MxMIndia

Author: mxmadmin

  • If some journalists care not to look such obvious sycophants, they should exercise some judgment, writes Ranjona Banerji

    Ranjona Banerji: No glee about these defections!

    Ranjona BanerjiBy Ranjona Banerji

     

    Defections from the BJP in Uttar Pradesh have created a slight problem for Modi’s caged media. Unlike the glee with which similar deflections from the TMC to the BJP before the West Bengal assembly polls were met, the movement from the BJP to the Samajwadi Party before UP’s assembly polls is being treated with a neat mixture of bewilderment, dissembling and deflection.

     

    Thus R Jagannathan of Swarajya magazine writes in The Times of India – which appears to have given away its edit page to the RSS and its supporters as it carried Sanghi author Ashwin Sanghi on the same day as Jagannathan, who wanted to convince readers how Modi was greater than AB Vajpayee – that the UP elections don’t really matter and have no bearing on the 2024 general elections.

     

    Remarkable how the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, despite everything else happening in this country, apparently spent 14 hours in a meeting to discuss these defections from the BJP in UP. This is more time than he has spent on his actual job as home minister but one may argue that is a blessing in disguise.

     

    Other media people – this time from TV, as in Pallavi Ghosh and Sanket Upadhyaya – sent out remarkably similar tweets about how since the defections from TMC to BJP did not affect the TMC’s ultimate victory, why should these defections hurt the BJP in UP. Though later I saw Ghosh had decided the BJP might be affected after all.

     

    My two-bit advice for these worthies, if they care not to look such obvious sycophants, would to at least consult each other before they retweet what they receive from the BJP IT Cell, and maybe exercise some judgment. But whatever.

     

    The Print has tried to saddle, not successfully, the two horses of both sides. Well. I did say tried. One 50-word edit says Punjab has become the laughing stock of India. Not sure where they have noticed this.

     

    Another 50-word edit from The Print says the defections from the BJP in UP make the BJP look bad. In case you think, aha, objectivity, you would be well, wrong. The next few lines advise the BJP that this is what happens when they pick up people from other parties. The inference is clear: it’s not really the BJP that is to be blamed but just that part of the BJP which allowed these people into their party.

     

    Erm. Does this same logic apply to all those other people who have joined the BJP from elsewhere?

     

    **

     

    The bigger stories that affect the core of India’s future: the economy, the spread of Covid, the spread of hatred, the spread of China; now these cannot be as important as Modi’s time spent on a flyover and on elections.

     

    That the BJP IT Cell uses an app to infiltrate people’s WhatsApp accounts to spread misinformation would be a bigger story for the Indian media if the large sections of the Indian media had not happily surrendered their minds and social media to the BJP anyway.

     

    Right?

     

    **

     

    It is at times like this, with elections everywhere, that one must pay tribute to the late Gerson da Cunha. He was an influential figure in advertising and theatre. And one of the stalwarts of Mumbai’s “movers and shakers”.

     

    But of his many talents and hats, for me his greatest gift to us was AGNI, the organisation he began in 1999. Action for Good Governance and Networking in India is a remarkable and successful effort to get people more involved in local politics and ensure that they have a voice in policy and to ensure good governance.

     

    Mumbai, despite being seen as politically apathetic, in fact has a long and effective history of citizens’ participation and pressure groups.

     

    Journalists have since depended on AGNI to understand and assess candidates and to delve into localised issues.

     

    I myself had several fruitful and educational sessions at AGNI’s public interactions, and with Gerson da Cunha himself.

     

    May his legacy continue to inspire!

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views here are personal

     

  • Isn't social integration an important step towards inclusion, asks Shruti Pushkarna

    Shruti Pushkarna: Does disability make social engagements less gratifying?

    By Shruti Pushkarna

     

    Shruti PushkarnaI personally love the winter season in Delhi. December and January are my favourite months, as long as the sun keeps shining. I enjoy stepping out after layering up adequately. But winter rain can be a downer.  Moist and gray outside, chilly inside, it’s hard to feel anything but gloom.

     

    Needless to say, it’s even more discomfiting to be locked in because of the rampant virus. The lack of choice, of going out to work, shop or meet someone, puts us under stress, unconsciously.

     

    In such harsh times, the idea of catching up with a friend over a steaming cup of tea or cocoa is exhilarating.  It’s the easiest, most casual thing for us to do. Call a pal, sibling or cousin, pick a café and chill. I have a list of catch ups planned once the Covid numbers start abating.

     

    Social engagements are intrinsic to human beings. A sonorous fact of the post Covid times. When we speak of inclusion, whether it’s gender, caste or disability, the conversations are mostly centred around empowerment through employment.

