Economic Times

Economic Times
Name	Economic Times
Type	Daily financial newspaper
Format	Broadsheet
Founded	1961
Founder	Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited
Owner	Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited
Publisher	The Times Group
Headquarters	Mumbai
Language	English

Economic Times The Economic Times is an Indian English-language financial daily published from Mumbai and other Indian cities. It provides reporting on businesss, financeal markets, industry sectors, policy decisions, and corporate affairs, with editions circulated across Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The newspaper is produced by a media conglomerate that also owns prominent titles such as The Times of India and operates alongside television and digital outlets covering markets and trade.

History

Founded in 1961 by Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited, the paper emerged during a period marked by post-independence industrialization and changing trade policy in India. Early coverage emphasized public sector enterprises, licensing regimes, and the activities of state-owned corporations such as Indian Railways and Steel Authority of India Limited. Through the 1980s and 1990s, the title expanded its reporting on liberalization following the 1991 economic reforms led by Manmohan Singh and P. V. Narasimha Rao, increasing coverage of multinational corporations, foreign direct investment, and the rise of private conglomerates like Tata Group and Reliance Industries. The paper invested in specialist reporting on stock exchanges including the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India, and broadened its footprint as India experienced technology-led growth spearheaded by firms such as Infosys and Wipro.

Ownership and Organization

The paper is owned by Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited, commonly known as The Times Group, one of South Asia's largest media houses with holdings spanning newspapers, television channels, radio stations, and digital platforms. Corporate governance ties link the publisher to families and boards associated with broader conglomerates like The Times Group directors and business executives from firms such as Birla-affiliated interests and other industrial houses. Editorial leadership historically includes editors and columnists who previously worked at outlets like Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Mint, and who engage with institutions such as Reserve Bank of India officials, Securities and Exchange Board of India, and academicians from Indian Institutes of Management.

Editorial Content and Sections

The newspaper organizes content into specialized sections covering topics such as markets, corporate news, personal finance, technology, and policy. Regular beats include coverage of the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India trading sessions, corporate filings of conglomerates like Aditya Birla Group and Mahindra Group, and reports on sectors including information technology led by HCLTech and Tata Consultancy Services. Opinion pages feature columnists who analyze developments at International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and regional forums like SAARC; lifestyle and luxury business reporting references brands such as Tanishq and Maruti Suzuki. The paper runs data-driven features, proprietary indices, and rankings that parallel studies by think tanks like NITI Aayog and consultancies such as McKinsey & Company.

Circulation and Readership

Circulation figures place the title among the leading financial dailies in India, with print editions distributed across urban centers including Ahmedabad, Pune, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. Readership spans executives from conglomerates including Reliance Industries Limited and HDFC Bank, investment professionals attending venues like Dalal Street, academics from universities such as University of Mumbai and Jawaharlal Nehru University, and policy makers in capitals like New Delhi. Advertising revenues derive from sectors including banking groups like State Bank of India, insurance firms including Life Insurance Corporation of India, and technology vendors such as Microsoft and Google.

Digital Presence and Online Services

The title expanded into digital publishing with websites, mobile applications, newsletters, and real-time market-data terminals that compete with platforms like Bloomberg and Reuters. Online offerings include live updates from trading floors, corporate press releases from groups like Adani Group, analyst commentary referencing ratings by CRISIL and Moody's Investors Service, and multimedia content produced in collaboration with broadcasters such as Times Now. The outlet operates social media channels on platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, and provides subscription services, paid newsletters, and premium content targeted at institutional subscribers and retail investors.

Influence, Controversies, and Criticism

The paper has influenced public debate on reforms such as the 1991 economic liberalization and goods-and-services taxation tied to the Goods and Services Tax rollout, informing stakeholders across industry and policy circles. It has also faced controversies and criticism related to perceived editorial bias in coverage of corporate groups including Adani Group and allegations concerning advertising influence, prompting debate among media watchdogs and journalism scholars from institutions like IIM Bangalore and Centre for Media Studies. Other points of contention include accuracy disputes over market reporting compared with competitors like Economic and Political Weekly and disputes over opinion-editorial balance involving commentators formerly associated with The Hindu and Indian Express.

Category:Newspapers published in India