Newsroom that learned to move at internet speed

How important is it for a news publication on digital space to reach readers in various regions? The answer may vary with the age of the person responding to the question. When The Hindu became the first Indian newspaper in India to foray into digital space by having a web platform in 1995, the agenda was to reach out to the readers living in areas where a print copy was not available.

Many rapid and unprecedented innovations have reshaped the digital space in the past 31 years, including introduction and widespread commercialisation and high-speed internet connection, use of smart phones, exponential growth in use of images (photos and videos), and artificial intelligence.

The Hindu, a 147-year-old newspaper, keeps pace with the rapid changes, with it now having a dedicated digital unit. Info-graphics and images are incorporated with crisp text in our online news reports to keep people informed of what is happening around them, connect the dots and make sense of key issues troubling them.

The reporters, sub editors and photojournalists strive to publish news, not just with ‘web first’ approach, but put together information in all forms with people at the centre. Our online explainers on how to navigate while applying for a government service, scheme, file grievances or others along with images is an attempt to aid people. Besides, keeping our readers updated on day’s developments by dynamically updating our website, we strive to explain context, impact of news developments.

We constantly check our internal tools, feedback posted on our social media handles to know the information readers seek. The digital desk utilises social media platforms to inform readers of major news from the State, which impacts people’s lives or helps them navigate through everyday work. “If there is one constant in the digital space, it is change. The medium keeps transforming, and we have made sure we evolve with it at every step. Over the years, we have watched readers’ habits shift — from coming directly to our website, to consuming news through aggregator platforms, and then through social media. Now, with artificial intelligence, we are seeing yet another disruption reshape how news is discovered and consumed. Staying relevant means constantly adapting to where our readers are,” says Mandira Moddie, Digital Operations and Visual Storytelling Editor, The Hindu.

(shiva.shanker@ thehindu.co.in)