MxMIndia

Author: mxmadmin

  • He will report to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India

    Havas gets Tarun Jha as CEO, Havas Creative India

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Group India has announced the appointment of Tarun Jha as Chief Executive Officer of Havas Creative India, which includes agencies Havas Worldwide India (Mumbai/Gurgaon/Bangalore), Havas CX (Customer Experience), Conran Design Group Mumbai (Branding & Design) and Havas QED (Kolkata). Jha, in his most recent position, was Head of Marketing at Škoda Auto India, where he spent 15 years. He was leading the Marketing and Product Planning function for the Indian market, setting marketing and communications strategy. He will report to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Barua said: “Over the last four years, Havas Creative Group India has evolved from a one-client agency into an integrated network of 7 agencies, including Havas Worldwide India, Havas CX, Think Havas, Conran Design Group Mumbai, Shobiz Havas, Cake India and Havas QED. Today, these agencies handle an enviable roster of marquee clients including Reckitt, Dabur, Tata, Citroën, P&G, Nestle, IKEA and several others. Our momentum is unparalleled, as evidenced by the consistent #1 ranking on the creative agency list in R3 New Business League in 2022. As Havas Creative Group India gears up for a new phase of growth, it was imperative to have someone such as Tarun, with an insider’s perspective, helming the new direction the network takes, truly pushing the envelope of what Havas Creative India can achieve in terms of client-first approaches and meaningful, innovative business solutions.”

     

  • 24% share their OTT passwords with their friends & family

    37% spend more than 1 hour on OTT: Axis My India study

    By Our Staff

     

    Axis My India, a leading consumer data intelligence company, released its latest findings of the India Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI), a monthly analysis of consumer perception on a wide range of issues. The March report highlights that consumption of media such as TV, Internet, Radio has increased for 19% of the families. Moreover, the survey on media consumption reveal a deeper penetration & time spent on OTT platform amongst Indian viewers.

     

    Commenting on the CSI report, Pradeep Gupta, Chairman & MD, Axis My India, said: “Over-the-top (OTT) consumption has been steadily growing among Indian consumers in recent years, particularly with the increasing availability of affordable high-speed internet connectivity and the widespread adoption of smartphones. The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the growth of OTT consumption in India, with more people spending time at home and seeking entertainment options online. Many OTT platforms have reported a surge in viewership during the pandemic. Overall, the trend towards OTT consumption among Indian consumers is expected to continue in the coming years, driven by the growing demand for digital content, and the convenience of watching content anytime, anywhere, on any device.”

     

    Key findings on Media Consumption Behaviour

    >> Consumption of media (TV, Internet, Radio etc.) has increased for 19% of the families, which reflects a decrease by 1% from last month. The overall, net score, which was at 0 last month, is at -1 this month

     

    >> The survey also threw light on the OTT (Over-the-top) viewing behaviour of viewers. According to the survey, 29% spend 1-3hrs watching content on OTT platforms, while 26% spend upto 30 minutes on OTT platforms. 23% watch content for 31mins-1hr and interestingly there are 8% who watch it for more than 3 hours

     

    >> Moreover, the survey also discovered that 24% share their OTT passwords with their friends & family

     

    On topics of current national interest:

    >> Axis My India CSI survey deep dived to understand citizens’ sentiments towards the 2023 Union Budget. The survey found out that 52% were pleased with the announcement, which sets out on a quest to fulfil the dreams of the corporates, farmers, and the middle class. However, 29% rated the budget unsatisfactory and only 10% had a neutral stance towards it.

     

    >> Further investigating sentiments, the study discovered that 72% believe that Indian economy would continue to grow in 2023 in comparison to previous year. The optimism stems from the country’s superior performance in dealing with unprecedented obstacles such as Covid, the Russia-Ukraine war, control of inflation as compared to other nations.

     

    >> The survey also highlighted that 43% believe that Sensex will go beyond 70,000 in the next three months. Whereas 25% believe that, it will remain between 55,000 to 65,000. Additionally, 18% believe that it will drop below 50,000.

