MxMIndia

Author: mxmadmin

  • Will in charge of the brand’s creative mandate for International Business

    Mullen Lintas scoops Vadilal biz

    By Our Staff

     

    Vadilal Industries has recently appointed Mullen Lintas Delhi as the creative agency for its global brand campaign. Lintas will be responsible for Vadilal Ice Creams’ creative mandate for international business.

     

    Commenting on the new partnership, Shreshth Jhawar, CEO, Vadilal Industries USA said: “We were impressed with the deep understanding of the category and consumer demonstrated, and of course by the creative firepower on display by the team. We look forward to a strong and effective long-term partnership with Mullen Lintas.”

     

    Delighted about the win, Hari Krishnan, CEO, Mullen Lintas added: “We are delighted to have been given the mandate for Vadilal (USA). The brand is synonymous with joy and delight and moments of fun and happiness. Our efforts would be to build a brand narrative that consolidates these emotions around the brand in a manner that is uniquely ingrained in the Mullen Lintas’ Challenger Thinking philosophy.”

     

  • To create, host, and distribute podcasts

    The Quint & Malayala Manorama partner with Ideabrew

    By Our Staff

     

    The Quint and Malayala Manorama newspaper have partnered with Ideabrew Studios to create, host and distribute podcasts.

     

    Through this partnership, Ideabrew Studios will host, distribute and monetise over 30 existing shows including top shows such as Urdunama, Qisse Kahaniyan and The Big Story. Together, they will also work to create rich content through new brand-led shows that appease the listener as well as benefit the brand partner.

     

    Said Shelly Walia, Executive Editor, The Quint: “The Quint has been a leader among digital news media companies in leveraging the power of sound through its episodic and serialised podcasts. Collaborating with Ideabrew Studios opens exciting prospects for us in terms of not only reaching out to our habitual listeners and finding new audience – but also getting to know them better. The data provided by Ideabrew is helping us better measure user numbers, understand user behaviour, and study demography in a more systematic manner. This year, there’s been an uptick in listenership across podcasting channels as the world returns to a post-pandemic normalcy – and for The Quint, the tie-up provides a timely opportunity to capitalise on this revival.”

     

    Speaking of its association with Ideabrew, Mariam Mammen Mathew, CEO , Manorama Online added: “”We are happy to start our relationship with podcast creators and hosting platform IdeaBrew. In a short time, our listeners have responded well to the interesting and rich content in English and Malayalam languages on different podcast platforms. Podcasting is disrupting the traditional radio space, making it an exciting time for the news industry. We are happy about creating rich news content that’s true to our brand and a refreshing cultural and technological change across our newsrooms.”

     

    Added Aditya Kuber, CEO of Ideabrew: “Whether it’s Covid-19 updates, political discord, a new space launch, or the latest celebrity shenanigans, news channels carry 24-hour news, giving you something to constantly ponder or worry over. Through our medium of audio content, Ideabrew aims to disrupt the way the audience receives and responds to daily news. Our podcasts are designed to engage in healthier outlets that allow our audiences the flexibility to choose when they want to consume their news and also stimulating formats in the form of in-depth analysis, interviews or opinions from experts on the subject to make news informative, wholesome and entertaining.”

     

  • To oversee next phase of growth

    Mavcomm brings on board Noopurr R Chablani as VP

    By Our Staff

     

    Mavcomm Group, the Public Relations & Communications consulting firm, has appointed Noopurr R Chablani as Vice President – Business. A strategic marketing professional with over 20 years of experience, Chablani brings with her experience in driving Marketing Communication, Internal & External Communication, Digital Marketing, Brand Management, and Corporate Social Responsibility.

     

    Said Anand Mahesh Talari, Founder and Managing Director, Mavcomm Consulting Pvt. Ltd.: “As we build our next phase of growth with expansion of the breadth and width of our services, we are thrilled to have Noopurr join us. Noopurr brings with her tremendous experience across the marketing and communications domain and we are confident that she will drive faster growth and greater client delight.”

