SUN TIMES : MOVING WITH THE TIMES

imageFourteen years after it went out of the scene, ‘Sun Times’, the first complete broadsheet English newspaper in Odisha, is being reborn today, though in a different form. In its new avatar, ‘Sun Times’ will be available on the web platform – as odishasuntimes.com – rather than in print.

The decision to opt for the worldwide web was influenced by the sea-change that the world of media has undergone since the time ‘Sun Times’ folded up. With internet penetration increasing at a phenomenal rate, more and more people in the country are now accessing their news on the web. This rapid spread in internet access has been accompanied by some breathtaking innovations in mobile technology, which has made it possible for people to access news on the go. All available indications suggest that the use of the internet is only going to increase in the country – and the world at large – in the days to come.

The choice of the web platform, thus, was born out of a desire to move with the times. The idea was to cater to the immense need that exists among the rapidly burgeoning internet using class not just for hard news about Odisha and its people, but also informed debate and discussion about issues related to the state. In attempting to cater to this need, we are looking not just at Odias inside the state and spread all over the world, but also at the vast multitude of non-Odias interested to keep track of events in Odisha, which has emerged as a happening state in the last few years. odishasuntimes.com would give all of them an opportunity to access Odisha wherever they go.

But I must confess the decision to launch odishasuntimes.com was at least partly influenced by a desire to provide the missing link in Eastern Media Limited’s (EML’s) presence across media platforms. Having already emerged a leader in print, television and radio, what EML needed to complete the circle as it were was a presence on the worldwide web. Besides, it will also re-establish EML’s presence in English language journalism, something that we had lost with the closure of Sun Times.

We have consciously opted for a modest launch with what we believe is a good mix to interest ‘visitors’ of divergent interests. In the next two months, we expect our esteemed visitors to give us their considered feedback – in the form of comments, suggestions and even criticism – on the contents of the portal. We assure you that your views will be taken into consideration and changes made to the mix accordingly before we go for a formal launch sometime in January 2014.

I take immense pleasure in dedicating this latest offering from the EML stable to our existing and prospective ‘visitors’.

Welcome to odishasuntimes.com

Soumya Ranjan Patnaik
Editor in Chief
odishasuntimes.com

Also Read
43 Comments
  1. Basudev Mahapatra says

    Great news and congratulations. Hope, Odisha Sun Times will take a leadership role in Odisha new media industry.

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Thanks a lot Basudev Babu. Your good wishes mean a lot to us. We look forward to your critical comments and suggestions which we are sure will be invaluable inputs for us. Best. OST team

  2. Subhra Priyadarshini says

    Wow! Truly awesome — this is a potential game changer in the state’s media scene. Much needed, much awaited. My sincere wishes for its success.

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Can’t thank you enough Ms Subhra Priyadarshini for your very kind words and good wishes. As a top media professional and editor yourself, you should be advising us on both the form and content of the site. We look forward to your suggestions. Our email id is : [email protected] Best Regards. OST Team

      1. Subhra Priyadarshini says

        Anytime Sir! Its been a privilege to have been part of the original Sun Times of ‘Page Maker’ days. Would love to be of any use to the new avatar.

  3. Shrinibas says

    This is really a nice effort in media industry to figure out Odisha in national and international level. It can reach out millions eye in fraction of minute with quality information,as the base of the news paper inherits from a strong n stable media background person.Wish you All the Best.
    -Regards,
    Shrinibas Rout
    New Jersey-USA

  4. Santosh Patnaik says

    It’s a welcome initiative. We were craving to see it as we had so much of attachment to it. In fact, I had the privilege to launch my career in Sun Times in 1988. My hearty good wishes to the launching of Sun Times in form.

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Thanks a lot Santosh Babu. Great to hear from you ! Please send your frank and critical comments and suggestions. Since four of your former Sun Times colleagues are involved you have reasons to support the project. -OST team

  5. sambit says

    great team.good wishes

  6. Dipti Rout says

    This is truly a welcome initiative by Mr Soumya Ranjan Patnaik . Now EML is a complete media house .I hope now million’s of readers will have the chance to get to know more about Odish news. I wish all the best to Odisha sun times .

    With Regards
    Dipti Rout
    JOURNALIST
    BHUBANESWAR
    ODISHA

  7. Pratap Bhanja says

    Great news indeed! Congratulations to EML. Wish, the web version of Sun Times will bring a new dimension to English journalism in Odisha. But, print has its own charm.

  8. Silpee Ashok says

    Congrats Sir. I had the privilege to do cartoons through ‘FUN TIMES’in Sun Times in 1996-98. My good wishes to the reborn of Sun Times in new form.

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Thanks Mr Silpee Ashok. Great to hear from you.

  9. Purusottam Singh Thakur says

    Congratulations ! And the most important is the association of some great and seasoned journalists with it who have the concern for the people. Hope the journalism which we are missing today will now have a great space of its own. All the best.

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Thanks a lot Mr Thakur for your kind words- OST team

  10. Goutham Reddy says

    Congratulations Sir !! A forward looking effort indeed !

    I could be contacted for services of a PROOF READER. Even the best of the print media in Odisha fall short in this area.

    Best Wishes !!

  11. Diana Sahu says

    Have heard a lot about Sun Times from my seniors at office. Congratulations to the entire team and all the best.

    – Diana.

