FORMAT -E
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SRM VALLIAMMAI ENGINEERING COLLEGE (An Autonomous Institution) SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur-603203. |
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IV: SRMVEC/DMS/IV REPORT /ODD 2026-27/09
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES
Report on Industrial Visit
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Date(s) of Event |
: 30/09/2026 |
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Title of the Event |
: Industrial Visit to The New Indian Express, Ambattur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
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Beneficiaries |
: I Year MBA – Sec 1 Students |
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Objective |
: The main objective of the industrial visit to The New Indian Express was to gain practical exposure to the working of a leading English daily newspaper, from news gathering and editing to page design, printing, packing and distribution. The visit helped students understand how editorial, pre-press, press, circulation and advertising departments coordinate to deliver a newspaper every morning. It also aimed to provide knowledge about time management, quality control, safety practices, machinery maintenance, technology adoption and the shift towards digital media in the newspaper industry. The visit further allowed students to interact with media professionals and relate the concepts of operations management, marketing management, supply chain management and strategic management to a real media organisation. |
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Outcome |
: The industrial visit to The New Indian Express gave students first-hand exposure to newspaper publishing operations. Students understood how news is collected, edited, laid out, printed and distributed within tight deadlines, along with the role of technology, quality checks and safety practices in the printing process. The visit helped us connect classroom concepts of Operations Management, Marketing Management, Supply Chain Management and Strategic Management with practical applications in the media industry. |
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No of Participants |
:47 Students |
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Convener |
: Dr. Venkata Sai Srinivasa Rao Muramalla |
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Coordinators |
: Mr. K. N. Haridharan Mrs. R. Parhana Dr.S.Yuvasree |
Encl:
1. Report of the Event
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Signature of Coordinator |
Head of the Department |
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Principal |
SRM VALLIAMMAI ENGINEERING COLLEGE
(AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION)
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES
REPORT ON INDUSTRIAL VISIT TO
The New Indian Express
INTRODUCTION
On September 30th, 2026, the Department of Management Studies at SRM Valliammai Engineering College, SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur, organized an industrial visit to The New Indian Express, Ambattur, Chennai, aimed at providing MBA students with real-time exposure to the functioning of a leading media organisation and a better understanding of the editorial, production and managerial functions involved in publishing a daily newspaper. A total of __ students participated in this visit, accompanied by Ms R.Parhana Assistant professor, – MBA and Mr.K.Suresh Assistant Professor – MBA, and reached the premises around 10.00 am.
ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION
We arrived at The New Indian Express along with our faculty members as part of the industrial visit organised by our college. After reaching the premises, we were welcomed by the company representatives. The students were guided through the necessary entry procedures and safety instructions before beginning the visit. An orientation session was conducted to introduce us to the organisation and its operations. During the session, the representatives explained the history of the newspaper, its editions and publications, the role of the press in society and how the different departments work together to bring out the newspaper every day. The officials also stressed the importance of maintaining discipline and following safety guidelines inside the press area. Students were instructed to remain with their groups, follow the directions of the staff and avoid entering restricted areas. The orientation helped us understand the basic functioning of the company and prepared us for observing the operations.
Safety Instructions Given During Orientation
• Follow the instructions of company officials.
• Wear the required personal protective equipment, such as ear protection, in the press area.
• Maintain a safe distance from operating printing machinery.
• Avoid entering restricted areas.
• Do not touch machinery, reels or electrical equipment.
• Stay with the assigned group.
• Follow safety and emergency procedures.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
The New Indian Express is an English-language daily newspaper published by Express Publications (Madurai) Limited, with its headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The newspaper traces its origin to 1932, when The Indian Express was started in Madras (now Chennai) by P. Varadarajulu Naidu. It was later taken over by Ramnath Goenka, who built it into one of the most respected names in Indian journalism and became widely known for his stand on press freedom.
After the death of Ramnath Goenka in 1991, the Express group was divided among the family. The northern editions continued as The Indian Express under the Indian Express Group, while the southern editions were grouped under Express Publications (Madurai) Limited and became The New Indian Express.
Today, The New Indian Express reports on national, regional, business, sports, entertainment and lifestyle news, and is published from multiple cities across South India. Its digital arm, Express Network Private Limited, runs the news website newindianexpress.com. The company's registered office is at Express Garden, Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai.
Publications and Services
The group's major publications and offerings include:
1. The New Indian Express – the flagship English daily.
2. Sunday Standard – the Sunday edition of the newspaper.
3. Dinamani – a Tamil daily, one of the oldest in the group.
4. Kannada Prabha, Samakalika Malayalam and Andhra Prabha – regional language publications of the group.
5. Supplements and magazines such as Indulge, Cinema Express and Edex.
6. Digital news platform – newindianexpress.com, with e-paper and online content..
ABOUT THE UNIT VISITED
The unit visited by our group is of The New Indian Express in Chennai. A leading newspaper publishing and printing organisation. A total of 47 students from our college participated in the Industrial Visit and gained practical exposure to the various processes involved in newspaper production, printing and distribution.
