Telugu is read across two states, and since 2014 Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have developed distinct news agendas. The leading dailies publish dozens of district editions, and most belong to groups that also run TV news channels and large news sites.
This list ranks the leading Telugu-language dailies. The first four follow the most recent full Indian Readership Survey (IRS 2019 Q4, MRUC), which reports Andhra Pradesh and Telangana separately and orders dailies by average issue readership. The other six have no comparable audited figure, so we have ordered them by heritage and footprint. After the list you will find the Telugu news sites and apps worth knowing. If you are planning coverage, our Telugu press release distribution page explains how we write for and distribute to these desks.
Key takeaways
- Eenadu leads in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana; Sakshi is a close second in Andhra Pradesh (IRS 2019 Q4).
- Andhra Jyothi is third in both states, and Namasthe Telangana is a major Telangana daily.
- Plan for two states: Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and the district editions each have their own news priorities.
- Telugu news sites, TV channels and apps such as Way2News reach readers that print alone does not.
The list at a glance
| Newspaper | Founded | Publisher | Based in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Eenadu | 1974 | Ushodaya Enterprises (Ramoji Group) | Hyderabad |
| 2. Sakshi | 2008 | Jagati Publications | Hyderabad |
| 3. Andhra Jyothi | 1960 (relaunched 2002) | Aamoda Publications | Hyderabad |
| 4. Namasthe Telangana | 2011 | Telangana Publications | Hyderabad |
| 5. Vaartha | 1996 | A.G.A Publications | Hyderabad |
| 6. Andhra Prabha | 1938 | Not verified | Hyderabad |
| 7. Prajasakti | 1942 (daily from 1981) | Prajasakti group | Hyderabad |
| 8. Mana Telangana | 2015 | Move on Media | Hyderabad |
| 9. Suryaa | 2007 | SPR Publications | Hyderabad |
| 10. Visalaandhra | 1952 | Visalaandhra group | Vijayawada |
1. Eenaduఈనాడు
- Founded
- 10 August 1974
- Publisher
- Ushodaya Enterprises (Ramoji Group)
- Based in
- Hyderabad
- Website
- eenadu.net
Eenadu was launched in Visakhapatnam in 1974 by Ramoji Rao, who led the Ramoji Group until his death in 2024. Published by Ushodaya Enterprises from Hyderabad, it runs editions across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and one of the most-read Telugu news sites.
In IRS 2019 Q4 it led both states: an average issue readership of about 2.3 million and total readership of about 6.4 million in Andhra Pradesh, and about 2.3 million and 5.1 million in Telangana.
2. Sakshiసాక్షి
- Founded
- 23 March 2008
- Publisher
- Jagati Publications
- Based in
- Hyderabad
- Website
- sakshi.com
Sakshi was launched in 2008 by Jagati Publications with 23 editions on day one, one of the largest launches in Indian print. It is published from Hyderabad and has a sister TV channel and a large news site.
IRS 2019 Q4 placed it second in both states: an average issue readership of about 2 million in Andhra Pradesh, close behind Eenadu, and about 1 million in Telangana.
3. Andhra Jyothiఆంధ్రజ్యోతి
- Founded
- 1 July 1960 (relaunched 2002)
- Publisher
- Aamoda Publications
- Based in
- Hyderabad
- Website
- andhrajyothy.com
Andhra Jyothi was founded in Vijayawada in 1960 and relaunched in 2002 by Aamoda Publications under managing director Vemuri Radhakrishna. Its sister channel, ABN Andhra Jyothi, launched in 2009.
In IRS 2019 Q4 it was third in both states, with an average issue readership of about 1 million in Andhra Pradesh and about 0.6 million in Telangana.
4. Namasthe Telanganaనమస్తే తెలంగాణ
- Founded
- 6 June 2011
- Publisher
- Telangana Publications
- Based in
- Hyderabad
- Website
- ntnews.com
Namasthe Telangana was launched in 2011 by Telangana Publications and focuses on Telangana. Its publisher also launched the English daily Telangana Today in 2016.
IRS 2019 Q4 recorded an average issue readership of about 0.57 million in Telangana and total readership of about 1.6 million, ahead of Andhra Jyothi on total readership there.
5. Vaarthaవార్త
- Founded
- 1996
- Publisher
- A.G.A Publications
- Based in
- Hyderabad
- Website
- vaartha.com
Vaartha was launched in 1996 by A.G.A Publications, part of the Sanghi Group, and is published from Hyderabad with editions in both states.
No IRS figure is available for Vaartha.
