Comparative Study between Times of India (English Newspaper) and Ajit (Regional Newspaper)
International Journal of Media, Journalism and Mass Communications (IJMJMC) Page| 24
which resulted in replacing half of the directors and thereby appointing a Bombay High Court judge
as the Chairman.
2.1. Ajit (Daily Ajit)
The Ajit is a Punjab based daily newspaper having its publishing house primarily in Jalandhar, India
and is run by Sadhu Singh Hamdard trust
.
The newspapers covers current affairs relating to business,
politics, sports, fashion, Punjabi films, hind films, national and international news reports from all
over the world.
The newspaper was founded in the year 1941 and was originally printed in Urdu language. Veteran
journalist and ex-Rajya Sabha member, Barjinder Singh Hamdard, is the current editor-in-chief. The
circulation started with an Urdu language weekly edition in 1941 from Shaheed Sikh Missionary
College Amritsar where Ajit Singh Ambalvi was its first editor. It was only in November 1942 that it
became a daily newspaper and began printing from Lahore. After independence it moved its base
to Jalandhar. Thereafter in the year 1955, its name was changed to Ajit Patrika and the language was
changed from Urdu to Punjabi. However its name was changed back to Ajit in the year 1957
3. METHODOLOGY
This research paper is based on primary date or empirical data whose study was aimed at finding the
more popular newspaper and analyzing the reading preferences of readers between Ajit and Times of
India. For this purpose an online survey using a Google form was conducted and a total of 50
responses were collected and closely analyzed. Both men and women between the age brackets of 18-
30 years of age were the targeted group.
3.1. Comparative Analysis
Layout/ Structure: Times of India Has a Broadsheet Layout
Ajit Also Has a Broadsheet Layout
3.2. Paper Material
The newspapers are usually made from either recycled paper or wood pulp, newsprint paper comes in
large rolls and is an inexpensive, thin paper used to print a variety of publications from
traditional newspapers to common tabloids.
The type of paper used for making a newspaper is called newsprint. It is a low quality paper, which
has a shelf life less than months. Also different type of news prints are used considering the purpose
of the same, such as for tabloids pastel-tinted newsprint is used.
3.3. Times of India
The Times of India uses a glossy, thicker and a better quality paper as compared to the local
circulator. The clarity, color, text size and font do not get smudged on rubbing and in fact remains
intact. It was also noticed that material used by other national suppliers also had glossy and good
quality paper.
3.4. Ajit
Ajit in comparison to the Times Of India uses thinner paper and had no supplements. Also, the
printing of the paper was of poorer quality that gets smudged on rubbing.
3.5. Advertisements v/s Editorial
On reading both newspapers, Times of India had a 60-40 (3:2) Ratio of Ads and Editorials
respectively. Whereas, Ajit had 40-60 (2:3) Ratio of Ads and Editorials respectively.
3.6. Ads- Times of India
TOI has a variety of products Advertisements for example it advertised both print and picture adds for
companies like Myntra watches, Tanishq jewellery, cars like Maruti Suzuki etc. It also has
advertisements relating to certain beauty product Ads. Government Schemes like Farmers Loan (half
page) and Dept. of employee generation Ads are also a usual part of the paper.
From the above discussion it can easily be concluded that the Ads are very generic and are not
restricted to a certain area.