     

    Key findings on the five indices

    >> Expenses towards health-related items such as vitamins, tests, healthy food has surged for 35% of the families. This reflects an increase in consumption by 2% from last month. The health score which has a negative connotation i.e., the lesser the spends on health items the better the sentiments, has a net score value -24 this month.

     

    >> Mobility has increased for 7% of the families, which reflects a decrease by 2% from last month. The overall mobility net indicator score, which was at +2 last month, is at zero this month.

     

    >> Overall household spending has increased for 58% of families, decrease by 1% from last month. The net score, which was +52 last month has decreased by 1 to +51 this month.

     

    >> Spends on essentials like personal care & household items has increased for 36% of the families, which reflects a dip by 4% from last month. The net score, which was at +29 last month, has decreased by 6 to +23 this month.

     

    >> Spends on non-essential & discretionary products like AC, Car, and Refrigerator has increased for 4% of families, which reflects a decrease by 1% from last month. The net score, which was at +1 last month, is at zero this month. Sentiment towards discretionary spending has steadily decreased over the last four months.

     

  • We'll be back on Wednesday, March 8

    Holi holiday tomorrow, March 7

    By Our Staff

     

    Our offices are closed on Tuesday, March 7 for Holi, since the festival is being observed in Maharashtra on that day.

     

    We will be back on Wednesday, March 8, with the usual newsletter and content.

     

  • The campaign features three customers from three different cities who were struck by the health issues of their family members

    Policybazaar turns customers to brand ambassadors

    By Our Staff

     

    Given its brand philosophy of #HarFamilyHogiInsured, Policybazaar has unveiled a new campaign. The campaign features three customers from three different cities who were struck by the health issues of their family members.

     

    Said Samir Sethi, VP and Head of Brand Marketing at Policybazaar: “Real customers telling their raw personal accounts is not only extremely relatable, but also breaks the clutter, and creates a compelling brand story. These stories talk of real pains, and real solutions at the moment of truth, and are a testament to the fact that we consistently deliver on our brand promise of quick claim support. We see this campaign driving a strong consumer connection by strengthening trust, that Policybazaar will be there for you at the time you need it the most.”

     

    Added Amit Chhabra, Head, Health and Travel Insurance at Policybazaar: “At a time when health emergencies have seen a sharp rise, these personal stories are a stark reminder to get an adequate protection shield with health insurance. The campaign featuring real customers just reiterates the fact that health issues come unannounced and one needs to be prepared. Policybazaar will relentlessly work towards its mission of helping India’s middle-class deal with death, disease and disability. Through this campaign, we hope the message resonates with millions of people out there who often defer this crucial purchase decision.”

     

  • Acquisition creates a holistic omnichannel media planning and activation platform

    Criteo acquires Brandcrush to accelerate offline retail media solutions

    By Our Staff

     

    Criteo, the commerce media company, acquires Brandcrush, an Australia-based company whose platform enables the buying and selling of omnichannel retail media, including offline media channels. With this acquisition, Criteo will be able to provide a holistic omnichannel monetization solution globally for retailers to manage their entire media inventory across both ecommerce and physical retail while enabling brands and agencies to seamlessly discover and purchase omnichannel media from leading retailers. Additionally, the acquisition expands Criteo’s client footprint and capabilities in the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific retail media market, strengthening Criteo’s global leadership in retail media.

     

    Said Sherry Smith, General Manager of Global Enterprise at Criteo: “As marketers continue to invest in retail media, offline is emerging as the new frontier – and brands and agencies must be able to effectively plan, execute, and measure their campaigns in an integrated way. Brandcrush directly addresses the current market need for consolidated offline and online advertising management, and our combined solutions will make omnichannel retail media strategies a reality, empowering retailers to own their entire retail media ecosystems.”

     

  • To celebrate women in business from all walks of life

    New campaign by Meesho

    By Our Staff

     

    Meesho, e-commerce marketplace, launches campaign for International Women’s Day.  The #NoBiasInBusiness aims to dispel stereotypes and celebrate women in business from all walks of life.

