Do you find TOI offensive/embarassing?

WindRide · 30th July 2010, 13:48

I have been a regular subscriber of TOI-Bangalore edition for the past couple of years. While I lap up the detailed almost-investigative reporting on national and international news events, i have recently begun experiencing bouts of embarassment every morning going thru certain sections of this daily - the centerfold and the supplement. There will usually be articles and photographs of starlets (and increasing stars as well) that, a decade ago, would have graced the pages of certain MEN'S-ONLY magazines.

I wish the editorial team realises the mixed-age group of this daily's intended audience and clamps down on some of the more ..err... ummm ....'eye-catching' content.

Iam considering alternatives to TOI currently. Deccan Herald seems a good bet.

deepakhon · 30th July 2010, 13:52

I have been reading Deccan Herald since 30 years. I have gotten used to it. I do not think I will ever move over to TOI.

ampere · 30th July 2010, 13:55

I must say I grew up with TOI. I have seen various editions across the country. Those were the times, when they used to tie up with Times-London and there articles were awesome. I actually used to keep cut-outs of many book reviews.

I guess Southern-States were the last Bastion of their conquest. Its mostly Hindu and others down South. But with lots of Gossips/Page 3/Tabloid material, they have increased in circulation. Now I could zip through the paper in 5 minutes flat, with the satisfaction of reading the day's paper and not having learnt anything. But still it was quite difficult to come out of TOI since I grew up with it.

With some effort I have shifted to Hindu and now TOI seems like "Yuck".

Only good thing that has happened of late is the crest edition. But that also quality is a pretty much roller-coaster. Articles are extreme.

I am pretty much on to Hindu now.

sachinj12 · 30th July 2010, 13:59

Bangalore Times is literally a soft porn supplement. Over the years, they have just gone from bad to worse to unthinkable. I literally hide the papers when my niece turns up at my place. Not to mention, I am embarrassed to read BT when my parents are around.

Bangalore mirror, let me not even get started.

Times life is good, love that Soul Curry article.

download2live · 30th July 2010, 14:00

Hindu is the only paper worth reading where the reporting is balanced and you get to read articles written by experts (and not the page 3 stars). TOI has gone to dogs. Just checkout the today's online edition.

Super important Mr Rahul mahajan beats his wife. That is worth coverage on main page?????

amitoj · 30th July 2010, 14:02

Most of stuff that comes out of the news media is third grade.

Quote:

Originally Posted by download2live

Super important Mr Rahul mahajan beats his wife. That is worth coverage on main page?????

Today's Deccan Herald has a headline on Page 3 " Family Escapes Jaws of Death". Read the article and you will get to know that ankle deep water inside their house was the jaws of death!!

PRADEEP KUMAR · 30th July 2010, 14:05

Folks,
I grew up with Hindu. 2 years ago when i shifted to TOI. Initially it was like more news-the printed area is more vis a vis Hindu.Offlate, i find that they prefer sensationalism over reporting.Hindu used to be very subdued reporting.
I wrote to the editor and complained about the ADULT pictures that they splash every day and in fact i find that the picture content in Chennai is a lot more (un)accpetable compared to even a BLR edition.
I may shift to Hindu in the near future if these guys don't improve the quality of reporting.

cheers

WindRide · 30th July 2010, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRADEEP KUMAR

... i find that the picture content in Chennai is a lot more (un)accpetable compared to even a BLR edition.
...

Considering Chennai is a lot more traditional in its outlook, this is just not acceptable.

Wonder if there is anything that can be done against TOI other than writing snail/emails to editor which go mostly unread?

kaushikr · 30th July 2010, 14:12

Content in the Times of India supplements have been a debatable ones, however looks like some of the news items which were appearing in the supplements are making way into the main paper too.

We were subscribing to the Deccan Herald but now we keep alternating between The Hindu and Times of India. The Hindu is undoubtedly a very good paper, but the amount of local content they had was quite sparse and also, information like power-cut timing and water supply interruptions were not available in The Hindu. So we were forced to lean towards The Times of India.

lohithrao · 30th July 2010, 14:29

I have been TOI rader for a while and offlate its more nonsense then something worth, felt DH better!

funkykar · 30th July 2010, 14:37

I started reading TOI from school days(a decade ago), when TOI was supplied in my school as NIE(NewsPaper In Education). Not sure if NIE is still in schools.