     

  • There are some who may say that we should first get our act together on television and print measurement and the absent digital measurement and then bring in one more monster. Perhaps. But we asked Dr Bhaskar Das nevertheless for the August 2 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das | The ANA in the US is looking to set standards in influencer marketing measurement. Should we be doing that in India as well?

    Bhaskar DasThere are some who may say that we should first get our act together on television and print measurement and the absent digital measurement and then bring in one more monster. Perhaps. But we asked Dr Bhaskar Das nevertheless for the August 2 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. The Association of National Advertisers in the US is looking to set standards in influencer marketing measurement. Should we be doing that in India as well?

     

    A. Ideally any campaign including influencer campaign needs to have some measurement metrics for calculating ROI. These numbers are essential in evaluating advertisers’ choices and plan their future campaigns on the basis of actual data-based insights.

     

    Some of the standard metrics are quintessentially relevant for any metric eg quality of engagement, visibility of a campaign, leads from social media buzz – both organic and hashtag-led planned buzz etc. The monetisation metrics can be different but can be tailored to the campaign objective.

     

    A data- and insight-led metric would always be relevant irrespective of geography. Having said that, the degrees of sophistication might differ for some time depending on the maturity of the martech industry in different markets.

     

  • When the survival stakes are so high, you can wave any attempt at real journalism goodbye, writes Ranjona Banerji

    The ‘Objective’ Media in a ‘Hypothetical’ World

     

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Ranjona BanerjiThe general public very often gets upset when a media outlet reports blandly on a controversial issue.

    The general public also gets upset when the media takes sides on a controversial issue.

    The general public gets most upset when the media pretends to be objective on a controversial issue but ends up legitimizing lies because it will not take sides.

    Tough calls, all.

    Like for instance, a hypothetical minister whose hypothetical offspring may or may not own and run a hypothetical bar and restaurant in a hypothetical state. This hypothetical bar and restaurant is served a hypothetical notice by a hypothetical excise department for a liquor licence that is perhaps not quite legally obtained.

    Not surprisingly, this hypothetical situation has the potential to blow up into a massive scandal.

    And what does the media love more than anything else? Massive scandals.

    So in another universe, headlines might have read like this:

    Minister’s Child caught in Massive Scandal!

    Can Minister Survive this Scam?

    Did Minister use Clout to Get Permissions?

    Old Video and Social Media Show Minister Praising Offspring for Restaurant! How can Minister deny this?

    And so on.

    Nightly screaming matches: Minister Caught! Will Minister be Sacked?

    What happened to promises of stopping Corruption?

    What does the Prime Minister say about Minister.

    And so on.

    In this hypothetical world however, headlines read like this:

    Minister launches attack on Opposition!

    Minister defends offspring like wounded Tigress!

    Minister demands answer from another political party!

    Minister blames dead Prime Minister for attack on Offspring!

    Minister denies everything!

    Add whatever else you want.

    Should the public be upset or not?

    Somewhere hidden in broadcasts, pages and websites, far from the screaming headlines in defence of the hypothetical minister, there may be some stray articles which contain a few facts.

    Or not.

    It is more likely that some media outlets will scrub all references to this hypothetical video which shows the hypothetical Minister’s Offspring discussing personal involvement in this hypothetical restaurant.

    And that all similar references to the hypothetical social media posts about the hypothetical restaurant by the hypothetical minister will also be deleted from public space as much as each obedient media outlet can.

    The “objective” media will present both sides: The minister’s denial versus no reference to any evidence at all, especially said video and said social media.

    The scared media will “report”: the hypothetical minister said and the hypothetical court said, minus any context.

    The propagandist media will amplify the hypothetical minister’s defence and the blame of various earlier and preferably deceased ministers. It will do no further work.

    What right however have readers and viewers to be upset about this form of media behaviour?

    In the real world, they have total right and rights which should be expressed loudly and to their favourite media outlets. Much as media outlets are often arrogant and only pretend to care about what news consumers think, they cannot completely ignore feedback.

    However, in this hypothetical world you can wave any attempt at real journalism goodbye. The survival stakes are too high and frankly, I am shocked that anyone expects the bulk of today’s media outlets to behave any differently. There has been so much evidence of media capitulation in the past eight years that there is not a snowball’s chance in hell that the media will not allow the hypothetical minister to get away with whatever she wants.