     

    Megha Agarwal, CXO, Growth at Meesho said: “Socioeconomic equity and women empowerment have always been at the core of Meesho’s philosophy. These are equally vital for accomplishing our ambitious dream of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, which is built on inclusion and empowerment. Through our campaign, ‘Class of 2023’, we are bringing to life stories of women-led businesses from all corners of the country, who have charted their own path, built successful businesses and created a myriad of employment opportunities in their local communities. We hope this will inspire more women to chase their dreams with #NoBiasInBusiness.”

     

  • For upskilling tech professionals

    Scaler launches three brand films

    By Our Staff

     

    Scaler, tech upskilling startup, launched a brand campaign that emphasises the importance of working professionals to focus on building their skill sets to continue their career growth.

     

    Rahul Karthikeyan, Chief Marketing Officer, Scaler & Interviewbit, said: “Technology is advancing much faster than ever before. Tech professionals are often overwhelmed by the obligations and demands of the industry. With our new brand campaign, we want our professionals to continue the learning journey of acquiring new skill sets and adapting themselves to cater to the industry’s changing dynamics. With this campaign, we want to empower professionals to take control and steer their careers to success on their terms by grabbing the right kind of support and guidance available to them at the right time. Our creative team has managed to break away from conventional clutter by delivering a compelling message that will effectively reach the tech professional grappling with similar issues in any part of the country.”

     

  • To manage internal and external communications, public relations

    Nissan Motor appoints Naraayan Kannan as Director Communications

    By Our Staff

     

    Nissan Motor has appointed Naraayan Kannan as Director Communications for Nissan India. In his new role, he will be a member of the Management Committee (MC) for India, responsible for managing internal and external communications, public relations, and will play an important part in strengthening Nissan’s brand image in India.

     

    Naraayan Kannan will report to Frank Torres, President Nissan India Operations, and Katherine Zachary, Region Vice President – AMIEO Communications, and will work closely with the Nissan Leadership Team, including the managing directors of Nissan India entities. He will be based in Gurgaon, Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. (NMIPL’s) headquarters.

     

    Rakesh Srivastava, MD, Nissan Motor India, said: “We are pleased to welcome Naraayan to the Nissan India family. Backed by his extensive experience in public relations, public advocacy, and government affairs, Naraayan will play an important role in delivering communications strategies to accelerate Nissan India’s transformation. We are extremely confident that his expertise and in-depth knowledge of communications and prior experience with the brand will help further drive the communication priorities of Nissan India.”

     

  • This year's theme is "Building Engaged Communities"

    AIM to organise Indian Magazine Congress on March 24

    By Our Staff

     

    The Indian Magazine Congress (IMC) is all set for a comeback as the flagship event of the Association of Indian Magazines (AIM) is slated to be organised on March 24th, at the Oberoi, New Delhi.

     

    This year’s Congress theme is how even in the digital age, magazines are the most effective medium for “Building Engaged Communities”. The theme is rooted in the empirical evidence that in the digital age, marred by information overload and cluttered digital spaces, the need for highly engaged and involved communities is becoming ever more important, as users feel the urge to break away from the clutter of social media lead content deluge, and find solace and comfort in spaces that align with their interests and with like-minded peers. Magazine brands are uniquely poised to nurture such engaged communities.

     

    Speaking on the Congress, the president of AIM, B Srinivasan, said: “The magazine is a unique device that has always driven perspective and enabled its communities to draw insights, rather than simply reporting and provoking audiences like most other media. We thrive in digging deep, then digging wide in our coverage of happenings around us, rather than rely on the length and breadth our coverage. In the world where readers have become our competition (influencers), fake news has overtaken relevance over fact checking, ChatGPT has almost crossed the Rubicon of human reportage with machine language (AI/ML), when big tech and governments in vibrant democracies decide what content is ripe for take-down, it is ever so important that we discuss our concerns around policy, technology, distribution, client needs, and most importantly, what our communities expect of us.  That is what we have been fostering under the hood for 6 months now, and so we are proud to present AIM’s 12th Indian Magazine Congress – Building Engaged Communities ”

     

  • Showcases individual savings life insurance plan

    Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance unveils new campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI) unveils a new campaign to showcase its recently launched “industry-first” product, ABSLI Nishchit Aayush Plan, a non-linked non-participating individual savings life insurance plan, that provides guaranteed income from the 1st policy anniversary (month/year).

