Berita Harian to switch to compact size in 2026
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The change is based on surveys and focus group discussions with readers and other stakeholders.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
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- Berita Harian (BH) will switch to a tabloid format in Q1 2026, based on reader feedback favouring a more compact size, according to SPH Media.
- The revamped BH will offer in-depth analyses, more lifestyle content (Kaki Makan, Bahasa dan Budaya), and enhanced access to digital content via QR codes.
- Editor Nazry Mokhtar assures the change is "not just a matter of size," maintaining BH's commitment to trusted, accurate news and community service.
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SINGAPORE – To provide readers with a more accessible and user-friendly experience, the print edition of Berita Harian will switch from a broadsheet to a tabloid format from the first quarter of 2026.
The change is based on surveys and focus group discussions with readers and other stakeholders, who expressed a “strong preference” for a more compact size, said SPH Media, which publishes the Malay-language daily.
The revamped BH will also provide more in-depth news analyses and opinion pieces to help readers make sense of news developments, in addition to more listicles and news briefs.
The paper’s lifestyle sections will also be enhanced, with more prominence given to content such as Kaki Makan, a column exploring Singapore’s vibrant food culture, as well as Bahasa dan Budaya, a column on the richness of the Malay language and culture.
The print edition of the newspaper will feature enhanced access to BH’s digital content, with more QR codes that link to online offerings such as videos and podcasts.
Speaking at a ceremony at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore to award BH’s Achiever of the Year Award on Nov 7, the paper’s editor Nazry Mokhtar said the new product is designed to be reader-friendly and will allow readers to have a seamless experience from print to digital.
He said: “I would like to assure you that the change is not just a matter of size or design.
“The paper may be small in size soon, but our mission remains big. It is part of BH’s transformation journey to refresh and modernise our products to stay relevant to readers.
“More importantly, it will not change BH’s commitment to serving the community. BH’s core thrusts and values remain the same – to be trusted and credible media by delivering news and content that are accurate, in-depth and balanced.”
Mr Wong Wei Kong, editor-in-chief of the English/Malay/Tamil Media group at SPH Media, said the new compact newspaper would increase its appeal to print readers.
“Berita Harian’s refreshed format for its newspaper marks two years of transformation that has seen the newsroom embrace new ways of storytelling across text, online, video, podcasts and on social media. This has allowed BH to reach more and new audiences, and raise its impact,” he said.
The changes follow the introduction of a digital-first workflow in the BH newsroom beginning in 2023, in addition to BH revamping its social media content and podcast offerings.
In 2024, BH launched OMGxBH,
In May, the paper’s digital evolution saw it achieve the second runner-up spot in the Best Innovation in Newsroom Transformation (National Brands) category at the International News Media Association’s Global Media Awards.
