Lokmat (Marathi: लोकमत; lit. 'People's Opinion') is a Marathi-language newspaper published in Maharashtra, India. Founded in 1971 by Jawaharlal Darda, it is the largest read Marathi-language newspaper in India.[2] It is also available in an e-paper format and is published in Hindi and English as Lokmat Samachar[3] and the Lokmat Times respectively.[4]
 | |
 Lokmat Brand Logo | |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Founder(s) | Jawaharlal Darda |
| Publisher | Lokmat Media Limited |
| Editor-in-chief | Rajendra Darda and Vijay J. Darda |
| Founded | 15 December 1971 |
| Language | Marathi, Hindi, English |
| Headquarters | Lokmat Media Ltd, 1301/2, Lodha Supremus, Dr. E. Moses Rd, Worli Circle, Mumbai - 400 018 |
| Country | India |
| Circulation | 692,768 Daily[1] (as of April 2023) |
| Readership | 6.28 million (IRS 2019)[2] |
| Website | |
Television news channel
editLokmat extended its media business to broadcast through a 50-50 joint venture with IBN18 Broadcast Limited. The joint venture company, IBN-Lokmat Private Limited (“IBNL”), operates IBN-Lokmat, a 24 x 7 Marathi news and current affairs television channel which went on air on 6 April 2008.[5]
Controversies
edit2015 ISIS cartoon controversy
editIn 2015, a cartoon published alongside the article "ISIS cha Paisa" (ISIS' money), regarding the funding pattern of terrorist group ISIS, led to violent protests from Muslim groups and attacks on the newspaper's offices in Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar, Malegaon and other locations across Maharashtra. Protestors deemed the cartoon to be "blasphemous". Several complaints were filed with the police regarding the cartoon, and subsequently, an FIR was lodged against the owners, the cartoonist and the editor. The newspaper later published an apology.[6][7][8][9] Police stated that they had increased security at all Lokmat offices across Maharashtra following the attacks.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Highest Circulated Daily Newspapers (language wise)" (PDF). Audit Bureau of Circulations.
- ^ a b IRS-2019-Q4-Highlights. Archived 2 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Lokmat Times: Main Editions | Online Daily English Newspaper | Online English Epaper | Daily English Epaper | लोकमत वृत्तपत्रे". epaper.lokmat.com. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Lokmat Times: Main Editions | Online Daily English Newspaper | Online English Epaper | Daily English Epaper | लोकमत वृत्तपत्रे". epaper.lokmat.com. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Marathi news channel to be JV with Lokmat: GBN". Moneycontrol.com. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ Saurabh Gupta (1 December 2015). "Offices of Lokmat Newspaper Attacked Over Piggy Bank Cartoon". NDTV. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ "FIR against Marathi daily". The Hindu. 29 November 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Marathi daily attacked for publishing 'derogatory' cartoon". Daily News & Analysis. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ Saikia, Arunabh (30 November 2015). "Lokmat having to apologise for a cartoon on ISIS shows the sorry state of press freedom in India". newslaundry.com. Newslaundry. Retrieved 11 March 2018.