JournalismPakistan.com | Published December 21, 2014
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD: Continuing with administrative changes initiated in 2011, the Dawn Media Group is planning to turn its leading monthly magazine Herald into a weekly in the coming few months, according to a source.
The Dawn Media Group is also mulling the option of making the magazine available to online subscribers weekly or fortnightly. “First there is the matter of cost which will go up if the magazine turns weekly, and then there is the issue of generating resources through online subscription,” according to the source. A beta website of the magazine is already part of Dawn.com.
It seems that the effort is to turn Herald into Pakistani version of the American news magazine, Time.
This development comes on the heels of closing down Spider, a magazine on information technology, in October this year. Spider’s subscribers received a letter in September this year informing them of the closure.
According to Oxford Companion to Pakistani History, Herald began its publications in 1970. “Herald was initially introduced as a replacement for the organization’s socio-cultural-literary journal, Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan, but it soon came to its own up-to-date and in-depth coverage of politics, social development, arts and culture.” The Companion adds that another creditable contribution of the magazine has been its trail-blazing initiatives in investigative journalism.
"A face-lift, experiments in layout design, and the reorientation of its oulook in 1984 vastly enhanced its appeal to readers."
Over the past few years the Dawn Media Group has taken far reaching decisions about its business concerns – switching its channel Dawnnews TV from English to Urdu, and launching an Urdu website of daily Dawn. At the same time the outlook of the newspaper underwent major layout changes.
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.