Do you find TOI offensive/embarassing?

AdityaLN · 30th July 2010, 19:53

I have been a reader of Indian Express, now The New Indian Express.

TOI feels like a Infotainment rather than a News Paper. They are more concerned with hype rather than the actual news. Sometimes, the paper and their web site have very bad editing. I have seen them mixing their Millions and Billions many times. I am not sure if this is deliberate because their target audience/reader doesn't care.

I heard a editor of a rival paper once say, "TOI has the pulse of the nation". I agree,they have those pictures and articles there because people deep down want such news and glamour. I know a lot of people who say TOI is rubbish but still read it every morning. They say they are hooked. They wouldn't care what Hindu, DH or IE readers say as long as their readers stick with them.

All said, we have to admit they sell. They sell more than any one else. They are the biggest English daily in the country. They couldn't have sustained this without getting something right.

manolin · 30th July 2010, 19:57

if u can tolerate the extra business focus, the Business Standard is an excellent alternative. The ed and op-ed articles in this paper are way better competition (Hindu i find is very biased ideologically). And their coverage of non-business news is frankly quite good; ideally one should supplement it with a local language paper for local news.

mail4ajo · 31st July 2010, 01:22

Hindu is the only newspaper I read and will read seriously. Period. Rest are all toilet paper for me. I cant stand DC

bblost · 31st July 2010, 01:28

Long back when I was in school there was a Journalism workshop.
The speaker was from the Indian Express. He told us about his job interview. They had asked him, which newspaper he subscribed to.
He told them The Hindu.

Surprised they asked him why does he mention a rival. He cheekily replied that reading The Hindu is a habit and reading The Indian Express is a hobby.

I guess I do pretty much the same. I read and subscribe to The Hindu. My wife simply loves the crossword and I cannot change the paper even if I wanted to. But occasionally like to glance thru the DC or the TOI, when I come across them.

vivekiny2k · 31st July 2010, 01:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by mail4ajo

Hindu is the only newspaper I read and will read seriously. Period. Rest are all toilet paper for me. I cant stand DC

man, you take your newspaper very seriously

I used to like TOI (understandably) when I was in school because of the colorful (!) graphics. Haven't read a newspaper in a long time though.

I get my daily news form radio in car and then from internet when I have time.

prince_pervez · 31st July 2010, 02:05

I grew up with IE. It is still very good. When majority of the people want crap which sells and minority wants content based stuff, people will print crap which sells. After all it is a business not charity. Media is not just about news anymore. Its about programming people's mindset and their way of thinking. I never trust the media. It is either sponsored or programmed.

skartik2 · 31st July 2010, 21:35

some of you are so lucky to get both IE and Hindu.

WindRide · 1st August 2010, 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by skartik2

some of you are so lucky to get both IE and Hindu.

Er, why 'lucky'? Is it such a big deal?

thedreamcatcher · 1st August 2010, 02:17

I think TOI is one of the best News Papers and format in the country. And even in Delhi NCR area is one of the most widely circulated papers.

I do not see so much 'vulgar' content as some people have put it here, that they have to stop reading it. Infact, I once read the Hindu, and made sure it was my last.

By the way, I have read various news papers across the world, from NY to London to South East Asia, and several formats are in line with TOI.

Calling TOI softporn or whatever by people here is equitable to hypocrisy. Whats so shameful in the content. Isnt everyone glued to channels like Timesnow, which is a similar kind of mixed bag, or Headlines Today, NDTV. or you guys happy watching Doordarshan news.

For your information, your kids dont need to see the TOI, go out and look at the number of filmy posters with half clothed actressess across varoous places in Bangalore.

Maybe I belong to a different school of thought, please remove my thread if you find so. Or else, I am more than happy to constructively, and positively debate on this

Infact, I find TOI Blr a bit more toned down as compared to TOI of other West and Northern cities

kiku007 · 1st August 2010, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by download2live

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?????

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRADEEP KUMAR

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

+1. We subscribed to TOI Chennai edition when they launched it here. Having read 'The Hindu' for years, TOI is just rubbish. It's the vernacular equivalent in english in sensationalising the most useless and pointless issues. We had to live up with the TOI due to annual subscription. Now it'a back to 'The Hindu'. What a relief!

xingamazon · 1st August 2010, 11:35

@ WindRide: Hindu seems a better option if the TOI is not of your taste.

My Take: Pure news: The Hindu is the best
Non news Material : TOI is the best.

iPai · 1st August 2010, 11:47

My opinion: Hindu is the best. Pure news for us. Good knowledgeable content for Kids/Students.

TOI is a shame on journalism. Its more of an entertainment tabloid lacking in good, truthful and appropriate content. And if you check their website, they have stooped to such lows, that they now shows nude pics by just blurring at "sensitive" places

They should have classified the website and given suitable warning before posting such content on the site.

(Call me a hypocrite, but i told this only because even kids/students may easily access this site)
And more than half the website shows and discusses only s**, swimming pool parties, bikini models/parties, wet holi parties and so on. The news paper though stops short of printing such stuff. But nevertheless, as a old established national newspaper/news agency, i think it is socially irresponsible.

What i am trying to say is they have to classify themselves as an "adult" tabloid/website and clearly mention the target audience before posting such content.

WindRide · 1st August 2010, 16:51

Dreamcatcher - I respect your opinion and your right to have one. But i will defer on most of your points.

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