Extra, extra: A good-news guide to south Mumbai
THE VOICE OF MALABAR HILLS
Madhusree Ghosh
In a world of digital noise, a community newspaper called The Voice of Malabar Hills sets a different tone for this affluent neighbourhood in south Mumbai. It prints true-life inspiring stories about the lives of the residents of Malabar Hill, Nepean Sea Road, Walkeshwar, Altamount Road and Peddar Road.
“I wanted to focus on our community — the everyday issues, achievements, events and most importantly, the residents,” says Tushar Prabhoo, a lifelong resident and editor of the newsletter. “So, when I closed down my printing business in 2012, I decided to follow my passion and start this local newspaper.”
Sahoo has published his monthly, 16-page tabloid, priced at Rs 5, since 2014. He was inspired by the UK and US traditions of hyperlocal newspapers.
“Everything from a new road to a malfunctioning streetlight gets importance,” he says. You will also find in it pictures of peacocks in Godrej Baug; the tale of a local resident who
A HYPERLOCAL TAKE rescued an owl; local businesses reaching new landmarks; children excelling at academics and sports. The focus is very firmly on positive news.
“In 2014, unlike now, there wasn’t so much information around about heritage structures in the city. So we invited Anita Garware of the Indian Heritage Society to write articles. That remains one of our most popular sections.”
A team of 12 plans, writes for and produces each edition. Revenue comes from local advertisers and subscriptions. PDF copies are sent to a mailing list overseas. “This paper is unique. It tells me about my Malabar Hill and gives me a sense of belonging,” says Prakash Munshi, 74, a local resident. “The best part of it is the news is balanced and it always promotes small local businesses.”
The pandemic has forced The Voice… to halt print publication. “We send out the PDFs, post on social media, but there is nothing like the physical copy. Our readers do miss it,” Sahoo says. The social media push has helped the publication reach a younger crowd though, points out Aangi Shah, 27, an editorial member.