    Prove me wrong. Please.

     

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

     

  • To handle the media mandate, including TV, print and digital

    Madison Media Ultra wins media AOR for 88Guru.com

    By Our Staff

     

    Madison Media Ultra, a unit of Madison World, has been appointed as the Agency of Record for the new education website 88Guru.com. The website is being launched by Singapore-based 88tuition Pte. Ltd. which is now set to launch in India under the brand name 88guru.com. Madison Media Ultra will handle the media mandate, including TV, print, and digital.

     

    Said Vinod Gupta, Director, 88Guru on associating with Madison: “We are excited to partner with the team at Madison as we attempt to transform the Ed-Tech industry. Madison’s expertise across the media spectrum, from traditional to new age, will be critical in our roll out. Lastly, the chemistry with the team has been excellent and we enjoy working with them.”

     

    Added Jolene Fernandes Solanki, COO, Madison Media Ultra: “We are excited to partner with 88Guru a Singapore based edtech company. Education has radically changed its business model as a result of the pandemic. We as a team are confident and excited to launch 88Guru in India and are sure it will exceed industry growth with its digital-first and outcome-driven approach.”

     

  • He will work towards contributing to building the media quotient of Byju's

    Mrinall Kanti Dey joins Byju’s as VP –  Comms

    By Our Staff

     

    Mrinal Kanti Dey)
    Mrinal Kanti Dey)

    Senior journalist-turned-communications professional Mrinall Kanti Dey has joined edtech major Byju’s as VP –  Communications.  He will work towards contributing to building the media quotient of Byju’s.  He will work closely with Paroma Roy Chowdhury, Senior VP & Head of Corporate Communications in implementing the company’s media strategy. Dey has been in the industry for 25 years and has managed communications for global brands across diverse industries which includes telecom, FMCG and financial services.

     

    Dey’s last role was with Weber Shandwick as SVP – Media Strategy. Before that, he was American Express as AVP – Public Affairs and Communications, India and Area Countries. Prior to American Express, he was with PepsiCo India and Bharti Airtel and was responsible for external communications and crisis management and has spent about seven years in journalism starting his career with Press Trust of India and The Asian Age among others.

     

  • A news item on Amazon's ad revenues has been doing the rounds for over a week now. We asked our Wizard with Words a question based on it, and here's his response. Presenting the August 3 edition of Das ka Dum by Dr Bhaskar Das. Read on…

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das | Amazon is said to have generated more ad revenue in 2021 than the entire newspaper industry did globally. Unverified info, but why aren’t you surprised?

    Bhaskar DasA news item on Amazon’s ad revenues has been doing the rounds for over a week now. We asked our Wizard with Words a question based on it, and here’s his response. Presenting the August 3 edition of Das ka Dum by Dr Bhaskar Das. 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. Amazon is said to have generated more ad revenue in 2021 than the entire newspaper industry did globally. Unverified info, but why aren’t you surprised?

     

    A. I am impressed that you could discern my response and incorporated it in the question. Yes, I am not surprised. It indicates the rising popularity of vertical search. (Vertical search allows users to find more precisely what they are looking for). On the other hand, horizontal search can be thought of as a “general” search. This type of searching goes through the whole web covering a wide range of topics and media subjects. A horizontal search would often produce a large number of results. This difference has given a distinctive edge to the Amazon platform. I understand that Amazon would be amongst the Top 3 advertising platforms in the world. Their leveraging of retail and subscription routes have empowered them to be compelling proposition for advertisers. The legacy players are far behind in this race and might find it difficult to catch up.

     

  • To build brand and business

    Vector Brand Solutions appointed AoR for Duroflex

    By Our Staff

     

    Mattresses major Duroflex has awarded its Brand and Communications mandate to Mumbai based Vector Brand Solutions.