Bangalore Mirror is just YUCK material.

Only article I like in TOI these days is "Speaking Tree".

Arkin evoisrevo · 30th July 2010, 14:40

The times of India is really a chore to read for me. Everytime I read a TOI, I feel like I'm gonna puke. Not just the content, even the way stuff is arranged makes it a chaotic time reading it. My parents have been reading (And have seen to it that I read) the Hindu for as long as I remember. Though we used to get TOI along with the Hindu for 5 years, I never want to tell anyone that I read/used to read TAI. Bangalore Times is just a waste of paper, and I'm sure, is thrown away by at least 80 % of the decent readers. It is surely not meant for the common man, who is clearly the majority.

I would like to point out another thing. Some newspapers like TOI and the Hindu produce 'NIE' - Newspaper in Education for school students at subsidised rates, supplied at schools. I have read both TOI NIE and The Hindu NIE, and the TOI NIE is daylight robbery with stuff similar to Bangalore times, containing 0.0001% news, and the rest, just useless trivia. In fact, my parents approached the principal of the school I used to study in, to talk to him about the influence some obscene pictures and articles in the magazine could have on the students.

.

On the other hand, the Hindu NIE is basically the normal hindu, as it is, at half price!

anilisanil · 30th July 2010, 14:42

I was (and am still) so irritated with it that I stopped my subscription, but my wife needs some old news paper sheets for house keeping, so we re-subscribed!

BTW for English language purists they are a pain in <insert the body part here>. Full of mistakes and no ethics at all!

gopal.prabhu1 · 30th July 2010, 14:43

The only good thing about the TOI is that it gives a good ROI - when you sell it to the old paper guys.

WindRide · 30th July 2010, 14:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by gopal.prabhu1

The only good thing about the TOI is that it gives a good ROI - when you sell it to the old paper guys.

Which is surpising considering The Hindu uses better paper.

Mods - is there anyway to know who voted for what? Guess i forgot to check/uncheck that option which creating this thread

View Poll Results: Do you find TOI offensive/embarassing?
Yes	125	70.62%
No	42	23.73%
No Comment	10	5.65%
Voters: 177. You may not vote on this poll

