Origin of Newspapers in Kerala

Media in Kerala are widely accessible and cater to a wide variety of audiences. Kerala is the smallest of four states in South India. Dozens of newspapers are published in Kerala; they are printed in nine major languages.[1] The principal languages of publication are Malayalam and English. The most widely circulating Malayalam-language newspapers include Madhyamam, Mathrubhumi, Malayala Manorama, Mangalam , Deepika, Kerala Kaumudi, and Desabhimani. Among major Malayalam periodicals are Madhyamam weekly, Mathrubhumi weekly,India Today Malayalam, Chithrabhumi, Kanyaka, and Bhashaposhini.
The history of news media in Kerala begins with the publication of Rajyasamacharam, the first newspaper of Kerala. This was started for religious propagation by the Christian missionaries of Basel Mission in June 1847 from Illikunnu near Thalasseri (Tellicherry). Subsequently two more newspapers Paschimodayam (1847 October) and Njananikshepam (1848 November) came out from Tellicherry and Kottayam respectively.
Another major development was the publication of Nasrani Deepika on 15 April 1887 from Mannanam near Kottayam as a fortnightly. The publication started under the editorship of a Catholic priest Nidhiry Mani Kathanar later became a daily newspaper on 3 January 1927. The paper was renamed as Deepika in 1938 and it continues to be published even today.
Malayala Manorama was started from Kottayam on 22 March 1890 by Kandathil Varghese Mappillai as a weekly. This became a daily in 1928 and is the largest circulating daily of Kerala today.
K. Ramakrishna Pillai popularly known as Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai is the first journalist in Kerala who was exiled. He was exiled from the erstwhile princely state of Travancore in 26 September 1910, for criticizing the then rulers. He is also credited with authoring the first book on journalism titled Vrithantha Pathra Pravarthanam in Malayalam as early as in 1912.
Kerala Kaumudi was started in 1911 in Mayyanad in Kollam under the...