     

    Said Smita Murarka, Chief Marketing Officer, Duroflex: “We have embarked on a new phase in the brand’s journey – to serve many more consumers with better sleep solutions. We believe we owe it to consumers to help make more informed choices on something as critical as sleep. We are confident and excited about embarking on this mission with the team at Vector, who with their contemporary approach to brand building and communication development across formats, platforms and channels will help us in what we have set out to achieve.”

     

    Added Paul Dueman, Chief Business Officer, Vector Brand Solutions: “We are absolutely thrilled to be chosen to partner Duroflex to build the brand and the business. We are fully invested in helping Duroflex fulfil its responsibility as well as desire to be the brand the country turns to, to sleep better. We are both confident and excited in the belief that our through-the-funnel approach and performance-branding philosophy will bring to bear all that is needed, to help fulfil their rightful ambition – which hereon, is ours too”

     

  • To focus on performance based marketing

    iProspect wins digital mandate for Monster.com

    By Our Staff

     

    iProspect, the digital-first end-to-end media agency from Dentsu India, has won the digital mandate for multiple countries of the leading online career and recruitment resource – Monster.com.

     

    Commenting on the win, Saurabh Srivastava, CMO, Monster.com, APAC & ME said: “Monster is bracing itself for a new growth journey as it evolves into an end-to-end talent management platform in the months to come. A household name for jobseekers across countries and a preferred talent discovery platform for recruiters, Monster continues to invest in innovative tech product offerings and services that are continuously improving the experience of its users across the web and mobile app. As we move ahead with our renewed aspiration of catering to the diverse requirements of an evolving job market, we are confident that partnering with the best of minds from the digital marketing space will help us create the much-needed brand resonance and equity with our existing and prospective users across emerging markets.”

     

    Added Vinod Thadani, CEO, iProspect and Chief Digital Growth Officer, Dentsu Media: “Monster is a great brand that has been in the market for many years and has established itself as a great engagement platform for users who are looking for jobs and progressing in their careers. At iProspect, we look forward to deploying our innovative and data-driven digital marketing solutions to deliver the right engagement for the brand with its digital audience.”

     

  • To handle all its business clusters

    Rediff wins creative and media mandate of Tata Power

    By Our Staff

     

    Rediffusion has announced that it has won the entire creative and media mandate of Tata Power, integrated power companies. The agency will handle the creative, media and digital related work of Tata Power comprising all its business clusters viz Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Renewables and New Business Services including ESG and CSR domains.

     

    Said Dr Sandeep Goyal, Managing Director of Rediffusion:”Tata Power mandate is a very big one for us. Rediffusion is privileged to be working with Tata Power across a range of very interesting and consumer-relevant products. What is even nicer is that almost the entire product range is Green-focused and Earth-friendly. Our teams in both Mumbai and Bangalore will be working on the account.”

     

    Added Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & Managing Director Tata Power: “Tata Power is transforming into an agile EaaS ( energy as a service) company that offers cutting-edge green and smart energy solutions to its 12 million and growing customer base nationwide. Tata Power 2.0 is well poised to bring orbital shifts to all of its business clusters, therefore Rediffusion is in a prime position to join us at this exciting time, its skilled creative and media support will help us fortify our credentials as a Utility of the Future amongst all our stakeholders.”

     

  • Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Raje tourist circuits can help the population better know and appreciate the history and keep the pride high, writes Sanjeev Kotnala

    Sanjeev Kotnala: Is Maharashtra Tourism missing out on something?

    By Sanjeev Kotnala

     

    Sanjeev KotnalaThe Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has developed a network of properties and destinations from beaches to forts, temples to yatras. However, it will be not unjustified to say that they have failed to connect the dots and create circuits. Even the Ashta Vinayak circuit is not developed to its potential. Forget the Sambhaji Raje circuit, surprisingly, in the  state there is no circuit on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for interested parties and the local population. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Raje tourist circuits can help the population better know and appreciate the history and keep the pride high.

     

    This is a possibility with high potential. The book Sambhaji by Vishwas Patil brought me near to the history and the bravery of Sambhaji Raje. As a person it created enough curiosity and interest to visit few trademark geographical highpoints – but when one checks on the net there is no tourist circuit by private or Government operators fulfilling what can be a huge latent need.

