BH (newspaper)

For the publication in Singapore, see Berita Harian (Singapore).

BH

Front page of Berita Harian from 5 March 2020.
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Compact
Publisher	The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
Founded	1 July 1957;67 years ago (1957-07-01)
Language	Malay
Headquarters	Balai Berita 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Circulation	106,754 (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]
Website	www.bharian.com.my [3]

BH, previously known as Berita Harian, is a Malay-language Malaysian daily newspaper in Malaysia, published by the New Straits Times Press. It was first issued on 1 July 1957. Its Sunday edition, BH Ahad (formerly Berita Minggu), debuted on 10 July 1960. By 2004, Berita Harian had a daily circulation of around 238,000 copies. Pricing strategies were adjusted to accommodate readers in different regions, such as Sabah and Sarawak.

History

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 Family" cartoon strip, published on 14 May 1961, in Berita Harian.

BH was the first romanized Malay morning newspaper when it launched on 1 July 1957. On 10 July 1960, it introduced Berita Minggu, the first romanized Malay Sunday newspaper. During its early years, the publication mirrored The Straits Times in content, was priced at RM0.15, and operated with a small editorial team of eight members. Abdul Samad Ismail was appointed as the first editor in April 1958.

Several milestones followed:

• 1966: BH introduced a revised masthead.
• 1968: The Sunday edition featured Lat's Keluarga Si Mamat cartoon series.
• 1974: Page count increased from 10 to 12, allowing for expanded content, including trade, photography, and foreign news.
• 1975: Price raised to RM0.25.
• 1981: A comprehensive redesign introduced new sections and increased entertainment coverage. The price increased to RM0.35, then to RM0.45 in 1983.
• 1985: Berita Harian and Berita Minggu were consolidated into Berita Harian Sdn Bhd.
• 1989: The sports section expanded with the launch of Jaguh, a 16-page pullout.
• 1992: Special daily supplements like Berita Pelajar, Berita Wanita, and Berita Teknologi were introduced.
• 1993: A new subsection on computing was launched, later evolving into Berita Komputer.
• 1995: A major overhaul introduced changes to fonts, images, and layouts, shifting focus from regional to national and international news.
• 2001-2003: The newspaper expanded its educational sections and introduced the youth-oriented IKON pullout.
• 2004: Daily circulation reached approximately 238,000 copies. Regional editions gained front-page stories tailored to different areas.
• 2008: BH transitioned from broadsheet to compact format.
• 2009: BH became Malaysia’s most visited online newspaper by October 2010.

Format Changes

On 5 July 2008, BH switched from broadsheet to a compact format to cater to evolving reader preferences. This transition included structural updates and the introduction of youth-focused content.

With the rise of digital media, BH expanded its online presence and introduced mobile services to offer real-time news updates. By 2010, it became one of the leading digital newspapers in Malaysia.

On 1 July 2012, BH introduced changes such as renaming sections: 'Ekonomi' became 'Bisnes', 'Ratu' was rebranded as 'Famili', and 'Rona' changed to 'Kembara'. Adjustments were also made to typography, layout, and pagination.^{[ citation needed ]}

Educational Contributions

BH introduced several educational initiatives, such as the Berita Pelajar and Minda Pelajar pullouts, which were designed to engage students. The newspaper also launched Berita Komputer in 1994 to provide technology-focused content for readers interested in computing and digital literacy.

See also

• Other newspapers in Malaysia published in the Malay language:
  • Utusan Malaysia
  • Harian Metro
  • Kosmo!
  • Utusan Borneo , a newspaper serving the states of Sabah and Sarawak
  • Sinar Harian
• List of Malaysian television stations
  • 8TV
• List of Malaysian radio stations
  • 8FM

References

1. "Circulation Figures: Newspapers - West & East Malaysia" (PDF). Audit Bureau of Circulations Malaysia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
3. "Redaksi | Berita Harian".

External links

• Official website
• INMA