Walter Nandalike
Editor-in-chief
Daijiworld.com

Mangaluru, Jan 14: Daijiworld was born 17 years ago on this auspicious day of Makara Sankranti. As we complete 16 successful but challenging years in the field of journalism, we feel proud to be here, accomplishing milestones and setting new goals for the future, thanks to the unconditional support from our readers, advertisers, sponsors, our dedicated staff and each and every one who has walked beside us.

This small note of gratitude comes from us as a 'big thank you' for bringing us to this level, to this year, but the journey is long and we have still a far, far way to go. We hope you will be with us throughout our journey, to guide us, correct us, support us, and indeed, appreciate us.

Though the website was started in 2001 by a single person without any specific goal or mission, today, as a team, we have reached a stage where we have been able to create a buzz around the world with digital, print, television and audio-visual forms of media. With our other ventures, namely 'Daijiworld Weekly' , 'Daijiworld 24x7' TV channel and Daijiworld Audio Visual Studio also walking in the same path of success, we are proud to announce two more projects this year.

Radio Daijiworld: Within the next few days, we will be launching our 24-hour online digital radio station, which will also be available on mobile app. The test run is under way, and with innovative features, Konkani and Tulu music, together with news related content, the radio station will be available worldwide very soon.

Daijiworld Technologies: To expand our presence in the digital world, and to provide service to our clients worldwide, we have already started our technology division in Chennai under the leadership of J Karthikeyan, who will be supported by young IT engineers to provide software, web-designing and mobile app development services. The company will be formally launched in March - April 2017.

More details on the above projects will be provided soon.

News on WhatsApp: Keeping pace with technology, and with a view to delilver news instantly wherever you are, we have now started WhatsApp news service, where, only breaking or important news will be delivered to your WhatsApp number. All you have to do is, save our number 8277855000 on your contacts. Only 3-4 news items (depending on importance) will be sent to the subscribers. Your mobile number will be kept in total confidentiality.

Fresh look and mobile-friendly: It has always been our concern to provide a user-friendly website to our readers. But considering the huge overheads to run the news portal, giving priority space to our advertisers has become obligatory. Without the support of advertisers, running such a portal is an impossible task. Still, we have tried our best, and come up with a better home page this time, and we will improve further in the coming days. The website is also now mobile-friendly, so you can surf on mobile browsers with easy access.

Charity through daijiworld is our mission 

We are overwhelmed by the tremendous trust and faith reposed in us by our readers and well-wishers, that helps us to mediate between the extreme needy and the donors. As we step into the 17th year, we are happy to announce that the charity generated in reaching out to the needy has reached Rs 13 crore. It is extremely satisfying and encouraging to see such vast support for noble causes. Since the amount generated directly goes to the beneficiary, we feel we have been a part of this noble deed for which each and every contributor is responsible. Thank you readers, you are our source of inspiration, and we are humbled by your generosity. We will continue this noble work in the coming days too.

Before concluding, it is our duty to acknowledge the dedicated staff at Daijiworld and its group. Daijiworld.com continues to receive enormous response from all over the world, and during 2016, we registered over 22% increase in readership, while our reports continued to create impact in society. We have been able to achieve this success under the leadership of Anisa Fathima, our resident editor, and Richie John Pais, our senior editor, all our reporters, sub-editors, photo-journalists, marketing personnel, advertising agencies, our representatives in India and abroad, franchise offices in Udupi, Dubai, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other parts of the world.

We the management, our director (operations) Melvyn Rodrigues, all the directors of the group and I, convey our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one for bring us to this successful stage.

Dear readers, please be with us like you have in the past. We accept your constructive criticism, we correct ourselves when we are wrong, and we humbly accept your appreciation when we do good.

Wish you a very happy new year 2017, may the almighty bless us all.