     

    Speaking on this initiative, Kamlesh Rao, MD & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance, said: “At ABSLI, our focus is to help our customers with cutting-edge life insurance solutions that provide guaranteed income that too, immediately. It is an excellent investment opportunity that offers an optimal blend of protection and growth, providing peace of mind for you and your family. The #IsseZarooriKuchBhiNahi campaign perfectly aligns to ABSLI’s vision of revolutionising the way guaranteed savings income plan category operates and the blend of awareness and humour will spread a positive message by instilling inquisitiveness about newer & better investment avenues in the minds of viewers.”

     

  • A living will is an important document that every adult should consider making, communicating to friends and relatives and notarising it, writes Sanjeev Kotnala

    Sanjeev Kotnala: Time you considered writing the Living Will

    By Sanjeev Kotnala

     

    Sanjeev Kotnala

    Last week, the local newspaper carried the news about a professor who had notarised his LIVING WILL. And when I spoke with friends and relatives, I realised that many do not know of the Living Will. To all will is a legal document that details the person’s wishes on the distribution of the property and the care of any minor children. In the absence of a Living Will, the dependants and other claimants may end up fighting a legal battle or spending additional time, money, and emotional energy to settle the property and assess after the person’s death.

    As the name suggests, a living will is different, and its content applies when the person is alive. Simply speaking, a Living Will is a written document specifying what actions should be taken if the person cannot make their own medical decisions in the future.

    A living will become more important and critical in India after Supreme Court legalising Passive Euthanasia in India in 2018. Before this supreme court judgement, there was a process of signing a ‘LEAVING WITHOUT MEDICAL ADVICE’ (LAMA), which transferred the full responsibility for discontinuing his life support therapies from the doctor to the patient. And it was very narrow in its scope and operation.

     

    EUTHANASIA AND I.

    Now, I am a vocal supporter of Euthanasia and the dignity of life and death in the last days of life. I firmly believe that people with incurable, degenerative, disabling, or debilitating conditions should be allowed to die in dignity. Additionally, the caregiver has a considerable burden regarding financial, emotional, time, physical, mental, and social avenues. In such cases, the cost of palliative care and treatment burdens the close group caring for the patient. Truly, these funds and energies could be better utilised. And most patients in a persistent vegetative state or else in chronic illness do not want to burden their family members.

    I am planning to have my living will. More than the burden and better funds utilisation, the reason is different for me. I only fear being completely dependent upon medical support systems and caretakers for even minor things. And in the Indian legal system, one can refuse a life support system, but once it is in place, the law does not allow taking them off. And the process to do it is a long torturous legal battle.

     

    INDIAN LEGAL SYSTEM – LIMITED RIGHT TO DIE.

    Now, Indian courts give the choice in the hands of the individual. These choices, if properly written and documented, override the choices and decisions that the government, medical professionals, religious bodies, relatives, and friends make.

    The legal bodies now recognise Passive Euthanasia. For it to be applicable, two irreversible conditions must be met. (I) The person is brain-dead, so the ventilator can be switched off. (II) Those in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) for whom the feed can be tapered out and pain-managing palliatives be added.

    One must note that Indian courts do not support Active euthanasia, including the administration of lethal compounds for the purpose of ending life. It is still illegal in India.

    In the absence of a living will, the situation gets complicated. Then either the parents or the spouse or other close relatives, or in the absence of any of them, a person or a body of persons acting as a next friend must take the decisions. Doctors can also take the decision. However, the decision should be taken in the patient’s best interest.

    And suppose a decision is taken by near relatives, doctors or next friend to withdraw life support. In that case, the decision requires the presence of two witnesses and countersigned by a first-class judicial magistrate and should also be approved by a medical board set up by the hospital. An arduous, long-drawn process that a living will help avoid.

     

    PASSIVE EUTHANASIA – THE FIRST RIGHT STEP.