     

    We (organisations, governments, individuals) often underscore the need for social integration. Apart from the sense of dignity that comes with economic self-reliance, persons with disabilities (just like you and me) aspire for societal acceptance.

     

    Let’s take five commonplace scenarios which offer some form of gratification or liberation to us. And then picture if the 2.68 crore disabled population and 13.8 crore elderly (who may live with temporary disability or limitations in mobility, reading et cetera) feel the same way.

     

    1. As a woman and a working professional, driving gives me a sense of freedom. The fact that I don’t have to depend on anyone to shuttle me back and forth, or worry about hailing a taxi and contracting the virulent Omicron, is liberating. You can argue that disabled people cannot drive with their physical limitations. True. But there are ample solutions in the market. Here’s a picture of a paraplegic who drives himself around in a modified hand-controlled car.

     

    2. Catching the latest releases in a theatre nearby. And topping up the screening experience with popcorn and soda. How many wheelchair users have you encountered in a cinema hall? Even though some theatres have special access to a few seats. Did you know that a blind person relies on audio description to follow the visual narrative? A lot of OTT content on popular platforms like Amazon and Netflix now have audio described productions. Even if the disabled chap were to make it to the movies, can she or he really make an independent trip to the snack bar?

     

    3. Going out on a lunch date involves picking your favourite cuisine and the right ambience. Not so easy for someone with a disability, which often prevents them from even planning one. They have to ensure if the place is physically accessible for a wheelchair or a crutch or a walker. This includes entry/exit points, washrooms and seating area. Have you had to worry about a braille menu or a sign language interpreter for your meals?

     

    4. Shopping for clothes, shoes, bags or household stuff can be cathartic. But picking up something for yourself or a loved one is not easy if the shopping plaza isn’t accessible. Again, access is not defined in terms of physical navigation alone. The entire shopping experience has to be disabled friendly, including human assistance, secure transactions, quiet spaces for someone on the autism spectrum, and so on. Icing on the cake would be clothes and accessories designed for persons with disabilities. Online shopping does take care of some of these issues, except it’s not as delightful for those who enjoy the old school touch and feel version. A couple of years ago, Future Group’s Big Bazaar took a step towards making shopping inclusive and accessible.

     

    5. What better way of winding down in bed with an enjoyable book. I restrain myself from entering bookshops because of the urge to buy every interesting title. But if I want it, I can simply pick it off the shelf and start reading. Books have a way of expanding our imagination by transporting us into different settings. Can visually impaired people get a taste of something they will never see, by just reading about it? Yes of course. Except they access books in audio formats. Incidentally, India was the first nation to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty, an international legal instrument which makes it easier for blind and other print disabled people to access works protected by copyright. Yet, I know so many who struggle to find accessible books for their reading pleasure.

     

    In the last few years, I have made a lot of new friends who live with some form of disability. They share my urge to eat out, travel, gossip and splurge. Basic social engagements reiterate the ‘normal’, giving a chance to form connections without prejudice.

     

    Unfortunately, media portrayals hardly focus on the scope of collective light-hearted human indulgences, irrespective of (dis)abilities. Either disability is ridiculed, or treated too gravely, making it abnormal in some way.

     

  • Shailesh Kapoor rues that the decision to revive news television ratings came from the government and not BARC India

    News Ratings: “Approval” Received

     

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    Shailesh KapoorAdvisory. Directive. Missive. Instruction. Notice. Approval. Order. Go-ahead.

     

    These are some of the words that have described the communication sent by MIB to BARC India, for the latter to release new channels ratings with “immediate effect”.

     

    While the decision to revive news channel ratings has been long overdue, that such a decision must come from MIB and not from BARC India itself encapsulates the core issue with India’s television ratings system (or Indian television, in general) today. The industry must suffer from the vagaries arising out of too much interference from government bodies such as TRAI and MIB.

     

    To begin with, some of this interference is extra-constitutional. MIB has no official role to play in BARC India, which is an independent industry body. Some may argue that the MIB note is just an advisory that’s not legally binding on BARC India. But we know that’s not how things actually work. If MIB has said news ratings must restart, BARC India has no practical option but to comply.

     

    The restarting of news ratings is a welcome step. But the MIB statement begs the question: Whose decision was it? Why now, just before some big state elections? Have the “problems” that warranted the stopping of ratings in late 2020 been fixed?

     

    When founded as an independent industry body, BARC India would have aspired to hold the positioning of a credible and progressive TV ratings measurement company of one of the biggest TV markets in the world. It’s a highly technical role, and one that should command immense respect from stakeholders across the board. But today, they are positioned as an agency that’s at the beck and call of ministers and administrators, who seem to know more about research, measurement, and statistics than the company set up to run the show. The role of BARC India CEO should have been arguably the most enviable position in the Indian media and entertainment industry. Instead, it’s one burdened with controversies and bureaucratic hassles.

