Jagran Prakashan to publish facsimile edition of The Independent in India
13 Sep 2006
Jagran Prakashan Ltd (JPL), the publishers of the country's largest circulated newspaper, has today announced an in-principle agreement under which it will publish the facsimile edition of the UK-based broadsheet, The Independent's international edition from New Delhi.
Jagran Prakashan publishes Dainik Jagran, a Hindi newspaper that is also the country's largest circulated daily with a readership of about 19.2 million readers per day. The company started operations in 1942 and today publishes 31 editions across 10 states. It also publishes Sakhi, a monthly magazine targeted at women, and Jagran Varshika, an annual general knowledge digest.
"Strategic partnership between JPL and INM enables us to offer a quality international newspaper to Indian readers," says. Mahendra Mohan Gupta, chairman and managing director, Jagran Praksahan .
"The Independent is known for providing unmatched editorial insights into global businesses, markets and economies and has maintained unrivaled journalistic standards worldwide," added Gupta.
The
Independent Group is planning to increase its stake
by 1 per cent to 3 per cent in the Indian publishing
company, from the 20.8 per cent it currently holds.
Jagran Group is also in talks to sell 20-per cent stake
in its radio arm to the Independent Group.
Jagran Prakashan is also in process of finalising its
plan to launch the second brand, with a lower cover
price in regions where Dainik Jagran has presence.
The intention is to attract customers who would otherwise
have gone in for other papers. The Times of India
had made a similar move in Mumbai with the launch of
Mumbai Mirror but has not been successful.
The
group also owns the internet portal, jagran.com, which
it says is
the world's most visited site among all Hindi categories.
The company also provides a short-code service for news
in Hindi and English.
