Blitz (newspaper)
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | tabloid |
| Founder(s) | Russi Karanjia |
| Editor | Russi Karanjia |
| Founded | February 1, 1941 |
| Language | English, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi |
| Ceased publication | Mid 1990s |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, India |
Blitz, was a popular investigative weekly tabloid newspaper published and edited by Russi Karanjia from Bombay. It was India's first weekly tabloid started in 1941 focussed on investigative journalism and political news.[1] It was published in English, and with editions in Hindi, Urdu and Marathi languages.[2] It ceased publication several years before Karanjia's death in mid-1990s, although there were some attempts to revive it.
Started on February 1, 1941,[3] it was a pioneer in investigative journalism in India,[4] Cartoonist R. K. Laxman's early cartoons were published in Blitz as did Abu Abraham. Noted writer K. A. Abbas wrote popular column "Last Page", which ran for over 40 years.[3] P. Sainath, worked as deputy editor with Blitz for over a decade, before starting his career in writing for rural poverty and later winning the Magsaysay Award.[2]
Later in 1975, Blitz also started a film magazine, Cine Blitz, with, Karanjia's daughter Rita Mehta as its editor.[3] In 1983, criminal-politicians Gopal Rajwani and Pappu Kalani executed the brutal knife murder of the A V Narayan, sub-editor of Blitz.[5]
Karanjia founded a morning tabloid called The Daily for some years.[3] After reaching its peak in the 1980s, the Blitz dipped in the 1990s. In 1996, Karl Mehta, then managing director and publisher, and Karanajia's son-in-law tied up with the London-based Daily Mirror group in a reciprocal agreement, which allowed it to publish, news from the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The Independent and People magazine. At the time, liquor baron Vijay Mallya owned 8% stake in Blitz.[6]
Karanjia died on February 1, 2008, on the same day he started his newspaper 67 years ago.[2]
The Bangladesh tabloid with the same name is unrelated.
References
- ↑ The tabloid and the city, in Mumbai Fables, Gyan Prakash, Princeton University Press, 2010, p. 158-204
- 1 2 3 Kulkarni, Sudheendra (2008-02-02). "He launched Blitz on Feb 1, died on Feb 1-it's no coincidence". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
- 1 2 3 4 "R.K. Karanjia: Living through the Blitz". The Hindu. February 6, 2008. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
- ↑ "Russi Karanjia". Tehelka magazine. Feb 16, 2008. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
- ↑ "Sena leader Gopal Rajwani shot dead". Rediff. January 25, 2000. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
- ↑ Saira Menezes (May 29, 1996). "A Renewed Blitz". Retrieved 2014-05-01.
- Vir Sanghvi (February 2, 2008). "Karanjia and his Blitz". Hindustan Times.