Economic Times

Economic Times
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Broadsheet
Foundation	1961
Owners	The Times Group
Headquarters	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Economic Times. Launched in 1961, it is India's second-oldest English-language business daily and a flagship publication of The Times Group. The newspaper is headquartered in Mumbai and is recognized for its comprehensive coverage of domestic and global business, financial markets, policy, and industry trends. It has grown from a niche financial paper into a widely-read publication that significantly shapes economic discourse in India.

History and background

The newspaper was founded during a period of significant economic planning in post-independence India, initially providing detailed coverage of government budgets and the Five-Year Plans of India. Its early years coincided with the era of the License Raj, reporting on the tightly controlled economy. A major milestone was its expansion beyond Mumbai and Delhi, establishing a national footprint. The liberalization of the Indian economy in 1991, following reforms by then Finance Minister Mannohan Singh, marked a transformative period for its content, as it began covering the surge in private enterprise and foreign investment. Over the decades, it has chronicled major events like the Harshad Mehta scandal, the rise of the IT industry, and the integration of India into the World Trade Organization.

Content and features

Its core coverage focuses on stock markets, corporate earnings, mergers and acquisitions, and macroeconomic indicators from institutions like the Reserve Bank of India. Regular sections provide analysis on sectors such as banking, telecom, automobiles, and technology. It publishes influential editorial opinions and features columns by prominent economists and CEOs. Notable long-running features include the annual ET Awards for Corporate Excellence and the "ET Wealth" supplement. The paper also extensively covers government policy from NITI Aayog, fiscal announcements from the Ministry of Finance (India), and decisions by regulatory bodies like the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Circulation and readership

It holds a leading position in the English business newspaper segment in India, with a strong circulation across major metropolitan areas like Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bangalore, and Chennai. Its readership primarily consists of business professionals, corporate executives, investors, policymakers, and students from top institutions like the Indian Institutes of Management. The publication conducts extensive market research, including through its intelligence arm ET Intelligence Group, to understand its audience. While competing with other business dailies like Business Standard and Mint, it maintains a distinct position due to its depth and legacy, also reaching a global audience through non-resident Indians and international institutions monitoring the Economy of India.

Digital presence and expansion

Its digital arm, ET Online, includes a major website and mobile applications, offering real-time news, market data, and multimedia content. It has successfully leveraged platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn for audience engagement and news dissemination. The group has expanded into digital-only verticals such as ETMarkets.com for investors and ETPrime.com, a subscription-based platform for in-depth analysis. It also organizes high-profile events like the ET Global Business Summit and ET Women's Forum, and runs television channels in partnership with Times Network, including ET Now, a dedicated business news channel. These efforts represent a strategic shift from a pure newspaper to a diversified multi-platform business information network.

Impact and influence

The publication is considered an agenda-setter in Indian business journalism, with its front-page stories and editorials often sparking national debates and influencing market sentiment. Its reporting and investigations have exposed corporate governance issues and financial scandals, holding powerful entities accountable. The annual ET Awards for Corporate Excellence are highly coveted in the Indian corporate world, recognizing leaders from companies like Tata Group and Infosys. Its analysis is frequently cited by policymakers at the Reserve Bank of India, NITI Aayog, and the Finance Ministry, and it is a primary source for international media outlets like Bloomberg News and Reuters covering Indian business.

Awards and recognition

The newspaper and its journalists have received numerous national and international awards for excellence in business and financial journalism. It has been honored by institutions like the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and the International News Media Association. Individual reporters and editors have won prestigious awards such as the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards and the Prem Bhatia Memorial Award for outstanding reporting. Its design and presentation have also received accolades from bodies like the Society for News Design. These awards affirm its reputation for journalistic integrity, incisive analysis, and high editorial standards within the global media landscape.

Category:Newspapers published in India Category:Business newspapers Category:1961 establishments in India