    Legalised or not, Passive euthanasia still happens in many hospitals. Poor patients and their family members and, at times, well-to-do families refuse or withdraw treatment because of the considerable cost or the physical and mental burden involved in keeping the patient alive. It is feared that if Euthanasia is legalised in India, the health sector will easily and with no guilt serve death sentences to many disabled and elderly citizens of India for minor monetary considerations. And hence currently Indian legal system only entertains and legalises passive euthanasia.

     

    PASSIVE VS VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA.

    Passive Euthanasia and Voluntary Euthanasia are two different things. In India, Voluntary Euthanasia, including refusal of food and fluids (VRFF), also called voluntarily stopping eating and drinking, or VSED or Patient Refusal of Nutrition and Hydration (PRNH), is not allowed.

    And also is different from Assisted suicide, in which an individual, who may otherwise be incapable, is provided with the means (drugs or equipment) to commit suicide. This Assisted suicide is illegal in India.

     

    WHY SHOULD ONE MAKE, A LIVING WILL?

    Simply said, it helps you to be in control of how one is treated in the last days of life in case one is terminally ill or in a vegetative state.

    Living Will guides the doctors and health care personnel, provides clarity and closure to loved ones, prevents conflict or disagreements among family members, and limits the emotional burden on the closest people at the time of death.

     

    LIVING WILL NOT ONLY FOR THE AGED.

    It is a myth that Living will is for older people. Unexpected end-of-life situations can happen at any age. Hence, if the person is interested in defining directions and choices in such a state, then irrespective of age, one should prepare a Living will and get it notarised in addition to communicating to his near and dear ones.

     

    MAKING A LIVING WILL OPERATIVE.

    Living Wills have a limited scope. As per the Indian legal system, it is only operative when one is in a coma or vegetative state or has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. It is non-operative in every other situation, but some control is better than no control.

    A living will be of no use if it is untraceable or no one knows about it. Remember, you cannot explain or tell others where to find the Living Will when incapacitated.

    Once you make a living will communicate about it to close relatives and friends. It will help avoid unnecessary suffering and relieve caregivers of decision-making burdens during moments of crisis or grief. It will also reduce confusion or disagreement about the choices you want people to make on your behalf. Hence, please tell family members and friends about your living will and, if possible, ensure they have a copy.

     

    THE LEGALITY OF LIVING WILL.

    The first requirement of a living will is that it is written and states the individual’s preferences. It is a legal document meant to be clear and concise to avoid confusion about what the patient wants. Additionally, the document should be signed and dated by the person making it, and two witnesses must sign it. Most importantly, it should clarify that the instructions specified in the living will over-rides any other instructions mentioned in any earlier documents.

    A living will need not be registered or notified, but in the absence of it, there can be a dispute in interpretation and claim of it being genuine or not. Hence, if you are serious about a living will, better to get it registered and notarised.

     

    WHAT WILL A LIVING INCLUDE?

    A living will gives instructions about what the person would want to be done if they were unable to make decisions. It specifies the people who can make decisions on behalf of the patient if they cannot speak for themselves. It covers the type of medical treatment the person would like and the direction on who or which set of people to be consulted about the person’s care.

    This document dictates whether an individual wants to be on life support, the type of artificial feeding and hydration acceptable, and whether they want any extraordinary or experimental treatments.

    It may cover if the person wants to be on life support or not, even if there is no hope for recovery. Doctors and hospitals that should be contacted for emergencies and may cover the funeral wishes.

    It may sound contrary that Living will name a person or set of people to make the final calls- whereas Living will is for the choices made by the person. As every possible scenario cannot be anticipated and covered in the living will, it is best to nominate and designate a person(s) to take calls on your behalf. You can trust them to make decisions that adhere to your guidelines, wishes and values. People who you can trust to be your advocate if there are disagreements about the process, care and decisions.

     

    THINK BEFORE MAKING A LIVING WILL.

    A living will is a legal document. It only becomes operative when you cannot guide or help interpret your wishes. Hence you must give enough thought to it before writing it down.

    Think about your values. Evaluate and consider how important it is for you to be independent and self-sufficient. Think and be clear about the circumstances that might make you feel like your life is not worth living. Answer if you would want treatment to extend your life in any situation? All situations? Would you want treatment only if a cure is possible?

