HT Media launches business daily
HT Media Ltd announces the launch of mint, a world-class business newspaper produced in partnership with WSJ.
HT Media Ltd, the publisher of the Hindustan Times, on Tuesday announced the launch of mint, a world-class business newspaper produced in partnership with The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The mint brand and logo were unveiled in New Delhi by HT Media Vice-Chairperson Shobhana Bhartia and Christine Brendle, the Asian Managing Director of WSJ.
Starting February 1, mint, designed by Mario Garcia and sporting a convenient Berliner size, will be available Monday through Saturday initially in New Delhi and Mumbai. Garcia has designed more than 500 newspapers worldwide, including WSJ.
“mint is constructed around Indian business and economy and the way it is impacting the world and captures the trends of the world for India to leverage,” Mrs Bhartia said in a launch statement.
The newspaper’s online edition (www.livemint.com) will go live on February 1, and also offer advertisement opportunities on the Web. On Saturday, Lounge, the magazine-style weekend edition of mint, will be offered as a standalone product with a focus on lifestyle issues.
“India is a vibrant and expanding part of the global economy, and through mint we look forward to a role in helping spur those global connections between India and rest of the business world,” said Brendle. “We’re especially pleased to be partnering with HT Media Ltd, because of its rich publishing heritage and its clear belief in the value and importance of objective journalism.”
“At a time when some prematurely announce the impending demise of the print medium, citing the importance and fast rise of the electronic media, the birth of mint reminds us of the value of the printed word,” Garcia said.
“Readers continue to read, but they are, indeed, more selective about what they read,” Garcia added.
Raju Narisetti, the paper’s managing editor, said stories would be chosen carefully and written clearly with analysis. “It is a clear recognition that our readers are busy and mobile,” he said.
“Behind all of this is the idea that a print newspaper should provide readers with an early morning briefing that includes not only the most vital news, but also analysis, commentary and opinion that only a newspaper edited for a special business audience can provide,” he added.
Rajan Bhalla, mint’s publisher, said the paper will also offer innovative placement opportunities for advertising.