     

    Super brilliant- Sambhaji – by Vishwas Patil – A Review

    The book Sambhaji by Vishwas Patil translated into English by Vikrant Pande was with me for long. @indicaacademy has delivered it under their 1000 Reviewer programme; the sheer length of the book- more than 500 pages and not knowing what to expect was the barrier. The interest was fuelled when the erstwhile Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra announced the renaming of Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar. It was one of their last decisions on June 29, 2022, before Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray resigned.

    I have lived in Mumbai since 2004 and have often heard about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I have hardly heard people referring much to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the Maratha king, who never lost a battle, never knelt before the Mughals and kept the Hindu Swaraj flag flying despite some who sold their souls for money.

     

     

    SAMBHAJI, THE BOOK

    Sambhaji Maharaj, the Second Maratha Chhatrapati, succeeded the great Shivaji Maharaj at a very young age. From the time of his coronation till his death, he fought the Mughals for eight consecutive years. During this period, none of the Maratha Fort was ever captured by the Mughals led by their king- Aurangzeb. He was just 32 when he was captured and assassinated.

    The book, as the name suggests, is about Chhatrapati Sambhaji, his life and his battles. His thinking and his passion for the Hindu Swaraj.

    It is a fictional biographical account of Sambhaji. It presents an observer’s point of view into his journey – from birth, love and care of parents to coronation battle to his death. It helps you  see through the mind of Sambhaji Maharaj and his life. His resolve to honour the dream of his father. His team of advisors, along with the traitors and the damage they inflicted.

     

    SAMBHAJI SIDE IMPACT.

    I have always planned but never been to Rajgarh Fort or the Janjira Fort, and I have made road trips coming down the steep slopes of Sahyadari at Mahad. Places that I now see in a different light. The book helps visualise these places, battles, and the lead characters.

    Now, soon I will visit Rajgarh Fort, and next time around won’t come back from a Kashid-Murd trip without visiting the famed Janjira Fort. History would have been different if Shivaji Raje or Sambhaji Raje had won this fort. I do hope that Maharashtra will build strong Shivaji and Sambhaji tourist circuits.

     

    UNPUTDOWNABLE 

    It is simply an unputdownable book. Worked into multiple standalone linear 22 episodic chapters for you to take breathers in between. However, while reading, I was so curious to know what happens next that this book of more than 500 pages took less than three days between my busy schedule to complete.

    I missed a representative map of Maharashtra in the book- a comparative map for the reader to visualise directions and action, spaces and the cities or the forts mentioned in the story.

     

    NET-NET

    Sambhaji – the book is exciting and engaging and brilliantly transcreated (I prefer that to a typical translator) by Vikrant Pande. The book has impressed me, and I plan to read the two other books by Vishwas Patil. Mahanayak- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Panipat – the Third Battle of Panipat.

    I must appreciate Vikrant Pande, the trans-creator for his excellent work. I can’t read Marathi (not that I can speak the language), and without Vikrant, I would have missed out on the brilliant work of Vishwas Patil.

    I recommend you to read this book. And I do hope that the English transcreation will widen the readers for Vishwas Patil’s work in Marathi and many more to experience the fabulous writing and efforts of Vikrant Pande.

    I rate Vishwas Patil as a better storyteller than Aish Tripathi, Ashwin Sanghi and Anand Neelakantan. If you are comfortable reading in Marathi, I will push you to read the Marathi original version.

     

    Triva Aurangabad And Sambhaji Nagar

    Aurangabad was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar, the Siddi general of the Nizamshahi dynasty of Ahmadnagar. The city was named Khirki or Khadki at the time. In 1626, Malik’s son Fateh Khan changed the name to Fatehpur. In 1653, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb invaded Deccan and made Fatehpur his capital- and renamed it Aurangabad. On May 8, 1988, Sena head Balasaheb Thackeray announced the renaming of the city to Sambhaji Nagar after Sambhaji Maharaj. In 1995, the Aurangabad Corporation passed a resolution to do so. Just before resigning on June 29,2022, the Shiv Sena government decided to rename it Sambhaji Nagar. The current Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government wants the name to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar