K M Mathew dead

Malayalam media doyen K M Mathew dead 

K M Mathew, doyen of Malayalam journalism and chief editor of Malayala Manorama daily,  passed away at his house in Kottayam district on Sunday morning. He was 93.  He was the past president of the Indian Newspaper Society and chairman of PTI. Affectionately known as 'Mathukuttichayan' to colleagues, Mathew, who was suffering from age-related ailments, was active till a few months back. He is survived by his sons Mammen Mathew (current editor of the daily), Philip Mathew (managing editor), Jacob Mathew (executive editor) and daughter Thankam Mammen. The funeral will take place at the Puthenpally church cemetery on Monday.

Born as the eighth son of K M Mammen Mappillai and Kunjaadamma on 2 January 1917, Mathew started his career as a planter in Chikamagalur and later migrated to the then Bombay state as a businessman looking after family business. He entered journalism in 1954, when he joined the family-owned Malayala Manorama as its general manager and managing editor after its re-launch under his elder brother K M Cheriyan. He took over as its chief editor on the death of Cheriyan in 1973.

A graduate in economics from Madras Christian College, Mathew took the group to become one of the foremost media houses in the country, establishing television, radio and online presence.
Manorama News TV channel, The Week magazine and a host of other publications were launched during this period. Under Mathew, the Manorama daily grew to 17 editions. Today it has nearly four dozens of publications in Malayalam, English and Hindi.

Despite the soaring popularity ratings of the paper, Mathew chose to maintain a low profile. At a time when Malayalam journalism was largely confined to politics, Mathew sought to align it with emerging trends in international reporting.


He published his autobiography Ettamathe Mothiram (Eighth ring) a few years ago; it was well-received. He has also written Annamma in memory of his late wife.

Mathew was presented with Padmabhushan award in 1998 for his contribution to journalism, in addition to a number of privately instituted awards.He has been president of the Indian Newspaper Society; chairman of PTI; founder trustee and chairman of the Press Institute of India and Research Institute for Newspaper Development; executive committee member of the Federation of International Newspaper Publishers and Editors based in France, and a consultant of International Press Institute among other positions.
(a domain-b.com report)