Shimla : It seems to be a bad time for the print media in Himachal Pradesh as eight out of ten major newspapers in the state are shrinking and taking a slump , according to the latest Indian Readership Survey (IRS) Q 2 this year released Monday .
The number one daily is Amar Ujala and is recording the fastest growth at 23.7 per cent in the second quarter , the survey says . Amar Ujala has an AIR(Average Issue Readership) of 4.59 lakh in Q 2 this year as compared to 4.34 lakh in the previous quarter and 3.71 lakh in Q 2 , 2010 .
Followed by Punjab Kesri which is continuously losing base in the state.It has recorded an AIR of 3.45 lakh in IRS Q 2 2011 as compared to 3.65 lakh the previous quarter and 4,06 lakh in IRS Q 2 2010 . The paper has lost 15 per cent readers in the last one year .
Divya Himachal is at number 3 with an AIR of 1.63 lakh in Q 2 of IRS 2011 .It had an AIR of 1.85 lakh the previous quarter and 1.67 lakh last year .
Dainik Bhaskar comes next with 52,000 readers . The paper lost 7,000 readers in the current AIR . In Q 2 of IRS 2010 Bhaskar had an AIR of 61,000 readers .
English daily The Tribune stands 5 th with 40,000 circulation .The Chandigarh daily has lost 7000 readers in the current AIR .
Dainik Jagran the country’s number 1 daily stands sixth in Himachal with 18,000 readers . The hindi daily has lost 3,000 readers in the current quarter . It had an AIR of 42,000 in Q 2 of IRS 2010 .
Hindustan Times has added 3000 readers to take its AIR to 16,000 copies in IRS Q 2 2011 .
The Times of India the world’s largest selling English daily is at no 8 in Himachal with 8000 readers .The paper has lost 2000 readers in the current quarter . TOI had an AIR of 11,000 in Q 2 , last year .
Next comes the Economic Times with 3000 readers .
Until 2009 the IRS came up with half yearly figures but since last year has quarterly figures .
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.
I think this is due to Internet revolution as In Himachal internet was not widely spread but now its slowly and slowly growing so those who are in regular touch with net they read news online and now tvs are 24 by 7 news provider so another factor added …..