How has it been taking on the role of Editor at Tamil Murasu since April 2024?
The editor of Tamil Murasu is a critical role, as Tamil Murasu is the only Tamil daily newspaper in Singapore and has been an integral part of the Indian community for about 90 years.

It has been a great learning experience thus far, and I am very impressed with the newsrooms in SPH Media, and how we have embraced the digital journey and transformation.

What inspired you to take up the role of Editor at Tamil Murasu?
It is a privilege to be appointed as the Editor of Tamil Murasu. As a Singaporean, I grew up with Tamil media. I saw the beginning of Mediacorp's Vasantham channel 20 years ago and was part of the Tamil Murasu Board a decade ago. Hence, coming in as the Editor of Tamil Murasu completes my experience with Singapore's Tamil media. 

I believe that my experiences in the education field and with organisations such as SINDA and the Hindu Endowments Board, along with the network I have developed over the last 30 years, will greatly help me in this role. I hope to bring many friends and supporters to Tamil Murasu, and apply some of my learnings from past experiences to run the newsroom. 

Can you share the vision and future plans for the newspaper, as well as the direction that Tamil Murasu is going towards?
It is important for Tamil Murasu to stay relevant to the community and engage the younger generation. To achieve this, we need to review and refresh the paper in all aspects - both print and online versions. As part of the TM90 (our 90th anniversary) next year, we are forming committees that will work on these reviews and suggest new products and initiatives. Tamil Murasu needs to remain the ‘voice of the community’, and participate in key discussions with all other communities. I hope we will reinvent ourselves with a new look and content by next year.

What are the challenges you anticipate for the newspaper's growth?
Introducing changes in practice and mindset is always difficult, as most are comfortable with the present. I believe that we should not just continue to ‘give’ what readers want but also offer what they need by providing value-added articles. While going digital can be a challenge, Tamil Murasu has embarked on this journey. It will take some time for our readers and supporters to embrace the digital transition.

How do you see the media landscape changing for the Tamil community and younger audience?
Like other communities, the Tamil community has taken to social media in a big way. Media consumption patterns have changed considerably, and the attention span of the audience, particularly younger audience, has shortened. Tamil Murasu has to create more visually appealing and interactive content to ensure continued engagement with all our audiences. For our younger audience, we plan to do more of ‘for the young, by the young’ type of content. One should not make assumptions on behalf of the younger audience as they will be quick to leave if the content is not to their taste and liking.  

How can PRs work with you and your team moving forward?
Our newsrooms can create many innovative products and have presence in various platforms. Tamil Murasu has gone digital, creating lots of content for the web, social media and the app. We would like to create more awareness of other available platforms and content that Tamil Murasu is creating, and look forward to working with the PR community on their stories.