium ~:o:~
Delhi Times(DT) was initially launched as a 2 days a week supplement. Then somebody bright in Times Group thought of making plebeians aware of what is happening on upper social strata and provide them with a factory of dreams everyday. They made Page 3 a glossy affair with latest updates on who was partying where, and wearing (or not wearing) what. Does anybody really care what the designers, models, actors, industrialists and some young at heart politicians do on their weekends?
~:o:~ TOI at its philanthropic best ~:o:~
It gives value for your money. Where in the world will you get Meri Saheli, GrahShobha, Comics, News, Stardust all are rolled into one single journal?
TOI started off well with a small space on last page of DT dedicated to Bollywood. But it multiplied like cancerous cells and plagued the whole supplement and then spread its tentacle to the main newspaper. There are enough magazines on such subjects available in market for film news freaks. Why spoil a daily journal? But again its all matter of making money. If a common man (read plebeians) can get it everyday in mere few rupees, then why would they spend it on magazines costing 20 Rs. onwards.
~:o:~ DT plays cupid ~:o:~
TOI has dedicated a good amount of space for lonely hearts. Personal Ads/messages/agonies all are here.
~:o:~ Opinion Polls – Your opinion matters ~:o:~
Times Group has taken so much pain in making you voice your opinions on ”important” issues like –
Should Aish play a Bond Girl?
Will she use a body double?
Why can’t they ask for our opinions on general interest issues? But then they have to maintain the consistency, they can ask questions only on what reading material they provide to public, otherwise people have to consult other newspapers/magazines before casting their votes on the opinion polls. And how can they afford to lose their readers. Business strategy… you see…
~:o:~ Laughter is the best medicine ~:o:~
I wonder if they really edit the jokes that they publish in name of keeping public entertained. They are sick, vulgar and slapstick at times. Newspapers and the supplements are meant for family reading, and if this is the kind of material that they provide then Lord Save them, or is it, Lord Save Us? I suggest that they add a section of riddles instead of so-called non-sense jokes.
~:o:~ Around the world in 1.5 pages ~:o:~
Half a page, or may be I am wrong, one full page is reserved for ads in Global News section. And then what news we all get to read about our little world… Britney Spears declares that she wants to keep herself pure till she gets married…Michael Jackson sued…Janet Jackson apologises…Some XYZ reveals an affair with some ABC senator…Mafia kills n number of people… Is this the only thing going on this whole world?
~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~:o:~
If this all represents Times of India then India seems to have run into some bad patch of time when NEWS means all this trash.
On Positive Notes
-------------------------------
I don’t want to be totally biased on this issue. TOI does have few good points.
~:o:~ Ascent ~:o:~ Lifeline for the job seekers. Best of the jobs are advertised in this supplement.
~:o:~ Advertisements ~:o:~ Few ads(not all) in DT are really helpful – End of season sales :-) , New eating joint, new shopping place.
~:o:~ Vaastu Column ~:o:~ Vaastu Column in DT is good to read.
~:o:~ Property Times ~:o:~ This supplement is helpful for people who plan to buy new property or are on lookout for some rental premises.
Suggestions
-----------------------
Only if TOI team rack their brains and come up with
~:o:~ Medicine News ~:o:~ New discoveries in field of medicine, some general information on ongoing researches, making people aware of lifestyle hazards, suggestions to improve lifestyle. But then there are only few takers for such news.
~:o:~ Travel Reviews ~:o:~ They have something on these lines in their Sunday supplement, Men and Women, but then it is all about some celebrity dreamily telling you about how he/she enjoyed certain vacation. How about some facts folks? One Indian and One overseas destination from totally information point of view.
~:o:~ Cookery Section ~:o:~ A small space can be dedicated to this. This will attract more women readers. It need not be recipes only. It could be anything ranging from medicinal values of herbs, vegetables to recipes.
I am not sure if I have covered all the points, but then what are your comments for… Waiting for them :-)