Indian Newslink has just completed eleven years.
In that time, it has grown to be the premier newspaper of news and views about and by Indians in New Zealand and elsewhere.
It is widely read by Indians and others and its content is often the subject of discussions at many events that I attend.
Indian Newslink has maintained its independence and has not been captured by any particular group or point of view. It has taken some controversial editorial positions and has challenged varying points of view fairly.
The business and commercial community also relies on Indian Newslink to get product information to buyers while the newspaper’s policy ensures that its pages are not engulfed by advertisements. There is a good balance between news, views, and advertisements.
The newspaper provides a direct line into some of the workings of the Indian Government on matters that affect Indians overseas. It carries reports based on its own interviews with Indian political leaders regularly and is often able to give timely news on developments in business, social and cultural matters that are of interest to Indians in New Zealand.
Another example of the wider footprint of Indian Newslink is its annual scholarship to an aspiring and promising journalist to undertake postgraduate study at the AUT University in Auckland.
Serious and sober
The newspaper has taken several initiatives that reflect its status as a serious newspaper. Its promotion of Indian businesses in New Zealand is manifested in the annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards.
This is an enormous undertaking and its significance has grown each year. It is now a much sought after award event and has given Indian Businesses in New Zealand exposure as well as an opportunity to be rewarded for success.
There is no doubt the newspaper will continue to grow in a market that is quite competitive.
It will come under continued pressure to become a weekly.
Guest Editors
Its approach to guest editorials has increased its editorial range and will result in the paper carrying a much wider range of debates and points of view.
I welcome this development.
In my view, the newspaper needs to significantly increase serious input from a wider range of writers to the Editor and to pursue some matters over several issues.
While it has carried a number of stories that have exposed important matters, it needs to do this on a more regular basis.
The converse is an over-reliance on a series of important but single-issue stories.
The newspaper’s standing would be significantly enhanced if it was able to undertake further developments of this kind.
Fair and Square
The publication provides an excellent opportunity to bring political news to its readers through its Electionlink pages, which provide political parties with space to address contemporary matters of interest to the Indian community as well as a place for readers to respond.
As we get closer to General Election, I expect these pages to become a battleground for policies and an assessment of Government performance.
Indian Newslink is unambiguous about its editorial views. It could be clearer about naming its “Special Correspondents” who are sometimes not identified but who carry views in favour of one political persuasion.
As the paper engages in politically controversial topics, it cannot give anonymity to individuals with biased views, which read like endorsements and can be challenged.
I appreciate the demands of running a newspaper that aspires to be high quality, independent, regular and relevant.
Indian Newslink has grown in stature over the years and now operates as a respected publication that is relied upon by its target audience for news and views.
Just like all successful newspapers, its influence and relevance extends to matter that do not appear on the printed pages.
It has space to develop in several areas that will maintain regular connectedness with its readers but I expect this will develop in time.
I congratulate the principals of Indian Newslink for its decade-old year record and look forward to bigger and better things in the future.
Dr Rajen Prasad is Member of Parliament on Labour List and the Party’s Associate Spokesman for Ethnic Affairs. He would seek the mandate of Te Atatu constituents in General Election 2011.
