Never Underestimate the Power of Neighbourhood Newspapers

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OK, where else would a simple act of hospitality hit the main headlines !! It’s easy to snicker at what appears to be an insignificant tabloid. But this incident has completely changed my perception of neighbourhood tabloids. The article carried my mobile number and I’ve had more people call me back than the coverage on both NDTV and CNN IBN combined.

No, I’m not talking about the reach. It’ll be a just a blip on the readership radar of the big TV channels. But its the quick recognition. Folks at my apartment building, folks at my daughter’s school, her friends’ parents, even the grocery vendor recognized me on the photo and enquired what its all about.

Vadapalani Talk is a freely distributed four page tabloid consisting of neighbourhood news. It’s estimated to reach 42,000 households in Vadapalani, Saligramam, Virugambakkam, Valasarawalkam, Chinmaya Nagar, Alwarthirunagar and Porur.