MxMIndia

Category: BLOGS

  • Ranjona Banerji feels sorry for Nirmala Seetharaman and Meenakshi Lekhi for being forced into shark-infested waters to explain what was happening in their party.

    Ranjona Banerji: Advani resig stumps media-savvy BJP

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Is the Bharatiya Janata Party hoping for some more salacious recommendations about cricket in India? Because it is clearly uncomfortable with the media focus on the BJP, especially since its most senior leader, LK Advani, has not allowed the party to celebrate the elevation of Gujarat chief minister to the post of election campaign boss.

     

    If I may, in an aside, what’s with the use of the word “anoint” to replace appoint. In my lexicon or any that I have consulted, anoint has to do with rubbing various unguents on someone in a religious ritual, as an act of consecration or as a sign of divine intervention or to choose a successor (in a dynastic kind of way). Is that what has happened with Modi? Is he on his way to sainthood? Or does the choice of word have something to do with the BJP’s chosen path of Hindutva supremacy? I ask this question because Indian news TV is largely irony-free so I am forced therefore to take the use of the word “anoint” seriously. Perhaps that is what TV journalists think have happened here… Modi is about to become one with god or even become god himself. Maybe I should have used a capital ‘G’?

     

    At any rate, Modi is on his way to sainthood one day and no famous TV anchor is allowed an afternoon nap on a Sunday. Then Advani throws the mother of all tantrums and all the TV channels smell blood. The anointing ceremony has been somewhat sullied by a sulk. So Monday is another day altogether and one where the knives, sniggers and suspicions are out in the open. I actually felt sorry for BJP spokespersons like Nirmala Seetharaman and Meenakshi Lekhi, being forced to venture into shark-infested waters to explain what was happening in their party.

     

    The media is by nature fickle but this is a lesson which few politicians or media beneficiaries will ever learn because they take the spotlight so seriously. The extreme arrogance of the Congress allows them not to court the media but the BJP is usually feted for being “media savvy”. It did not work on Monday evening as Advani’s resignation letter was everywhere and every tweet put out by Modi was being sat on a couch and psycho-analysed.

     

    **

     

    The newspapers meanwhile had all written edits for Monday morning discussing the Modi appointment (should I succumb to his impending sanctification?) and what it meant for the BJP and how the BJP was changing. Tuesday morning showed that all edit writers had gone back to the drawing board to now factor in the Advani response – resignation from all party posts bar that of the convenor of the National Democratic Alliance – and what that meant for the party he had nurtured.

     

    However, I would have liked to have read more insights into what was happening, with some insider information on the Advani camp and who was assisting/ advising him, as well as what was happening in Modiland. The best response here was from the Indian Express, which offered a little more as well as Hindustan Times which went beyond the plain vanilla coverage provided by The Times of India.

     

    The better discussions were of course on Rajya Sabha TV, in both English and Hindi, where the anchors do not allow high-pitched hysteria and the guests do not seem so inclined either. It was business as usual on the other channels.

     

    **

     

    The space given to the suicide of starlet Jiah Khan has been intriguing. Sad as her suicide was, what has warranted full coverage of her funeral as well as sustained front page reports? Is this our obsession with Bollywood going too far or just some inability to distinguish between sad and significant?

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator based in Mumbai. She is also Contributing Editor, MxMIndia. She can be reached via Twitter at @ranjona. The views here are her own

     

  • Senior leaders in the party ought to have asked Advani to retire a long time ago. The 86-year-old man is no longer a vote catcher, and his thinking is redundant. They didn't, and now find themselves in a sorry situation.

    Anil Thakraney: Shoot the Old Dog

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Have been watching the ‘Sulking Advani’ drama on television very closely. Not because the man interests me, but because it’s a deja vu feeling, I have seen this before. Not in politics, in the corporate world. It’s the same story: When the grand old man of the organization is past the sell-by date, the board of directors and the young CEO have no idea how to get rid of him, they get badly stuck. I am sure you have witnessed this situation in your own career at some point or another.

     

    I once worked at an ad agency whose creative chief, a few years away from retirement, had failed to evolve with changing times and was stranded in the old school. Basically, he was burnt out. The younger creatives could not connect with him, but were compelled to politely seek his views. The client service people would guffaw behind the old gent’s back, and the clients stopped asking for his presence at important meetings. But the man himself, in complete denial of his loss of relevance, soldiered on, making life difficult for everyone.

