www.newskarnataka.com’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/newskarnataka/ has garnered 100,000 likes – ie one lakh likes!
This is an achievement indeed considering that the portal and its Facebook page are just infants in the industry – all of four years! As we celebrate the landmark, we realise that this could have never been a reality for us without your support. We bow our heads in gratitude to each and every reader who took out time to read what we felt needs to be told and liking what was being told.
In the ‘news mela’ where most news portals resort to staging gimmicks, we have stood by what we embarked our journey with – to stay grounded and report untreated, unfabricated, naked and true news and your verdict is loud and clear that you stand by ethical journalism.
There are two ways of looking at the verdict – either sit back and celebrate or get up and get going to reach the next landmark. We opt to do the latter. The likes bring along tonnes of responsibility and we are armed to take these responsibilities up.
The journey over the last four years has been incredible. Yes, like any organisation we too have had a very humble start. There were ups and downs, there were hits and misses, there were gloomy and glorious moments, but our readers have given us rich dividends for our perseverance. The Facebook page was not just a medium for us to make ourselves visible, but it was one of the ways to connects with our readers and hear them out. Your feedbacks helped us understand your perspective of news and we have mended ourselves accordingly.
Stories and details of likes
A few of the stories garnered maximum response and shares on Facebook. India’s first wheelchair-bound Actress Geet’s story and Bollywood choreographer Sushant Pujari’s article was shared 1.2k times while numerous others were shared more than 500 times on Facebook. The recent article which went on to create a new record in facebook shares was about the band ‘Rhapsody Out Loud’ which was shining on the stage of TV reality show ‘India’s got Talent’. The article went on to be shared over 2000 times. An awareness campaign ‘Neervana’ on Facebook, initiated by NewsKarnataka to save water during the times of water scarcity in the state was well appreciated. The likes and shares on facebook for Newskaranataka have seen an upward trend from the time it came into the scene.
These likes are not just numbers or emoji or a jargon for us, they mean an entire sea of opinion to us. They are our rewards and incentive to work harder and we promise to uphold the value of each like.
As we look ahead, we would like you to engage with us more. You can do this by clicking ‘Like’ below any of our posts on Facebook that you fancy. It’s an easy way to let the rest of the Newskarnataka family, all 100,000 of them, and us, know that you enjoy a post without leaving a comment.
However, true engagement with your news provider would mean going beyond just clicking “Like” below the post. True engagement would require you to visit the website, through the links provided on the Facebook page, share the story you like on your personal Facebook page, express your opinion by writing a comment on the story on the website and/or the Facebook post and being our devil’s advocate. We encourage you to do all of this. For that is what independent media is all about – it’s a platform for an independent debate on the issues that matter.
Where we started
A little history may help you comprehend this connection better. www.newskarnataka.com, was started in May 2012 by a bunch of dynamic youth who wanted to bring about a change in the field of journalism and do away with single ownership patter in media houses.
With the objective of ‘Educate, Empower, Enlighten, and Enable positive changes’ and with the catchline of ‘Truth Endures’, www.newskarnataka.com was started in Kannada.
Popular response to the website and the quest for diversity prompted the team to start an English news portal within a year. On March 17, 2013, www.newskarnataka.com was transformed into an English News portal, while the Kannada news portal was christened www.newskannada.com.
Both the News portals have everything that appeals to its readers – news, business, entertainment and positive stories that matter and inspire. There is also a section dedicated the coverage of Gulf and NRI’s, and advertisements at a nominal cost help businesses promote their brands. Their honest content has attracted a growing number of readers over the years and by all accounts, both the web portals are now very popular and have great brand recall.
www.newskarnataka.com is the product of a young, dynamic, crowd funded, and therefore independent media house, where it’s not the ‘owner’s’ interest that is paramount, but that of its readers, writers, contributors, employees and all who connect with them. This is what makes them unique.
Remember, your engagement with us keeps us up to speed in our endeavor to connect you to Karnataka. Do continue to engage with us, refer our sites and Facebook presence to your friends, and help us live up to your expectations.
Stakeholders wish good luck
“NewsKarnataka getting 1Lakh likes on FB is a great achievement for a news portal of just 4 years old. In the past days NewsKarnataka has done its best to reach every part of Karnataka and become voice of people. The issues raised by NewsKarnataka are really helping people to know their rights and fight for it. Wish all success and let your people friendly impartial and independent journalism reach greater heights.” – Canute Kelrai
“It’s indeed a great milestone achieved by NewsKarnataka crossing 100,000 likes for its Facebook page. I wish very best to all the employees of NewsKarnataka on this great occasion that made this possible. Let the truth endure.” – Valerian D’Almieda
“I have been watching NewsKarnataka grow from close quarters. I am impressed with their zeal for the truth and for independent journalism. As a part of the team I am proud that they have reached one lakh likes on Facebook, which means that their following across the world is growing at a phenomenal rate because of the kind of journalism that they are pursuing. Congratulations NewsKaranataka! Way to go” – Brian Fernandes