A newspaper organisation functions like a manufacturing unit that works against a daily deadline. News is the raw material, the editorial and pre-press teams convert it into finished pages, the press prints and packs the copies, and the circulation team delivers them to readers. During the visit, we gained a practical understanding of how these activities are scheduled and coordinated so that the newspaper reaches readers early every morning.
CORE OPERATIONS
The core operations of a newspaper organisation like The New Indian Express can be explained through the following activities.
• News Gathering and Reporting
Reporters, correspondents, photographers and news agencies supply news from different regions. Stories are filed to the newsroom throughout the day and are verified for accuracy before they are taken up for editing.
• Editing and Page Planning
Sub-editors and the news editor check the language, facts and headlines of each story, decide its priority and place it on the pages. Page planning balances news, photographs, advertisements and supplements within the space available.
• Page Design and Pre-press
Pages are designed on computers using layout software. After approval, the final pages are sent to the pre-press section, where they are converted into printing plates for each page and each colour.
• Printing
Printing is the main production activity. Large reels of newsprint are loaded on to high-speed rotary printing machines, which print, cut and fold the newspaper at a very fast rate. The machines print in four basic colours, which combine to give the coloured photographs and advertisements seen in the newspaper.
• Post-press: Inserting, Counting and Packing
Printed copies are counted, bundled and packed according to the requirements of each route and agent. Supplements and inserts are added where required.
• Circulation and Distribution
The bundles are loaded into vehicles and sent to agents, distributors and newspaper vendors, who deliver the copies to readers' homes and stalls. Because a newspaper is highly perishable, timely distribution is as important as printing.
• Advertising and Marketing
Advertisements are a major source of revenue for a newspaper. The advertising team books and schedules advertisements, which are then placed on the pages by the layout team.
QUALITY AND STANDARDS
Quality is critical in newspaper publishing because the product is read by thousands of people every day and cannot be recalled once it is distributed. Quality here covers the accuracy of the news, the print quality of text and photographs, and the timely delivery of copies.
During the industrial visit, we understood the importance of checks at each stage of the process, from the newsroom to the press.
Quality Control Activities
Quality control in newspaper production generally includes:
1. Verifying facts, names and figures before publishing a story.
2. Proofreading and checking of pages before they are sent for plate-making.
3. Checking the quality and condition of newsprint reels.
4. Checking colour registration, so that the four colours print exactly on top of each other.
5. Monitoring ink density and print clarity during the print run.
6. Checking sample copies from the press at regular intervals.
7. Counting and packing copies accurately for each route.
Key Departments and Their Roles
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Department |
Role |
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Editorial |
Collects, verifies, edits and prioritises news and features. |
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Design / Pre-press |
Designs the pages and prepares the printing plates. |
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Printing Press |
Prints, cuts and folds the newspaper on rotary machines. |
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Circulation |
Packs, dispatches and delivers copies through agents and vendors. |
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Advertising and Marketing |
Sells and schedules advertisements and builds the readership. |
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Maintenance and Engineering |
Keeps the machinery and electrical systems running without breakdown. |
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Human Resources and Administration |
Manages manpower, safety, welfare and statutory requirements. |
PLANT FEATURES AND OBSERVATIONS
During the industrial visit, we observed several important features of the organisation.
• Newsroom Environment
The newsroom works with strict deadlines, where reporters and editors continuously update, check and finalise stories before the pages close.
• Page Design and Pre-press Facilities
Designers prepare the pages on computers, and the final pages are converted into plates using modern digital pre-press equipment.
• Printing Machinery
The press area contains large rotary printing machines that run at high speed. The size of the machines and the speed of printing showed how much planning goes into each print run.
• Newsprint Storage and Handling
Newsprint is supplied in heavy reels, which are stored and moved with handling equipment and loaded on to the machines.
• Packing and Dispatch Area
Copies are counted, bundled and loaded into vehicles route-wise so that they reach agents on time.
• Safety Practices
Safety instructions were explained during the orientation. The visit helped us understand the importance of personal safety, noise exposure, restricted areas and safe movement around moving machinery.
• Departmental Coordination
Editorial, pre-press, printing, circulation, advertising and maintenance teams have to work in a fixed sequence. A delay in one department affects all the departments that follow.
• Technology and Digital Media
The organisation uses digital tools for news gathering, page design and printing, and also publishes news online and through an e-paper, in addition to the printed newspaper.
NEWSPAPER PRODUCTION PROCESS OVERVIEW
The overview below explains the general process by which a daily newspaper is produced and delivered.
General Newspaper Production Process
Step 1 – News Gathering
Reporters, correspondents, photographers and news agencies collect and send news and photographs to the newsroom.
Step 2 – Editing
Editors check, correct and rewrite the stories, write headlines and decide which stories go on which page.
Step 3 – Page Layout
Designers place text, photographs and advertisements on the pages according to the page plan.
Step 4 – Approval and Page Close
Pages are checked and approved by the editors. Each edition has a fixed deadline, after which the pages are closed and sent for printing.
Step 5 – Plate Making
The approved pages are converted into aluminium printing plates, with a separate plate for each colour.
Step 6 – Printing
The plates are mounted on the rotary press. Newsprint from large reels passes through the machine, where it is printed, cut and folded into newspapers.