     

    The agency leadership could not muster enough courage to ask him to quit. And yet, he was deliberately left out of meetings. Not even, and this is the most humiliating part, consulted on creative department reshuffle. The man was totally isolated, but he would not get the message. Watching it all happen first-hand, I felt very sorry for him. And I entirely blamed the organization for this mess.

     

    Why? Because in this situation, to save everyone the misery, it was the CEO’s job to make that tough call: Amble across to the elderly gent’s cabin, and graciously show him the door. Sadly, this step, which is actually the best and the most professional one, seldom gets taken in many Indian organizations. Which is a pity.

     

    The BJP faces the same conundrum today. Senior leaders in the party ought to have asked Advani to retire a long time ago. The 86-year-old man is no longer a vote catcher, and his thinking is redundant. They didn’t, and now find themselves in a sorry situation. The party, if it lets go of him now, will be perceived as one that does not respect its elders. This directly goes against Indian culture, and could prove costly for the BJP in the coming elections.

     

    ***

     

    PS: Speaking of old dogs, here’s a speech by Dave Trott, a huge inspiration for creative people. Not just for youngsters, for senior creative directors, oldies who have lost their way or feel burnt out.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • Many advertisers use celebrities quite mindlessly. Still, shouldn't there be at least some thought given to credibility of the communication? Or, does this builder think the nation is teeming with morons?

    Debrief: Gaur City: Chintu, tusi Noida shift ho gayeji?

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    There’s this builder who’s been advertising on the national television network. They are building a residential complex called Gaur City in Greater Noida. Nothing wrong with that, if makers of bras and panties can sell their wares on the cover pages of dailies, why can’t a builder.

     

    The problem is this: The Gaur guys have signed up Mr and Mrs Rishi Kapoor as brand ambassadors. And this happy, lovely couple hawks Gaur City’s apartments in the commercial, giving us their first-hand experience of living out there. Now this sends the brain into an immediate tailspin. Er, haven’t Rishi and Neetu been residents of Bandra for decades? Have they shifted to Greater Noida? When, when, when? Why, why, why? Did they have a tiff with son Ranbir? Is Rishi joining politics? Is Neetu fed up of Slumbai? Questions, questions, questions!

     

    Yes, I am aware many advertisers use celebrities quite mindlessly. Because, in their view, this trick works in the star-obsessed India. Still, shouldn’t there be at least some thought given to credibility of the communication? Or, does this builder think the nation is teeming with morons?

     

    Okay, if you push me really hard, I might just believe that SRK drives his junior assistant’s Santro now and then. Or that Shri Bachchan has been to Gujarat on occasion. But Rishi and Neetu selling us apartment flats for a complex being built in Uttar Pradesh? I am still reeling.

     

    So then what next? Rajnikanth as brand ambassador for Orissa? Why not? I am ready for anything now.

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1-5): 0. Can I buy Rishi’s Pali Hill flat, now that he’s migrated to Noida?

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views of the writer are his own.

     

  • That the ad agency has designated, informed people and institutional memory is only one of its advantages over a crowd. The other is that if you make bad decisions you can always blame the agency and fire it. You can't fire a crowd, says Chintamani Rao

    Guest Column by Chintamani Rao: No safety in numbers with Crowdsourcing

    By Chintamani Rao

     

    ‘Unilever to boost reliance on crowdsourcing with eYeka’ – News item

     

    “[Lowe] have created a very strong creative vehicle that’s extremely well defined and portable. But their work has created a problem for them, because it makes Peperami the obvious candidate for crowdsourcing.” That’s how a Unilever London spokesperson explained it when, two years ago, the company fired the advertising agency on Peperami, in favour of crowdsourcing.

     

    Some compliment! Can you see the agency head calling in the Peperami team? “Folks, I’ve just returned from lunch with John Client. Peperami is tracking superbly on every parameter. You’ve created one of those rare great brand properties that will stay with the brand for many, many years. Unilever have paid you the ultimate compliment: we’re fired. From now the public will make the ads.

