People shared their reactions to the news of the popular news publication from the Times Group, Mumbai Mirror shutting down.
One of Mumbai's own favourite publications and a part of Times Group, Pune and Mumbai Mirror are shutting down. The group announced on Saturday that it will be shutting down Pune Mirror and Mumbai Mirror and will be relaunching them as weekly editions. Both will continue to have their digital presence. The decision came as a result of the economic crisis created during this Coronavirus pandemic.
The newspaper came into being in 2005 and since has been able to capture every important news of the city. Talking about the decision to discontinue the paper the official Times Group statement read, "Fifteen years ago, the ‘city that never sleeps’ had a new and good reason for staying awake – and for waking up, when it did manage to get some sleep: Mumbai Mirror. Feisty and fearless, energetic and enthusiastic, playful yet punchy, it lived up to its name from the day it was born, mirroring Mumbai in all its myriad moods. It was as local as Mumbai’s locals – the lifeblood that keeps the city on track and moving. The paper became such an integral part of the reader’s life, driving the narrative of the city, that it was decided to extend the experience to Bengaluru, Pune and Ahmedabad.
Sadly, just as the pandemic, lockdown, and unprecedented economic crisis have laid low many great ideas and initiatives before they could fully take root, they came as a body blow for the still-young brand. Not only has the newspaper industry been among the hardest-hit in terms of revenues, it has been weighed down by an import duty that has added to newsprint costs. With the long-held hope of a stimulus not materializing and the Indian economy now officially in recession, it is with a heavy heart that the group has decided to cease publication of Mirror in Pune and relaunch Mumbai Mirror as a weekly. They will, however, continue to have a strong digital presence.
The group in a statement said, “Following months of discussions and deliberations, we have made this extremely difficult and painful decision to recalibrate our portfolio of publications. We truly value the contribution of our journalists and other staff towards building such a strong brand in a relatively short time, and thank them for their hard work and great effort.”
Readers of the much-loved publication reacted to the news and shared their displeasure of not being able to read Pune and Mumbai Mirror every morning with their tea anymore.
Here's how they reacted:
Man, hard to hear about Mumbai Mirror reportedly shutting down. Started my journalism/writing career there with a small internship right in the middle of my Masters program.
— Andre Borges (@borges) December 5, 2020
Mumbai Mirror shutting down is terrible, terrible news. It's done so many great stories, it didn't hesitate to take a principled stand on so many subjects and quickly became a favourite for city readers.
— ASLAM KHAN (@aslamkhanbombay) December 5, 2020
Thank You @MumbaiMirror team. pic.twitter.com/nCsd5B9XQz
Mumbai Mirror shutting down is terrible news for journalism in the city. Despite being a Times Group publication, it had fantastic local coverage and reach, and did some great national stories too. It's also been one of the braver mainstream publications in recent years.
— Cabin Fever Jesus (@StonerJesus) December 5, 2020
2020 has been a bad year for good journalists.
— Harini Calamur (#StayHome) (@calamur) December 5, 2020
with platforms and papers shutting shop.
the boom that started 15 years ago - with the launch of DNA, Mumbai Mirror, and HT in Mumbai - is officially over.
mumbai mirror shutting down feels like such a personal loss to me every morning since I was younger I would wait for my parents to finish the paper before I got a chance to read it for the day
— 🌻🎄 (@saumyyyaa) December 5, 2020
I’m so sad that Mumbai Mirror is shutting down! It was my go to newspaper growing up, largely because the small form factor was easier for me to hold. I remember when it started, it made me read the news more as a kid.
— freia lobo (@freialobo) December 6, 2020
My heart goes out to all journalists who've lost their jobs this year. Mumbai Mirror shutting down is a crushing blow to quality journalism in India.
— Uday Rana (@UdaySRana) December 5, 2020
never thought I'd be mourning a times publication property shutting down, more so because I never thought Mumbai Mirror could be shut at all. the paper was one of the biggest pillars of support for local campaigns cutting across socio-economic lines many a times. I'll miss it.
— shash🍉 (@smdsanghi) December 5, 2020
mumbai mirror shutting down was the last punch in the face this year gave me
— Swara🌈 (@honestlyswara) December 5, 2020
Mumbai Mirror shutting down is personal. City loses a gem.
— Shachi Sutaria (@Bannedfortalkin) December 5, 2020
Mumbai mirror shutting down is a real bummer, the only newspaper that I actually looked forward to reading in the morning. Really liked everything about it, the content, the layout and most importantly the size.
— Dev Sharma (@Devs3) December 5, 2020
The Good Tabloid.
What a pity Times have decided to shut it down.
First Huff Post and now Mumbai Mirror shutting down is terrible news. This pandemic has hit our industry hugely and most journalists are suffering. It's a tough time for us but hopefully there'd be better days, let's stick together and not give up.
— June Paul (@journojuno) December 5, 2020
Mumbai Mirror shutting down is terrible, terrible news. It's done so many great stories, it didn't hesitate to take a principled stand on so many subjects and quickly became a favourite for city readers. Fingers crossed for everyone in Mirror's team.
— Deepanjana (@dpanjana) December 5, 2020
Times Group statement on Mumbai Mirror shutting down in Pune, and relaunching as a weekly in Mumbai.
— Sohini (@Mittermaniac) December 5, 2020
The times are hard, oh boy! pic.twitter.com/8VBqcZpJg6
Extremely gutted to hear the news of Mumbai Mirror shutting down its daily print edition. What a colossal loss to the city.
— Dalreen (@dreaminthegardn) December 5, 2020