Doctrina Christam written in “Malayalam Tamul” by Fr. Henrique Henriques, a Jesuit priest is believed to be the first book to be printed in Kerala. This was in the year 1578 at Kollam. However the first Malayalam book came out in 1824 from CMS Press, Kottayam founded by Benjamin Bailey in the year 1821.

Bomberman

The history of news media in Kerala begins with the publication of Rajyasamacharam, the first newspaper of Kerala. This was started for religious propagation by the Christian missionaries of Basel Mission in June 1847 from Illikunnu near Thalbumeri (Tellicherry). Subsequently two more newspapers Paschimodayam (1847 October) and Njananikshepam (1848 November) came out from Tellicherry and Kottayam respectively.

Another major development was the publication of Nasrani Deepika on 15 April, 1887 from Mannanam near Kottayam as a fortnightly. The publication started under the editorship of a Catholic priest Nidhiry Mani Kathanar later became a daily newspaper on 3 January, 1927. The paper was renamed as Deepika in 1938 and it continues to be published even today.

SScan

K. Ramakrishna Pillai popularly known as Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai is the first journalist in Kerala who was exiled. He was exiled from the erstwhile princely state of Travancore in 26 September, 1910, for criticizing the then rulers. He is also credited with authoring the first book on journalism titled Vrithantha Pathra Pravarthanam in Malayalam as early as in 1912.

Kerala Kaumudi was started in 1911 in Mayyanad in Kollam under the editorship of C.V. Kunhiraman as a weekly and was later converted to a daily and is one of the leading newspapers today.

Mathrubhumi newspaper was started as part of the nationalist movement and Indian independence movement on 18 March, 1923, under the editorship of K. P. Kesava Menon. It was started as a tri-weekly at Kozhikode and was later made a daily in 6 April, 1930. Today it is the second largest circulated daily of Kerala.

Madhyamam began publishing in 1987 at Silver Hills near Calicut. Veteran journalist, Kuldip Nayar inaugurated the publishing. Madhyamam has its core readership in the Malabar Muslim community. It has seven editions across the state of Kerala and a considerable readership.Madhyamam is owned by the Ideal Publications Trust, which claims as their aim providing non-profit non-partisan and value-based journalistic service free from market pressures.Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Malayalam writer, said that it was the birth of a silver star. K C Abdullah, P K Balakrishnan and K A Kodungallur were among its editors at the early stage.Today it is the third largest circulated daily of Kerala.

There are nearly 1140 malayalam newspapers with a total circulation of 76, 68,000 copies. The circulation of dailies alone is 22, 63,000.

Some of the popular weeklies in Malayalam today are Mathrubhumi weekly (1932), Kalakaumudi weekly (1976), India Today (Malayalam) (1987) , Samakalika Malayalam (1997)and Madhyamam weekly (1998).