It is shocking to see that within two weeks after the negative result in Telangana Assembly elections, Namaste Telangana, a daily run by the BRS family, has laid off a significant number of journalists.
For years, there have been numerous allegations that Namaste Telangana earned a substantial amount of money through state government advertisements.
Wikipedia itself indicates that the income from government ads in 2017-18 increased by 387.4% compared to the previous year. This trend continued as the authority to serve such extensive ads was in the hands of the BRS government.
Additionally, Telangana Today, an English daily, also experienced a growth of 1749.2%, as per some unconfirmed records, during the BRS administration, which was unsurprising given the circumstances.
However, with the BRS party losing the election and power, there is now a significant push towards cost-cutting measures. It remains surprising to witness this retrenchment, especially with parliamentary elections on the horizon just three months away.
Putting everything aside, running a print media business has become a Herculean task without substantial government support. This struggle is not exclusive to the aforementioned dailies; every print media outlet is grappling to sustain its operations, hoping that the party that favors them will come into power in the next elections.
Without such support, survival becomes exceedingly challenging, as private ads alone cannot breakeven the costs of the print media. Government ads, served consistently at favorable rates, are crucial for their continued existence.
The future remains uncertain, and we must wait to see what lies ahead. Currently, journalists from Namaste Telangana are in a state of shock and confusion.
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