     

    It’s difficult to say how we reached here. Did BARC India make the mistake of opening its doors to “interference” in its early years? Avoiding government interference in media altogether may be difficult. After all, you never know when an “advisory” or a notification is coming your way. Perhaps BARC India could have pre-empted some of this, and worked on setting committees and processes in its formative years.

     

    So, we will soon have news ratings back. That, in isolation, is a good development on several counts, though some would argue that our news channels have become marginally more watchable since the ratings went out of their lives. But the real issue is: The government is finding new ways to run the Indian television industry by proxy, with no apparent logic at the heart of it. From the disasters called NTO and NTO 2.0 to the involvement in BARC India, the government seems to be back in the old Doordarshan mindset: That the state must exert its influence over the media, even if it is just to flex its muscles. And the television industry must grin and bear it!

     

     

  • Will lead product strategy and development

    Khatabook appoints Gaurav Shahlot as product head

    By Our Staff

     

    Gaurav Shahlot
    Gaurav Shahlot

    Khatabook, the fintech startup, has announced the appointment of Gaurav Shahlot as Head of Product. In his new role, Shahlot will be responsible for leading the product strategy and development along with team building and setting systems and processes for the product team to operate at scale.

     

    Said Ravish Naresh, CEO, and Co-founder, Khatabook: “Over the last three years, we have built a product with mass acceptance based on first-principles. With increasing use cases on Khatabook, we needed a leader who has the experience of solving product problems at scale in a high-growth environment. Gaurav has extensive experience with scaling and running products at scale. With his experience, leadership skills and passion for Khatabook’s mission, Gaurav is a natural fit to lead the product at Khatabook.”

     

  • With tagline 'Preserve Our Only Playground' video

    Decathlon rolls out sustainability campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    Decathlon India has launched its sustainability campaign “Preserve Our Only Playground” with a video summing up the brand’s environmentally conscious practices and its future plans. The campaign is a call by the global sports goods leader to stay #connectedbytheplayground and preserve in every possible way.

     

    Speaking on the initiatives and the company’s consistent commitment to sustainability Annie George, Sustainability Leader, Decathlon India, said: “Climate change is happening even more quickly than we realise. We are accelerating our Sustainability commitments by working in collaboration with our stakeholders. This will help us not just fulfil our commitments but also strengthen our methodologies and contribute to a collective impact.”

     

  • Facilities such as Explore, Hot Takes and Vibes expand possibilities of online dating

    Tinder unveils new campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    Tinder, the online dating and networking app, has unveiled a collection of short films in India that depict moments of many dating stories and diverse connections that are said to have started via the app.

     

    Speaking on the new campaign, Taru Kapoor, General Manager, Match Group India said: “Tinder is the world’s most popular app for sparking connections with new people. Millions of our members get the chance to meet a very diverse set of people every day based on shared interests. This new campaign is a reflection of countless journeys of firsts, and celebration of endless possibilities, that started on Tinder.”

     

  • Highlights paperless services over traditional insurance providers to digitally-savvy youth

    Ogilvy creates print campaign for Acko General

    By Our Staff

     

    Ogilvy has released a print campaign for Acko General Insurance Limited. Acko, a new-age insurance company, wanted to communicate the advantage of using its smooth, paperless services over traditional insurance providers, to the digitally-savvy youth.

     

    Said Mahesh Gharat, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy India (South): “With Acko, there is zero paperwork. Our creative idea and execution was born out of this simple product insight. We wanted to dramatize the pain point and highlight the horrifying experience one has to go through while dealing with traditional insurance companies.  To see the campaign come alive on print was truly gratifying. Acko believed in the idea, and to see brands like Acko investing in the craft and not just the message, is great to see.”

     

  • Focuses on 'Job Guarantee' programmes that assure a job on course completion

    Bluebot Digital creates campaign for Simplilearn

    By Our Staff

     

    Simplilearn has announced the launch of its latest brand campaign, titled #JobGuaranteed. The campaign focuses on Simplilearn’s ‘Job Guarantee’ programmes that assure a job upon course completion. As part of the campaign, the company launched two ad films on the above concept created by Bluebot Digital agency.

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Mark Moran, Chief Marketing Officer, Simplilearn, said: “As a leading online Bootcamp, we are excited to launch this campaign bringing job guarantee as a core offering to aspirants, coupled with the relatable storyline of asking for a treat when one succeeds in their profession. We hope viewers will relate to the characters and find motivation to learn new skills and share their “sweet success” with their family and friends.”