30th July 2010, 13:48	#1
WindRide BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 685 Thanked: 482 Times	Do you find TOI offensive/embarassing? I have been a regular subscriber of TOI-Bangalore edition for the past couple of years. While I lap up the detailed almost-investigative reporting on national and international news events, i have recently begun experiencing bouts of embarassment every morning going thru certain sections of this daily - the centerfold and the supplement. There will usually be articles and photographs of starlets (and increasing stars as well) that, a decade ago, would have graced the pages of certain MEN'S-ONLY magazines. I wish the editorial team realises the mixed-age group of this daily's intended audience and clamps down on some of the more ..err... ummm ....'eye-catching' content. Iam considering alternatives to TOI currently. Deccan Herald seems a good bet. Last edited by WindRide : 30th July 2010 at 13:50.
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 13:52	#2
deepakhon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,441 Thanked: 77 Times	I have been reading Deccan Herald since 30 years. I have gotten used to it. I do not think I will ever move over to TOI.
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 13:55	#3
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 18,339 Thanked: 13,628 Times View My Garage	I must say I grew up with TOI. I have seen various editions across the country. Those were the times, when they used to tie up with Times-London and there articles were awesome. I actually used to keep cut-outs of many book reviews. I guess Southern-States were the last Bastion of their conquest. Its mostly Hindu and others down South. But with lots of Gossips/Page 3/Tabloid material, they have increased in circulation. Now I could zip through the paper in 5 minutes flat, with the satisfaction of reading the day's paper and not having learnt anything. But still it was quite difficult to come out of TOI since I grew up with it. With some effort I have shifted to Hindu and now TOI seems like "Yuck". Only good thing that has happened of late is the crest edition. But that also quality is a pretty much roller-coaster. Articles are extreme. I am pretty much on to Hindu now.
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 13:59	#4
sachinj12 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,187 Thanked: 169 Times	Bangalore Times is literally a soft porn supplement. Over the years, they have just gone from bad to worse to unthinkable. I literally hide the papers when my niece turns up at my place. Not to mention, I am embarrassed to read BT when my parents are around. Bangalore mirror, let me not even get started. Times life is good, love that Soul Curry article. Last edited by sachinj12 : 30th July 2010 at 14:01.
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 14:00	#5
download2live Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: - Posts: 1,157 Thanked: 1,279 Times	Hindu is the only paper worth reading where the reporting is balanced and you get to read articles written by experts (and not the page 3 stars). TOI has gone to dogs. Just checkout the today's online edition. Super important Mr Rahul mahajan beats his wife. That is worth coverage on main page?????
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 14:05	#7
PRADEEP KUMAR BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 388 Thanked: 29 Times	Folks, I grew up with Hindu. 2 years ago when i shifted to TOI. Initially it was like more news-the printed area is more vis a vis Hindu.Offlate, i find that they prefer sensationalism over reporting.Hindu used to be very subdued reporting. I wrote to the editor and complained about the ADULT pictures that they splash every day and in fact i find that the picture content in Chennai is a lot more (un)accpetable compared to even a BLR edition. I may shift to Hindu in the near future if these guys don't improve the quality of reporting. cheers
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 14:12	#9
kaushikr BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 129 Thanked: 55 Times	Content in the Times of India supplements have been a debatable ones, however looks like some of the news items which were appearing in the supplements are making way into the main paper too. We were subscribing to the Deccan Herald but now we keep alternating between The Hindu and Times of India. The Hindu is undoubtedly a very good paper, but the amount of local content they had was quite sparse and also, information like power-cut timing and water supply interruptions were not available in The Hindu. So we were forced to lean towards The Times of India.
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 14:29	#10
lohithrao Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kudla/Mangaluru Posts: 3,203 Thanked: 226 Times View My Garage	I have been TOI rader for a while and offlate its more nonsense then something worth, felt DH better!
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 14:37	#11
funkykar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,686 Thanked: 6,887 Times View My Garage	I started reading TOI from school days(a decade ago), when TOI was supplied in my school as NIE(NewsPaper In Education). Not sure if NIE is still in schools. Bangalore Mirror is just YUCK material. Only article I like in TOI these days is "Speaking Tree".
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 14:40	#12
Arkin evoisrevo BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: KA03; AP02 Posts: 679 Thanked: 113 Times View My Garage	The times of India is really a chore to read for me. Everytime I read a TOI, I feel like I'm gonna puke. Not just the content, even the way stuff is arranged makes it a chaotic time reading it. My parents have been reading (And have seen to it that I read) the Hindu for as long as I remember. Though we used to get TOI along with the Hindu for 5 years, I never want to tell anyone that I read/used to read TAI. Bangalore Times is just a waste of paper, and I'm sure, is thrown away by at least 80 % of the decent readers. It is surely not meant for the common man, who is clearly the majority. I would like to point out another thing. Some newspapers like TOI and the Hindu produce 'NIE' - Newspaper in Education for school students at subsidised rates, supplied at schools. I have read both TOI NIE and The Hindu NIE, and the TOI NIE is daylight robbery with stuff similar to Bangalore times, containing 0.0001% news, and the rest, just useless trivia. In fact, my parents approached the principal of the school I used to study in, to talk to him about the influence some obscene pictures and articles in the magazine could have on the students. . On the other hand, the Hindu NIE is basically the normal hindu, as it is, at half price! Last edited by Arkin evoisrevo : 30th July 2010 at 14:42.
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 14:42	#13
anilisanil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Pune Posts: 1,420 Thanked: 291 Times	I was (and am still) so irritated with it that I stopped my subscription, but my wife needs some old news paper sheets for house keeping, so we re-subscribed! BTW for English language purists they are a pain in <insert the body part here>. Full of mistakes and no ethics at all! Last edited by anilisanil : 30th July 2010 at 14:56.
	() Thanks

30th July 2010, 14:43	#14
gopal.prabhu1 BHPian Join Date: May 2010 Location: UK Posts: 40 Thanked: 2 Times	The only good thing about the TOI is that it gives a good ROI - when you sell it to the old paper guys.
	() Thanks