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Thanks a lot Ms Diana. OST team

    2. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Thanks Ms Diana. Keep visiting our site and send us your feedback. – OST Team

  12. Barnali Pal Sinha says

    Congratulations to the entire team. Its a very happy feeling to know that one of the oldest and first English broadsheet dailies in Orissa has opted for an online edition where people like us, living out of Orissa can stay tuned to all the happenings in our home state. All the stalwarts in the field of journalism in Orissa have started their career from here. Its great to have our much loved newspaper back in the form of an online edition. Cheers

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Thanks Ms Barnali for your kind words and good wishes. We shall do our very best to meet your expectations. -OST team

  13. lighthouse says

    Congratulation,

    All our best wishes with you.this will rock because its been driven by stalwarts of journalism .

    Team

    Light House

  14. Priya Ranjan Sahu says

    Wishing Odisha Sun Times all success. I am sure it will highlight the real issues Odisha faces now.

    Priya Ranjan Sahu

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Thanks Priya Ranjan Babu. We hope you would continue to guide us. -OST team

  15. Basanta Padhiary says

    Congrats!!!!!

    This is a very very good initiative has taken by the team, so i congratulate somya babu and your team. it’s very important in today’s workplace which can
    fullfill peoples increasingly need. You show initiative when odisha’s people need a good portal for news and best information, without any poltics.

    Regards
    Basanta

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Thanks Mr Padhiary- OST team

  16. kartika mohanty says

    Congratulation,

    I wish you & your team all the best to Odisha sun times and EMI. On this special occasions i take the opportunity to wish the team and move forward to achieve great milestone’s…..

    Best Wishes with Love
    Kartika Mohanty
    South Africa

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      Thanks Sir for your good wishes and kind words.
      -OST Team

  17. chuman panda says

    Congratulations entire team of Eastern Media. But Why Your TV Channel(Kanak TV) not available on any DTH?

  18. NABA KUMAR DASH says

    CONGRATULATIONS. ITS A GOOD INTIATIVE. MY BEST WISHES FOR ITS SUCCESS.

  19. Chakradhar Behera says

    Congratulations Team Odisha Sun Times. I have been following your web trial since last month. eagerly waiting to see the print OST in coming days.

  20. Biswanath Praharaj Rajaguru says

    Congratulations to the entire team of odishasuntimes.com. I am very glad to know that EML has launched the news portal. I have visited the site and very happy to get all my favourite news. I hope Suntimes will cater to the needs of the people. All the best.

    Regards
    Biswanath Praharaj Rajaguru
    Hyderabad

  21. rabishankar pradhan says

    it gives immense pleasure to know that Sun Times is again coming to the market. We hope, it covers the agony and suffering of the people in the dark zone, which the mainstream media ignores now a days. all the best.
    regards,
    rabishankar@rourkela
    9938794504

  22. MADHUSUDAN SAHOO says

    Thanks Mr Soumya Ranjan Patnaik for your effort. It is still fresh in mind when I saw my debut piece in Sun Times 22 years ago… I must congratulate you to make reach this old Odisha-based English newspaper to our modern youth who are more attached to web than print. Good Luck. Mr Patnaik….rgds

  23. Dr Bhabani Dikshit says

    It is really a good news to know that Sun Times is coming out in a new web version after so many years of closure of the print edition. So many of my articles were published in earlier print editions of Sun Times circulated by Contemporary News and Features from New Delhi.CONGRATULATIONS to the team of Odisha Sun Tims headed by Soumya babu !

  24. Swetaswapna Paricha Patnaik says

    It is great to have the brand back again. The intention and objective with which it is launched ,to not only provide news but to have a informed debate and discussion on issues that plague our state is truly important in the current time . Enough of odia media negativism , enough of partisan news , enough of recommendation for influential people , Enough of everything that’s not helpful for the State….. lets hit the point and discuss what really affects people and their needs . I sincerely have a belief that a lot of people are going to follow this site regularly and please do count me one of them. My best wishes for this initiative and hope its carries the same media and editorial standard that it had then.

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      thanks a lot for your views, swetaswapna. we will do our best to meet your expectations.

  25. NIhar Ranjan Pradhan says

    Congrats Sir…

  26. Rajeev Lochan Rathan says

    Congratulation to all staff and Friends !!!

    This is what busy people of Odisha need to read- news from news-portal now a days.Being a journalist, may share news,comments and ideas with you i believe.I shall be also a regular visitor to this enews.Hope http://www.odishasuntimes.com will be the best news-portal for ever .

    1. SAMPAD MAHAPATRA says

      thanks a lot for your good wishes. your contributions are most welcome. you may send them to [email protected]

  27. Samarendra Baliarsingh says

    SUN TIMES was my fav newspaper from my student days. At that time, it comes by post in the evening or the next day along with. I’ve some old copies with me in my personal library. My father Historian Satyabadi Baliarsingh is also a great fan of SAMBAD and SUN TIMES. Thanx to Soumyaranjan Pattnaik and the whole SAMBAD and SUN TIMES family. Congrats for the web form of SUN TIMES.

  28. boxing fights says

    effortlessly like your web site however, you must check the spelling upon a few of the articles you write. Quite a few are usually filled with punctuation problems and that i in locating that very frustrating to see the truth then again We’ll undoubtedly can come all over again once more.

    1. Odisha Sun Times Bureau says

      Thanks a lot for pointing this out. We hope to take care of the deficiency. OST Desk

Comments are closed.