     

    Commenting on the Simplilearn campaign, Carl Savio, CEO & CCO, Bluebot Digital added: “The campaign is built around a tangible product benefit – guaranteed jobs. While conceptualising the campaign we stumbled on a cultural insight – In our country, it’s customary to ask for a treat when a friend or family member acquires an asset or moves up in stature. And from there we built a campaign that we know will relate to all demographics.”

     

  • As strategic investor and brand ambassador

    Venkatesh Daggubati partners with BikeWo

    By Our Staff

     

    Hyderabad-based BikeWo, electric two-wheeler smart hub networks, has announced a partnership with Venkatesh Daggubati. As a part of the collaboration, the Telugu film actor has now become a strategic investor in the company with an undisclosed amount of investment, and has also been appointed as BikeWo’s lead brand ambassador.

     

    Following this association, BikeWo will be looking to expand its EV (electric vehicle) servicing and charging network across different states of India while leveraging the actor’s personal brand and by collaborating with him for a series of marketing, outreach and brand promotion activities. This will be a long-term collaboration that will help the brand to grow and scale in order to meet its ambitious target of installing 20,000 EV charging points pan-India by 2025.

     

    Speaking on the collaboration, Vidhyasagar Reddy, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, BikeWo said, “We are delighted and proud to welcome the evergreen legend VenkateshDaggubati as Bikewo’s investor and brand ambassador. Venkatesh’s faith and trust in BikeWo are an inspiration for us, and going forward, we will be working closely with him on a number of strategic aspects. Furthermore, his association with the brand marks a whole new chapter in BikeWo’s commitment to young Indians in the realisation of their dreams and aspirations by serving simple and delightful two wheeler service experiences, creating infrastructure for EV with battery swapping and charging points, and enabling entrepreneurship opportunities to BikeWo’s ever-growing network of dealer-partners.”

     

  • The question may appear flip, but we wanted Dr Bhaskar Das's view on it for the Jan 17 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das | Tata has replaced Vivo as the presenting sponsor of IPL. Idea achcha hai?

    Bhaskar DasThe question may appear flip, but we wanted Dr Bhaskar Das’s view on it for the Jan 17 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

     

    If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

     

    Q. Tata has replaced Vivo as the presenting sponsor of IPL. Idea achcha hai?

     

    A.Is it an idea that can be judged as achcha or not achcha? I think for the new sponsor it is a strategic decision that would accentuate salience for both the corporate brand and the consumer0facing retail businesses. This is of course an outside-in (my own) perspective.

     

  • The show and the episodes are released on Facebook and YouTube handles of Lokmat Sakhi

    Lokmat launches ‘Influencer Katta’ show

    By Our Staff

     

    Lokmat has launches a new show called ‘Influencer Katta’. The show and the episodes are released on Facebook and YouTube handles of Lokmat Sakhi, a women-centric portal that was started earlier last year by Lokmat.

     

    Said Hemant Jain, Senior EVP & Head of Digital Business at Lokmat: “This is a fantastic opportunity for both the influencer and their followers to learn about and share a portion of their lives that is rarely spoken or heard about. It’s not just about the fame and glam, but also about the amount of effort that goes into it. Plus, a little more about their personal lives outside of social media to encourage their fans to join them on their quest!”

     

  • Havas Media Group India has announced the elevation of Uday Mohan to the role of President and Chief Client Officer

    Havas Media elevates Uday Mohan as President & CCO

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Media Group India has announced the elevation of Uday Mohan to the role of President and Chief Client Officer, effective immediately. Mohan will continue to report into Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India. Mohan has spent 14 years with Havas Media

     

    Said Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India:  “We have been consolidating the senior leadership teams of each of our agencies. Going forward, these leaders will not only drive our business growth but will further fortify our vision of integration, enhance our reputation, and help secure greater milestones and accomplishments. Uday’s experience and client partnerships make him the apt leader to drive this for HMG India with Mohit’s vision.”

     

    Added Joshi: “I have completed 15 years with Havas Media Group India, while Uday has spent 14 years. Uday is a friend, partner and key to the resurgence of the Media Group in the last few years. He has been working closely with me and the leadership team to turn around Gurugram operations into one of the largest in India; and in scaling up the Mumbai operations by forging strong client relationships, wins with marquee clients such as Tata Motors CVBU, TVS Tyres, ACC and Ambuja Cement among others. I look forward to his continued support and leadership”.

     

    Commenting on his new role, Mohan said: “I have spent a long innings with HMG India and witnessed the agency go through several transformations. However, the innovations, integration and collaborations in the past three years have been unprecedented and put us in the top league in the country. I thank the group for empowering with newer challenges and look forward to working with the leadership team, many wonderful clients and colleagues, launching newer expertise, to consolidate our strengths further.”