After a long journey, business journalism achieved apt position in the field of media. Business journalism, as an institution began only in 1961, when the Economic Times and Financial Express, India’s first two economic and financial dailies were launched.

Business journalism is always an outcome of developmental and economic activities in a country. So, better the economic conditions, better the business of business journalism can be seen. And, this is a reason why its business was almost absent during the pre-independence period of our country.

The 1980’s is considered as a turning point for economic scenario in India. As a result of strategies adopted by late Dhirubhai Ambani of Reliance Group of Industries, enormous expansion of the stock markets can be viewed during this period. He sold the equity of his company on massive scale. This creates the curiosity amongst the general public or we can say its share holders to update their knowledge about the company as well as share market. Finally, this chain reaction became fruitful for the business journalism. Rising demand for Economic Times, the Financial Express and the Hindu Business Line can be clearly seen.

At that time, the major challenge before of business editors was to train the new generation of business journalists. For an economic journalist, it is important to have adequate knowledge of economics, economic scenario of the country and up-to-date information about stock market. Earlier the entries in business journalism was very slow, but after 1990, university professors, executives and many rank officers quit their job to work as business correspondents, sub-editors and editors. They were impressed by more digits of income. In 1991, with the coming of LPG (liberalization, privatization and globalization), the whole structure of license permits and quota was dismantled. The corporate sector became the centre of activity. Than, the business newspapers realized that they had a very strong instrument in their hands to move markets. This gave a fresh impetus to business newspapers.

And, now business journalism is on its boom. Now The Economic Times is published from nine centers, The Financial Express from eight cities, and The Business Standard from seven places. The increasing number of business news channels like NDTV Profit, ZEE Business, CNBC, and CNBC Awaz show the hunger for business information in the society. In addition to it, other news channels also dedicated a specific time for business news.

The demand for economic news is increasing the employment possibility for business correspondent. However, an area of concern for financial journalism in India is the fact that talent and job opportunity are concentrated in the metros. Nevertheless, during the past fifteen years, serious businesses have developed in cities like Nagpur, Jaipur,

Pune, Noida, and many others.

Shivani

MS in Communication