    Some of the conditions that you can easily cover and should cover in your living will are the use of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use of Mechanical ventilation and Tube feeding, use of Dialysis, administering Antibiotics or antiviral medications when you are near the end of life or terminally ill, being put under Comfort care (palliative care), how to manage the pain. Your choice of Organ and tissue donations. You can even cover the possibility of donating your body for scientific study.

    In the absence of a living will, you can only provide do not resuscitate (DNR) and do not intubate (DNI) orders to your doctor when you are in complete control of your senses and competent enough to make such a decision. However, in the absence of a living, these could be disputed. You need to establish and provide DNR or DNI orders every time you are admitted to a new hospital or healthcare facility.

     

    NET-NET.

    A living will is an important document that every adult should consider making, communicating to friends and relatives and notarising it. It will greatly help close relatives, friends, and caretakers when a situation arises to follow your wishes and directions. You can use the help of legal offices to make a living will, though the living will need not be written on stamp paper or notarised.

    ………………

     

    ADDON: In case you are interested in Living Will, chances are you may be interested to know about AATM SHRADH– Doing own Shradh while alive. An interesting ritual less understood.

     

  • We now have elements within media houses either deliberately inciting anger, or inciting anger to take advantage of it, writes Ranjona Banerji

    When media tells lies, for benefit

     

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Ranjona BanerjiThe spread of fake news by other agencies is something we discussed last week. What about the spread of fake news by news outlets themselves?

    At the edge of social media has been this raging fight over migrant workers from Bihar being beaten up in Tamil Nadu for speaking Hindi.

    Videos and allegations flying up and down. Political statements. Outrage and all the rest of what happens when such information makes the news.

    Given the tensions in India’s North-South social and cultural divide, any aggravation can be dangerous and disruptive. Which of course is the underlying intention.

    The choice of Tamil Nadu and Bihar is interesting – and glaringly obvious – from a political perspective. Neither state is within the current “double engine” model of the BJP government at the Centre. One is setting itself up as an alternative force, the other is a rage-inducing renegade.

    The problem here is that the source of the misinformation appears to have been a mainstream media organisation. The Tamil Nadu police have filed a case against the Dainik Bhaskar, a BJP leader and a Twitter handle for spreading misinformation.

    https://thewire.in/politics/tn-police-files-case-against-dainik-bhaskar-bjp-leader-for-misinformation-on-migrants-attacked

    Of course, news outlets have in the past misunderstood spoof videos, mistaken war game shows for real life wars and many other such misdemeanours. You might be kind and argue they were misled, they didn’t do enough checks and due diligence, they were careless and stupid.

    But not in this case. When the result was to create massive social disturbance along an existing faultline, then excuses are hard to come by.

    https://theprint.in/india/call-with-bihar-cm-hindi-statements-tamil-nadu-govt-in-damage-control-mode-over-attacks-on-migrants/1418469/

    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/beating-fake-news-tamil-nadu-and-bihar-governments-show-how-dangerous-social-media-rumours-can-be-swiftly-countered/

    So various other media houses – with a large North Indian reach – have jumped into to assuage tensions.

    The Times of India edit provides insights into how people can stop lies from spreading. But it does not acknowledge the role played by the mainstream media itself in taking a bad situation and making it worse. It also does not acknowledge the role of the particular political party which aggravated the lies and tried to make political capital out of it. We all understand that we need to check before we spread information. But the responsibility for the media is much larger than it is for the general public.

    Thus, we reach that significant meeting point of deliberate mischief and manipulation. This is where individual politicians and parties need to be called out for their involvement in spreading disharmony. Instead we have elements within media houses either deliberately inciting anger, or inciting anger to take advantage of it.

    This is not sensationalism. This is using lies to benefit yourself or someone else.

    If we within the media do not call out such behaviour, it only gets further institutionalised. It also makes it very difficult for the media to hold governments to account when they try to suppress freedom of expression. And increasingly, this is the issue that we face. Actual journalists who do actual work bear the brunt of government anger.

    TV anchors take their mummies and sisters to meet their most beloved political leaders.

    Happy Holi!

     

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