Cama’s second term

"Newsprint prices have hit the roof, printing ink prices have doubled and there is a general slow-down in advertising,” writes Hormusji N. Cama, recently re-elected president of The Indian Newspaper Society (INS), in a communication dated September 23, 2008 addressed to the Society’s members. Cama acknow­ledges that he is "privileged to be re-elected for a second term” and expresses gratitude for the confidence reposed in him by the executive committee.

The year ahead being a challenging one, Cama has sought the support and active participation of members especially since, for the first time India will be hosting, in March 2009, the largest international newspaper conference. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has agreed to inaugurate this conference to be held under the aegis of the INS and the World Association of Newspapers headquartered in Paris. The event will bring to India very important publishers, give members a tremendous opportunity to interact with publishers from around the globe and provide great potential for joint ventures and tie-ups.

Hormusji Cama: new challenges

The high cost of printing has impacted publications, and the INS has urged the DAVP (Directorate of Audio Visual Publicity) to increase its advertising rates, Cama mentions. The government is likely to announce an ad hoc increase of 24 percent in DAVP rates. The INS has also succeeded in getting the DAVP to set up a rate structure committee to fix new rates, keeping in mind the current cost of newsprint, he adds.

In addition, work on the Bombay building for INS has finally begun, the ground having been cleared and the piling started. Cama expresses the hope that by 2011 the INS, which is growing from strength to strength, will have one of India’s finest buildings in Bombay.