Frontline, the iconic fortnightly news magazine by The Hindu Group, made a resounding statement on Friday with a grand relaunch event, showcasing a striking redesign that sets the stage for a new era of insightful journalism covering issues and events across subjects and geographies.
The high-profile event in New Delhi was attended by eminent personalities including leading economists such as Prabhat Patnaik and CP Chandrashekar; cultural activist Ganesh Devy; former Chief of Army Staff Gen (retd) MM Naravane; author and activist Arundhati Roy; artist Jatin Das; historian Romila Thapar; the founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Zakia Soman; senior ambassadors and diplomats; academics, journalists, authors, publishers, and activists. Political personalities such as Pawan Khera (Congress), Manoj Joshi (RJD), Sitaram Yechury [CPI (M)], and D. Raja (CPI) also attended.
There was a panel discussion on the subject “Kashmir: Changing the Discourse” with Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, and President of the Peoples Democratic Party, A. S. Dulat, former chief of the Research and Analysis wing (R&AW), Pavan K Varma, author, ex-diplomat, and former Rajya Sabha MP and N. Ram, former editor-in-chief, Frontline, The Hindu & Director, The Hindu Group. Vaishna Roy, Editor, Frontline, moderated the session.
Furthermore, Frontline App was launched by The Hindu Group Chairperson Dr. Malini Parthasarathy and the magazine editor Ms. Vaishna Roy. The app is available for Android users and soon will be available for IOS users.
Frontline has been a distinguished presence in the media world since 1984, covering topics ranging from politics, economics, world affairs, and social issues to environment, culture, cinema, and books. The magazine holds a special place with opinion leaders, decision-makers, activists, academics, and students.
The redesigned Frontline continues the legacy of high-quality journalism, now set within a design and format that is relevant for a new readership. Compelling images, bolder fonts, and a clean and airy design palette make for a more engaging reading experience. New features and writers have been added.
Dr. Malini Parthasarathy, Chairperson, The Hindu Group, said, “Frontline’s journalistic emphasis has always been on longer-form journalism, examination and exploration of the larger context and background to events as they unfold on the ground. Frontline takes pride in its unflinching honesty and has a well-defined perspective which does not hesitate to highlight what it sees as the “rights” and the “wrongs” in developing situations.”
“Building on this formidable reputation and legacy, Frontline has now a strong print subscriber base of 30,000 copies and the largest active digital subscriber base of any Indian magazine. The website attracts approximately 4 lakh active users monthly. Frontline’s highly engaged subscribers spend an average of 20 minutes per visit compared to the 2-4 minutes spent on average for most news publications. This is an indicator of the high regard for our long-form content.”
“It is obvious that especially for magazines such as Frontline, the print market remains alive and well. The digital shift is already taking place in The Hindu and Sportstar. With the redesigned print version, Frontline will also accelerate its digital push, to provide what the team promises a “Smarter Reading Experience.”
N. Ram, former editor-in-chief, Frontline, The Hindu & Director, The Hindu Group, said, ““The launch has been excellent. We had a discussion on an important subject like Kashmir. Different views were presented and it was very crucial part of the launch. The event witnessed the presence of notable figures from various walks of life including intellectuals, diplomats, and avid readers. Their presence attests to Frontline’s esteemed reputation.”
Vaishna Roy, the Frontline editor, said, “I took over as editor in May last year. We have since been working to redesign and reposition the magazine for the new age. Our content is more engaging, has many more perspectives, and will appeal to readers from all walks of life.” Graphic designer Mario Garcia helped revamp the magazine, Roy said, adding that he had made it look elegant and vibrant.
Suresh Balakrishna, the Chief Revenue Officer, said, “The magazine is a prestigious product of The Hindu Group. The refreshed look will offer a lot more to our readers, both visually and in terms of content. The intent is to seamlessly merge tradition and innovation to offer a power-packed reading experience and it’s safe to say we have achieved it.”
Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, and President of the Peoples Democratic party, said, “I extend my best wishes to Frontline and I hope that they keep on setting the bar high and always remain in the front.”
Pavan K Varma, author, ex-diplomat, and former Rajya Sabha MP, said, “I congratulate Frontline for relaunching in new avatar. Previously, the magazine was considered just as the reference material, but now it will be far more readable and contemporary.”
About Frontline
In 1984, Frontline, a fortnightly news magazine, was launched by The Hindu Group. Since its inception, the magazine has been at the forefront of in-depth, intellectual, and scrupulous journalism, establishing itself as a prominent and respected media entity. Over the years, Frontline has acquired an admirable reputation among intellectuals, bureaucrats, students, military personnel, artists, writers, and the general public.
Photo caption: From Left to Right: N. Ram, former editor-in-chief, Frontline, The Hindu & Director, The Hindu Group, Vaishna Roy, Editor- Frontline, Dr. Malini Parthasarathy, Chairperson of The Hindu Group, Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, and President of the Peoples Democratic Party, A. S. Dulat, former chief of the Research and Analysis wing (R&AW), Pavan K Varma, author, ex-diplomat, and former Rajya Sabha MP and LV Navaneeth, CEO of The Hindu Group during the relaunch of Frontline
