How do I publish a missing person advertisement in the newspaper?
Send us the person's name and age, height and build, what they were wearing and where and when they were last seen, a recent photograph, and a contact number — and the police complaint or FIR number if you have it. We set it in the paper's format, show you a proof, and it can appear in the next edition if you book before the cut-off.
Do I need a police complaint before the ad can run?
The newspaper does not require one in order to publish, but almost every family files the complaint first and prints the complaint or FIR number in the notice — it tells anyone who recognises the person exactly where to call. If you have not filed yet, do that alongside booking; it does not hold up the ad.
Which newspaper and how many editions should I take?
Take the paper read where the person went missing, and every edition covering the area they could have travelled to — a classified appears only in the editions you choose. Many families take one English daily and one regional daily for the same day. Tell us the area and we confirm which editions cover it before you pay.
How do I publish a disown notice?
A disown notice states publicly that a family has severed ties with a named relative and is not responsible for their acts, debts or dealings. Give us the wording you want and the names exactly as they should appear, and we publish it as you approve it. Many people have the wording settled by their lawyer first; we will set whatever you supply.
Can I place a birthday, anniversary or thank-you message?
Yes — greetings are the other half of this column. Birthday and anniversary wishes, congratulations on a result or a promotion, and thank-you messages all run here. Tell us the occasion and a line about the person and we write the matter for you free, in the paper's language, and show you a proof.
Can the ad carry a photograph?
Yes. Plain classified text is words only, but classified display carries a photograph, a border and colour — which is why missing person notices and greetings are usually booked as display. It is charged per sq.cm rather than per line, and we show you the exact figure and a proof before you pay.
How much does a personal ad cost?
Classified text is charged per line and classified display per sq.cm, both per insertion, plus 5% GST. The rate finder above shows the real figure for your paper and edition before you share anything, at official rates with a lowest-price guarantee. A short notice in one edition is the cheapest option; a photograph and several editions cost more.
How soon can it appear?
Most papers have a same-day or next-morning cut-off, so book before the cut-off and it runs the next day. If a missing person notice is urgent, tell us and we book the earliest edition still open. We confirm the exact cut-off for your paper and edition before you pay.
How do I know it ran, and how do I pay?
After publication you can view your ad in that paper's e-paper for the published date and edition, or buy a local copy from a newsstand, and you get a GST invoice for the booking. Payment is online — UPI/QR, card, net-banking or NEFT/RTGS through a secure link. releaseMyAd is the INS-accredited online booking platform for 280+ dailies and has booked ads since 2009.