6. Andhra Prabhaఆంధ్రప్రభ
- Founded
- 15 August 1938
- Publisher
- Not verified
- Based in
- Hyderabad
- Website
- Not listed
Andhra Prabha was founded in Madras in 1938 by Ramnath Goenka of the Indian Express group, which makes it one of the oldest Telugu dailies still published. It is now under different ownership.
No IRS figure is available for Andhra Prabha.
7. Prajasaktiప్రజాశక్తి
- Founded
- 1942 (daily from 1981)
- Publisher
- Prajasakti group
- Based in
- Hyderabad
- Website
- prajasakti.com
Prajasakti began in 1942 and relaunched as a daily in 1981. It is linked to the CPI(M) and covers labour, farmers and public-interest issues across both states.
No IRS figure is available for Prajasakti.
8. Mana Telanganaమన తెలంగాణ
- Founded
- 2015
- Publisher
- Move on Media
- Based in
- Hyderabad
- Website
- manatelangana.news
Mana Telangana was launched in Hyderabad in 2015 by Move on Media and focuses on Telangana news.
No IRS figure is available for Mana Telangana.
9. Suryaaసూర్య
- Founded
- 2007
- Publisher
- SPR Publications
- Based in
- Hyderabad
- Website
- suryaa.com
Suryaa is a Hyderabad-based Telugu daily published by SPR Publications, with editions in both states and an e-paper.
No IRS figure is available for Suryaa.
10. Visalaandhraవిశాలాంధ్ర
- Founded
- 22 June 1952
- Publisher
- Visalaandhra group
- Based in
- Vijayawada
- Website
- Not listed
Visalaandhra was founded in Vijayawada in 1952 and is aligned with the CPI. It is one of the longest-running Telugu dailies, with a readership in coastal Andhra.
No IRS figure is available for Visalaandhra.
Telugu news sites and apps worth knowing
Telugu readers increasingly get their news on screens. The big newspapers run the largest Telugu news sites: eenadu.net, sakshi.com and andhrajyothy.com. TV newsrooms such as TV9 Telugu (2004), NTV (2007) and ABN Andhra Jyothi (2009) also publish heavily online.
Digital-first outlets matter too. Way2News, a short-news app launched in 2015, is widely used in both states. National groups run Telugu sites: Samayam Telugu (Times Internet, 2015), ABP Desam (2021), Zee Telugu News (2022), News18 Telugu and Oneindia Telugu. For an English angle, Telangana Today is published by the Namasthe Telangana group.
How we ranked these newspapers
The Indian Readership Survey is the industry standard for readership. The last full round, IRS 2019 Q4 (published by MRUC in 2020), lists Eenadu, Sakshi and Andhra Jyothi for Andhra Pradesh, and the same three plus Namasthe Telangana for Telangana, ordered by average issue readership. Those are our first four.
Vaartha, Andhra Prabha, Prajasakti, Mana Telangana, Suryaa and Visalaandhra have no comparable audited figure, so we have ordered them by heritage and footprint. Nava Telangana and Janam Sakshi are also worth knowing. Andhra Bhoomi, which appears on older lists, stopped printing in 2020. We have not used circulation figures or website traffic claims, because published numbers are not consistently audited.
How to get coverage in Telugu media
Three things decide whether a Telugu desk runs a story. The first is local relevance: a city, a district or an industry in Andhra Pradesh or Telangana that benefits. The second is language: a release written in Telugu by a native writer reads as news, while a translation reads as an advertisement. The third is geography: Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati each have editions and desks their readers turn to first.
For fixed-date announcements, Telugu press release distribution and clearly labelled sponsored formats are dependable. Editorial coverage cannot be bought or guaranteed; we pursue it only. For campaigns across several states, see our regional PR distribution options.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most-read Telugu newspaper?
Eenadu. In IRS 2019 Q4 it led both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with an average issue readership of about 2.3 million in each state.
Which Telugu newspaper is best for Telangana?
Eenadu leads in Telangana, followed by Sakshi, Andhra Jyothi and Namasthe Telangana. Mana Telangana and Nava Telangana also focus on the state.
Which are the most popular Telugu news sites?
The newspaper sites eenadu.net, sakshi.com and andhrajyothy.com, the TV newsrooms TV9 Telugu, NTV and ABN Andhra Jyothi, and digital outlets such as Way2News, Samayam Telugu and ABP Desam.
Can I get my press release published in Eenadu?
Editorial coverage is decided by the paper's journalists and cannot be guaranteed. Press release distribution and sponsored formats are available for fixed-date announcements. For editorial coverage, media relations builds the story and takes it to the right desk.
Should a press release for Telugu media be written in Telugu?
Yes. A release written in Telugu by a native writer is far more likely to be used than an English release or a machine translation.
