‘Sambad’ has turned into people’s movement: Soumya Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: ‘Sambad’ is not into publishing news alone. It is into a whole lot of activities which concerns people and their issues, said Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, editor of the leading newspaper, during the foundation day ceremony of Odisha’s No 1 regional daily, which completed 33 years of its existence on Wednesday.

Recounting the days from conceptualisation to the initial days of struggle of setting up of the newspaper company, Patnaik said one has to firmly believe in himself in order to attain his goal. “Had I been in two minds, I wouldn’t have succeeded to establish the conglomerate which gives direct/indirect employment to around 20,000 people”.

The largest circulated vernacular daily was born way back on October 4, in 1984.

“Sambad is now not only just a newspaper but has turned into a people’s movement. Sambad will continue to remain the voice of the common man,” said Patnaik, who is also the Chairman of Sambad Group, the largest media conglomerate of the state.

Drawing parallel with a leading steelmaker’s tagline, Patnaik said we also publish news. Apart from being in the news business, we are into CSR activities and whole lot of activities for larger public good.

At the event, Monica Nayyar Patnaik, managing director of the media house, thanked her colleagues and associates for their contribution to the paper’s 33-year long journey.

The occasion also saw the presence of Tanaya Patnaik, Executive Director of the organisation, on the stage speaking about the challenges and future growth areas of the media house.

Sambad, the first newspaper to hit stands every morning, became the first daily in the State to introduce computerised photo-type setting, offset printing and color printing (which it did with its Sunday colour pull-out).

Sambad launched its first regional edition from Berhampur in 1990 followed by Balasore in 1996.

Presently, Sambad has eight editions, each in different parts of the State.

KANAK NEWS, the 24-hour Odia news and current affairs television channel and a sister concern of ‘Sambad’, also completes eight years of its existence today.

On the occasion, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, editor of the leading newspaper, unveiled its new logo at a function held at Jaydev Bhavan in Odisha capital.