     

    “Jean, pop the bubbly. I’m proud of you guys. You are our A Team, and here’s an A Team challenge for you. I am assigning you to our biggest Unilever brand: get fired on it within the year. A special Christmas bonus if you make it. Cheers, and more power to your elbow.”

     

    If the idea itself is strange, the outcome is bizarre. Unilever received 1,185 entries and selected not one but two submissions (Both of which came from laid-off advertising professionals: a copywriter from London and a former creative director from Germany. So much for the crowd.), and announced that they would combine the two ideas to make the new campaign. “We’re certain the two ideas will be a successful campaign,” said the Peperami marketing manager. That, from the company which taught us that every advertisement must be based on a “Single Selling Idea” – the first of the ten Unilever Principles of Great Advertising.

     

    Whether Unilever’s winning Advertiser of the Year at Cannes that year was because of Peperami or despite it we don’t know.

     

    Meanwhile, Kraft Foods in Australia crowdsourced the name for the new cheese variant of its iconic bread spread Vegemite, and chose – hold your breath – iSnack 2.0.

     

    “The name Vegemite iSnack 2.0 was chosen based on its personal call to action, relevance to snacking (I snack, get it?), and clear identification of a new and different Vegemite (2.0, wow!) to the original,” said a Kraft spokesperson. “We believe these three components completely encapsulate the new brand.” Consumers didn’t, apparently. Following a furore, Kraft rather tamely put out a list for people to choose from, and equally tamely changed the name to a blase Vegemite Cheesybite.

     

    Around the same time Frito-Lay in India sought ideas for new flavours of chips. To the credit of Frito-Lay it must be said that they weren’t chintzy – on the contrary, they generously spent more than they might have had they done conventional market research instead. For four shortlisted flavours they awarded a prize of Rs 5 lakh each – a total of Rs 20 lakh or over US$ 40,000, way more than Unilever London paid to get a new idea for Peperami. The prize for the ultimate winner was Rs 50 lakh (over US$ 100,000) and 1 percent of sales revenue.

     

    Frito-Lay were truly generous, but in any event, what they did was essentially to solicit consumer opinion on a new product, which might otherwise have been done by conventional market research. But meanwhile other marketers like GE, General Mills, Pepsi, Dell and Starbucks have been seeking everything from product and service ideas to, reportedly, inputs on agency selection and media placement.

     

    Crowdsourcing shops have come up which will brief the crowd and filter the solutions, as Idea Bounty did for Peperami. That’s awfully interesting. Suppose one day Lowe had told Unilever London, “You’ll be delighted to know we’ve increased the creative strength on your business. We’ve fired your entire creative team. Now, instead of being limited to a handful of people under our roof, we’ll put our briefs on your brands out on the Internet and get ideas from hundreds, if not thousands.” Might they have saved the Peperami account? I don’t know about you, but I can’t see a delighted client congratulating the agency on its farsighted initiative.

     

    Now Unilever has taken a big step in the direction of crowdsourcing, saying, “A key role for us as marketers is to create magic and to excite people with innovative ideas.” I always thought a key role for marketers and related professionals was to actually develop the ideas that create the magic, but perhaps I’m wrong.

     

    Proponents of crowdsourcing cite the ‘wisdom of crowds’, propounded by Surowiecki in his book of the same name. “I don’t think people realize how powerful the crowd can be when engaged on working on a good idea,” says one. Perhaps, but this is not the crowd working on a good idea; it is a multitude of individuals independently developing ideas. They’re not building on each other’s thoughts; there’s no cross-fertilization of thinking.

     

    Diversity, independence and decentralization are three of the four “elements required to form a wise crowd” that Surowiecki lists: “Diversity and independence are important because the best collective decisions are the product of disagreement and contest, not consensus or compromise.” But 1,185 responses to a brief from perhaps as many people working independently of each other do not constitute collective thinking, and are not the product of disagreement and contest.

     

    Surowiecki’s fourth element is aggregation: in this context, the marketing management of the company deciding – singly, collectively or sequentially – among the shortlisted submissions. So it is finally down to the quality of decision-making. If you decide on iSnack 2.0, it doesn’t matter whether the submissions come from the crowd through a crowdsourcing agency, or from known people through an advertising agency.