Step 7 – Quality Check
Sample copies are checked for colour, clarity, page order and registration, and adjustments are made when needed.
Step 8 – Counting, Inserting and Packing
Printed copies are counted, supplements and inserts are added where required, and the copies are bundled according to routes and agents.
Step 9 – Dispatch and Distribution
Bundles are loaded into vehicles and sent to agents and vendors, who deliver the newspaper to readers, usually early in the morning.
INTERACTIVE SESSION
1. What are the major departments in a newspaper organisation?
The major departments are editorial, design and pre-press, printing, circulation, advertising and marketing, maintenance, and human resources and administration. The editorial team creates the content, the press produces the copies, and the circulation team makes sure the newspaper reaches readers on time.
2. How is the accuracy of news ensured?
Stories are verified by reporters and checked by sub-editors and senior editors before publishing. Facts, names and figures are cross-checked, and sensitive stories are reviewed more carefully. Accuracy is important because it protects the credibility of the newspaper.
3. What is newsprint and how is it handled?
Newsprint is the low-cost paper used for printing newspapers. It is supplied in large, heavy reels that are stored carefully to protect them from moisture and damage, and are loaded on to the printing machines with handling equipment.
4. How are the pages printed in colour?
The newspaper uses offset printing. Each page is converted into plates for four basic colours – cyan, magenta, yellow and black – which are printed one over the other to form the final coloured image. Correct colour registration is necessary so that the images look sharp.
5. How does the newspaper reach readers so early in the morning?
Printing is done late at night, after the final pages close. The copies are then packed route-wise and sent immediately to agents and vendors through a planned distribution network, which delivers them to readers' homes and stalls before morning.
6. How has digital media affected the newspaper business?
Readers now consume news on websites, apps and social media, which has increased competition and changed advertising patterns. Newspapers have responded by adding digital editions, e-papers and online news platforms alongside the print edition, while continuing to rely on credibility and in-depth reporting.
OBSERVATIONS DURING THE VISIT
The major observations made during the industrial visit were:
• A newspaper is a time-bound product, and deadlines drive every activity.
• News is the raw material, and its accuracy decides the credibility of the newspaper.
• Production planning and coordination between departments are essential.
• Printing machinery requires regular maintenance to avoid breakdowns during print runs.
• Quality checks on print, colour and page order are carried out during printing.
• Newsprint handling and storage need proper planning and care.
• Packing and distribution decide whether the newspaper reaches readers on time.
• Safety procedures must be followed strictly around heavy machinery and noise.
• Technology supports every stage, from news gathering to printing.
• Digital platforms now work along with the print edition.
• Advertising is an important source of revenue for the organisation.
The visit helped us understand that the success of a media organisation depends on the effective coordination of people, technology, machinery, time and management systems.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The industrial visit provided us with valuable practical learning as MBA students.
Practical Knowledge of Newspaper Publishing
We gained a basic understanding of how a newspaper is produced from news gathering to printing and distribution.
Understanding of Operations Management
The visit helped us understand how production activities are planned, scheduled and monitored under tight deadlines.
Importance of Quality Management
We learned that accuracy, print quality and timely delivery are all part of quality in a newspaper.
Understanding of Supply Chain Management
We gained knowledge about the flow from newsprint procurement to printing, packing, transport and delivery to readers.
Marketing and Revenue Model
We understood the role of advertising, circulation and readership in the revenue of a newspaper organisation.
Importance of Safety
The visit helped us understand the importance of following safety rules around heavy machinery and in noisy environments.
Role of Technology
We understood how digital technology supports editing, design, printing and online publishing.
Departmental Coordination
The visit demonstrated the importance of coordination between editorial, pre-press, printing, circulation and advertising teams.
Application of MBA Concepts
The visit helped us connect classroom concepts with practical activities in a media organisation. The subjects that were connected with the visit include:
• Operations Management.
• Marketing Management.
• Supply Chain Management.
• Human Resource Management.
• Strategic Management.
• Quality Management.
Professional Awareness
The visit improved our awareness of the working environment, responsibilities and skills required in the media industry.
PHOTO
CONCLUSION
The industrial visit to The New Indian Express was a valuable and informative learning experience. The visit helped us understand the practical functioning of a newspaper organisation and the importance of news gathering, editing, page design, printing, packing and distribution. We also gained knowledge about deadlines, industrial safety, departmental coordination, technology and the move towards digital media. As MBA students, the visit helped us bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industrial experience. It demonstrated how management concepts are applied in real business operations. Overall, the industrial visit enhanced our understanding of the media industry and provided valuable insights into the functioning of a newspaper organisation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Department of Management Studies expresses sincere gratitude to the Management, Director, Principal, Vice Principal, and Head of the Department, Dr. Venkata Sai Srinivasa Rao Muramalla, for their continuous support. Special thanks to the Industrial Visit Coordinators, Mrs. R. Parhana, Mr. K. N. Haridharan, Suresh and The New Indian Express for their cooperation and hospitality in organizing this insightful and educational visit, which greatly benefited the participating MBA students.
Industrial Visit Coordinator Head of the Department
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