News agencies and Urdu Journalism…

News agencies played a pivotal role in promoting Urdu Journalism in Hyderabad. The news released from a news agency formed the basis of news items appearing in many Urdu newspapers. The news provided these agencies were created following a generic policy, enabling the same news item to be adapted in different newspapers.

While doing so, these agencies not only served as a training platform and launch pad for several people who later earned recognition as good journalists but also ensured continuous news feed to the subscribing Urdu journals. Some of the leading urdu news agencies include, most of them now obsolete, include Orient News, Deccan News, Associated News Service, Bharat News, Deccan Samachar, Samachar Darshani, Bharat Samachar and News Trust of India.

These agencies, with the evolution of technology, made way for online news agencies like UNI Urdu service, United News Network and Indian News Service, Media Plus among others. Among PR agencies, Media Plus also served as a news agency providing ready-to-print content for most events within Hyderabad, Telangana and certain parts of neighboring states. Thus, also serving as a national news agency.

This article is part of an elaborate research-based series on Urdu Journalism : Past, Present and Future

Stay tuned. To be continued…