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Berita Harian (Malaysia)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the publication in Singapore, see Berita Harian (Singapore).

Berita Harian
Front page of Berita Harian from 5 March 2020.
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatCompact
PublisherThe New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
Founded1 July 1957; 68 years ago (1957-07-01) (original)
1 September 1972; 53 years ago (1972-09-01) (current)
Political alignmentUMNO
LanguageMalay
HeadquartersBalai Berita 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Circulation106,754 (daily)
109,811 (BH Ahad)
3,766 (daily E-paper)
3,765 (BH Ahad E-paper)
*Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations, Malaysia – July to December 2015[1][2]
Websitewww.bharian.com.my[3]

Berita Harian (shortened to BH) is a Malay-language daily newspaper in Malaysia. It was published by the New Straits Times Press and was first issued on July 1, 1957. Its Sunday edition, BH has (formerly Berita Minggu), was launched on 10 July 1960.

History

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Editorial cartoon by Peng
Editorial cartoon by Peng, featured in the Berita Harian newspaper dated 7 September 1957, for the weekly column "Berita Harian Hidangan Hari Sabtu" (Berita Harian's Saturday Column).
Mat Jambul cartoon strip
"Mat Jambul Family" cartoon strip, published on 14 May 1961, in Berita Harian.

Berita Harian* was the first romanized Malay-language morning newspaper published on the British-influenced side of the Malaysphere when it launched on 1 July 1957,[4] whereas contemporaries like Utusan Melayu at the time were still publishing in the Jawi script.

On 10 July 1960, it introduced its Sunday equivalent Berita Minggu. During its early years, the publication mirrored The Straits Times in content, was priced at RM0.15, and operated with a small editorial team of eight members. Abdul Samad Ismail was appointed as its first editor in April 1958.

Several milestones followed:

  • 1966: BH introduced a revised masthead.
  • 1968: The Sunday edition featured Lat's Keluarga Si Mamat cartoon series.
  • 1972: The Malaysian and Singaporean editions become separate and distinct.
  • 1974: The Page count increased from 10 to 12, allowing for expanded content, including trade, photography, and foreign news.
  • 1975: Price raised to RM0.25.
  • 1981: A comprehensive redesign introduced new sections and increased entertainment coverage. The price increased to RM0.35, then to RM0.45 in 1983.
  • 1985: Berita Harian and Berita Minggu were consolidated into Berita Harian Sdn Bhd.
  • 1989: The sports section expanded with the launch of Jaguh, a 16-page pullout.
  • 1992: Special daily supplements such as Berita Pelajar, Berita Wanita, and Berita Teknologi were introduced.
  • 1993: A new subsection on computing was launched, later evolving into Berita Komputer.
  • 1995: A major overhaul introduced changes to fonts, images, and layouts, shifting focus from regional to national and international news.
  • 2001–2003: The newspaper expanded its educational sections and introduced the youth-orientated IKON pull-out.
  • 2004: Daily circulation reached approximately 238,000 copies. Regional editions gained front-page stories tailored to different areas.
  • 2008: BH transitioned from broadsheet to compact format.
  • 2009: BH became Malaysia’s most visited online newspaper by October 2010.

Format changes

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On 5 July 2008, BH transitioned from a broadsheet to a compact format. This shift included structural updates and the introduction of youth-oriented content.

With the rise of digital media, BH expanded its online presence and launched mobile services, providing real-time news updates. By 2010, it had established itself as one of Malaysia’s leading digital newspapers.

On 1 July 2012, BH revamped its sections, renaming Ekonomi to Bisnes, Ratu to Famili, and Rona to Kembara. Additional changes in typography, layout, and pagination were also introduced.[5]

Educational contributions

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BH introduced several educational initiatives, including the Berita Pelajar and Minda Pelajar pullouts, to engage students. In 1994, the newspaper launched Berita Komputer, providing technology-focused content for readers interested in computing and digital literacy.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Circulation Figures: Newspapers - West & East Malaysia" (PDF). Audit Bureau of Circulations Malaysia. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Redaksi | Berita Harian".
  4. ^ Rush, James R. (1994). "Abdul Samad Ismail: Biography". The Ramon Magsaysay Awards 1987-1996. Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation.
  5. ^ Hisham, Hizral Tazzif (2019). "SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS IMPACTS ON TRADITIONAL MEDIA: A CASE STUDY ON BERITA HARIAN". International Journal of Modern Trends in Social Sciences. 2 (6). ISSN 2600-8777.
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