Kerala Media and Journalism — Newspapers, TV Channels, Famous Journalists, Press History

Kerala has one of the most vibrant media landscapes in India with the highest newspaper readership per capita. Media history is a key topic for Kerala PSC.

Early Newspapers in Kerala

Newspaper	Year	Founder/Editor	Significance
Rajyasamacharam	1847	Hermann Gundert (German missionary)	First Malayalam newspaper; published from Thalassery
Paschimodayam	1847	Hermann Gundert	Second newspaper; also from Thalassery
Jnananikshepam	1848	CMS Mission, Kottayam	Church Missionary Society publication
Kerala Mitram	1881	Devji Bhimji	First daily in Malayalam (short-lived)
Malayala Manorama	1890	Kandathil Varghese Mappillai	Kottayam; now one of the largest circulated Malayalam dailies
Mathrubhumi	1923	K.P. Kesava Menon and others	Kozhikode; started as a nationalist newspaper during freedom struggle
Deshabhimani	1942	Communist Party of India	CPI organ; EMS Namboodiripad was early editor
Kerala Kaumudi	1911	C.V. Kunhiraman	Associated with SNDP/Ezhava community; progressive newspaper
Deepika	1887	Nidhirikkal Manikathanar	Kottayam; one of the oldest surviving Malayalam dailies; Christian community focus
Madhyamam	1987	Started by Indian Union Muslim League	Kozhikode; linked to Muslim League

Swadeshabhimani — The Iconic Press Battle

Aspect	Details
Newspaper	Swadeshabhimani
Editor	Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi (founder, 1905); later Ramakrishna Pillai became editor
Significance	Fiercely criticised the Travancore Dewan and royal administration
Consequence	Ramakrishna Pillai was deported from Travancore in 1910 for his writings; press was confiscated
Legacy	Symbolises press freedom struggle in Kerala; “Swadeshabhimani” award instituted by Kerala government for journalism

Major Malayalam Newspapers (Current)

Newspaper	HQ	Ownership/Affiliation
Malayala Manorama	Kottayam	Malayala Manorama Group
Mathrubhumi	Kozhikode	Mathrubhumi Group
Manorama Online	Kottayam	Digital arm of Malayala Manorama
Madhyamam	Kozhikode	IUML-linked
Deshabhimani	Thiruvananthapuram	CPI(M) organ
Kerala Kaumudi	Thiruvananthapuram	Independent
Deepika	Kottayam	Catholic community
Mangalam	Kottayam	Independent
Janmabhumi	Kottayam	BJP/RSS-linked
Chandrika	Kozhikode	Muslim League
Suprabhaatham	Kozhikode	Jamaat-e-Islami
Thejas	Kozhikode	Popular Front (now banned org)/NDF

Malayalam Magazines

Magazine	Type	Founded
Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu	Weekly literary	1932
Manorama Weekly	General/literary weekly	1928
Vanitha	Women’s magazine	1975 (Malayala Manorama Group)
Grihalakshmi	Women’s/family	Mathrubhumi Group
Kalakaumudi	Cultural/literary	Kerala Kaumudi Group
Pachakuthira	Literary	DC Books
Bhashaposhini	Literary	1892 (one of the oldest)

Television in Kerala

Channel	Launched	Details
Doordarshan Malayalam	1986	Government channel; first TV channel in Malayalam
Asianet	1993	First private Malayalam TV channel
Surya TV	1998	Sun Network
Kairali TV	2000	CPI(M)-linked
Manorama News	2006	Malayala Manorama Group; leading news channel
Mathrubhumi News	2007	Mathrubhumi Group
MediaOne	2013	Madhyamam Group
Reporter TV	2013	Independent
Janam TV	2017	BJP/Sangh Parivar-linked
24 News	2016	Independent

Famous Journalists and Media Personalities from Kerala

Person	Contribution
Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai (1878–1916)	Fearless editor deported from Travancore; icon of press freedom
Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi (1873–1932)	Founded Swadeshabhimani; Muslim social reformer
K.P. Kesava Menon (1886–1978)	Founded Mathrubhumi; “Kerala Gandhi”; led Vaikom Satyagraha
Kesari Balakrishna Pillai (1889–1960)	Rationalist writer and journalist; edited “Kesari” weekly; jailed for writings
K. Sukumaran	Founder of Kairali TV; journalist
M.J. Radhakrishnan	Renowned cinematographer and documentary filmmaker
P. Rajan case journalists	Investigative reporters who exposed custodial death during Emergency

Press and Media Awards in Kerala

Award	Given by	For
Swadeshabhimani Award	Kerala Government	Outstanding journalism
Kerala Media Academy Awards	Kerala State Media Academy	Excellence in journalism
Mathrubhumi Literary Award	Mathrubhumi	Literature

Key Press Freedom Milestones

Event	Year	Details
Deportation of Ramakrishna Pillai	1910	Travancore government suppressed Swadeshabhimani
Press ban during Emergency	1975–1977	Censorship imposed; many Kerala journalists resisted
Kerala Press Academy established	1979	For training and standards
Right to Information Act	2005	Strengthened press access to government information

PSC-Focused Quick Recall

Question Pattern	Answer
First Malayalam newspaper	Rajyasamacharam (1847, Hermann Gundert)
First private Malayalam TV channel	Asianet (1993)
Swadeshabhimani editor deported	Ramakrishna Pillai (1910)
Malayala Manorama founded	1890 by Kandathil Varghese Mappillai
Mathrubhumi founded	1923 by K.P. Kesava Menon and others
Deepika founded	1887 (one of the oldest surviving)
Deshabhimani is organ of	CPI(M)
Hermann Gundert was from	Germany (worked in Thalassery)
Swadeshabhimani Award given by	Kerala Government
First Malayalam daily (short-lived)	Kerala Mitram (1881)