BH (newspaper)

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Berita Harian
Front page of Berita Harian from 5 March 2020.
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatCompact
Owner(s)In Singapore, Berita Harian is operated by SPH Media Trust, a not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee.The Chairman of SPH Media is Khaw Boon Wan.
PublisherThe New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
Founded1 July 1957 (1957-07-01) (original)
1 September 1972 (1972-09-01) (current)
Political alignment
UMNO
LanguageMalay
HeadquartersBalai Berita 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Circulation106,754 (daily)
109,811 (BH Ahad)
3,766 (daily E-paper)
3,765 (BH Ahad E-paper)
*Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations, Malaysia – July to December 2015[1][2]
Websitewww.bharian.com.my[3]

Berita Harian (abbreviated as BH) is a Malay-language daily newspaper published in Malaysia. It is published by the New Straits Times Press and was first issued on 1 July 1957. Its Sunday edition, BH Ahad (formerly Berita Minggu), was launched on 10 July 1960.

The newspaper adopted the Romanized Malay script at its founding, and over the decades underwent several format changes, transitioning from a broadsheet to a compact format in 2008. It has also contributed to Malay-language education through pullout publications. Berita Harian is published from Balai Berita, Kuala Lumpur, and maintains an online presence at www.bharian.com.my.

History

Editorial cartoon by Peng
Editorial cartoon by Peng, featured in the Berita Harian newspaper dated 7 September 1957, for the weekly column "Berita Harian Hidangan Hari Sabtu" (Berita Harian's Saturday Column).
Mat Jambul cartoon strip
"Mat Jambul Family" cartoon strip, published on 14 May 1961, in Berita Harian.

Berita Harian launched on 1 July 1957.[4][5] It was published on the British-influenced side of the Malaysphere. It was the first morning newspaper in the region to adopt the Romanized Malay Script, contrasting with contemporaries like Utusan Melayu, which continued to publish the Jawi script. Abdul Samad Ismail was appointed as its first editor in April 1958.[6]

Early on, the newspaper regularly prioritised cartoons and comic strips. The tagline on the first published issue of the paper read "Berita Harian; Akhbar untuk Keluarga" (Translated: "The Daily News; A Newspaper for the Whole Family") and included front page text highlighting the inclusion of "the largest collection [of comic pictures] to be found in a newspaper in Malaya."[5]

The newspaper featured translated Western comic strips, but in December 1958, the newspaper began a regular competition where readers could send original comic panels and cartoons written in the Malay language. Winners would be given a cash prize and have their contribution featured in the next issue of the paper.[5]

In 1960, a Sunday edition of the paper was launched, originally titled Berita Minggu it was renamed to BH Ahad in 2012.[7]

Format changes

In 1966, BH introduced a revised masthead. In 1974, the page count increased from 10 to 12, allowing for expanded content, including trade, photography, and foreign news.

In 1989, the sports section expanded with the launch of Jaguh, a 16-page pullout.

On 5 July 2008, BH transitioned from a broadsheet to a compact format. This shift included structural updates and the introduction of youth-oriented content.

With the rise of digital media, BH established an online platform and mobile services offering digital news content. On 1 July 2012, BH revamped its sections, renaming Ekonomi to Bisnes, Ratu to Famili, and Rona to Kembara. Additional changes in typography, layout, and pagination were also introduced.[8]

Educational contributions

BH introduced several educational initiatives, including the Berita Pelajar and Minda Pelajar pullouts, to engage students. In 1994, the newspaper launched Berita Komputer, providing technology-focused content for readers interested in computing and digital literacy.

See also

References

  1. "Circulation Figures: Newspapers - West & East Malaysia" (PDF). Audit Bureau of Circulations Malaysia. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Redaksi | Berita Harian".
  4. Rush, James R. (1994). "Abdul Samad Ismail: Biography". The Ramon Magsaysay Awards 1987-1996. Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation.
  5. Mahamood, Muliyadi (1997). "The Development of Malay Editorial Cartoons". Asian Journal of Social Science. 25 (1): 37–58. doi:10.1163/030382497X00031. ISSN 1568-4849.
  6. "Abdul Samad bin Ismail". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  7. "Evolution of Berita Harian Newspaper". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  8. Hisham, Hizral Tazzif (2019). "SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS IMPACTS ON TRADITIONAL MEDIA: A CASE STUDY ON BERITA HARIAN". International Journal of Modern Trends in Social Sciences. 2 (6). ISSN 2600-8777.