     

    That the advertising agency has designated, informed people and institutional memory is only one of its advantages over a crowd. The other is that if you make bad decisions you can always blame the agency and fire it. You can’t fire a crowd.

     

    The writer is a Strategic Marketing and Media Consultant

     

  • You have to make your mind steely hard, and the heart shatter-proof. You have to be emotionally tough. So that when things go all wrong, you can simply shrug, down a few tequila shots with your gal pals, and move on. No man is worth dying for.

    Anil Thakraney: Lessons from Jiah’s tragedy

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    It’s a gloomy, rainy Friday in Mumbai, and for a change, I want to take a break from the usual work talk, and instead deal with a human issue. And this is triggered by starlet Jiah Khan’s suicide and the subsequent arrest of her boyfriend, who’s been charged with abetment. That case will collapse in court on the very first day of the hearing, but that’s not what I wish to discuss here.

     

    Thing is, just like the showbiz, the world of media, advertising and marketing is bustling with single women. Naturally, they date, they have intimate relationships, they live-in or they marry. While our industry doesn’t put as much strain on the girls as it happens in Bollywood, the pressures of career success, the longing for a better life, the dynamics of human relationships, etc, are pretty much the same. Being single and often without family support means that the young women have to find a way to deal with stressful situations on their own. I personally know of at least two women from the ad world whose life went downhill because they fell for the wrong guy. One landed in a hospital, another one had a nervous breakdown, she left the country to live with her NRI parents. Thankfully, no one committed suicide, not that I know of.

     

    But it can happen, and therefore this post. Now, I am no agony aunt, in fact, I usually like to spread agony all around. J However, this much I have learnt in life: Relationships will get forged, some will be great, some will be disastrous. You will meet nice guys and you will meet creeps. Creeps most likely, and I say this as a man: Many of us guys are jerks, we will eventually disappoint you. Therefore you have to make your mind steely hard, and the heart shatter-proof. You have to be emotionally tough. So that when things go all wrong, you can simply shrug, down a few tequila shots with your gal pals, and move on. No man is worth dying for, period. Don’t want to hear of a Jiah Khan or Nafisa Joseph tragedy in our world.

     

    I’ll leave you with this quote from Marilyn Monroe, it worked then and it works now: “This life is what you make it. No matter what, you’re going to mess up sometimes, it’s a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you’re going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends – they’ll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything – they’re your true best friends. Don’t let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they’ll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them – actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can’t give up because if you give up, you’ll never find your soul mate. You’ll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn’t mean you’re gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don’t, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life’s a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.”

     

    Good luck to all of you. And keep smiling.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • The internet has of course made journalists out of everybody and television has made journalism enter everyone's homes, writes Ranjona Banerji.

    Ranjona Banerji: How everyone loves to bash journos

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    The media is now one of the top topics of conversation in India. I took part yesterday in a Google Hangout organised by the website Halabol to allow Amnesty India to present their current and future projects to some of Halabol’s bloggers. The minute the floor was open to questions, the conversation veered towards the media and its real and imagined transgressions. Luckily, someone steered everyone back to the subject under discussion. But the danger was very real.

     

    The internet has of course made journalists out of everybody and television has made journalism enter everyone’s homes. This combination has not just smashed and toppled the ivory towers of old but it has also eroded at the basis of journalism itself. And definitely at its credibility. Wild accusations are made against journalists and the media houses they work for without any evidence. Expressions like “paid news” are flung around without most having an idea of what it means or stands for. Political polarisation means that any hint of a lack of criticism by a journalist or even too much criticism is seen as a sign as taking sides. People who were earlier oblivious now look out for signs of collusion and often even innocent mistakes are seen as part of some grand media conspiracy to destabilise someone or the other.

     

    How dangerous or difficult does this make life for journalists? There is no denying that there serious problems in the media and that many of those have not been effectively addressed. It is also true that unfortunately TV’s manipulations and lack of depth are both visible quite frequently. But that does not mean that every journalist is corrupt or that no media house ever does its job. But a blanket attack on credibility and integrity cannot help in the long run.

     

    A common refrain is that there are not enough websites or any other media tracking journalism. However, this is not true. The Hoot has been doing an excellent job for years. The Press Institute of India brings out Vidura which focuses on media issues. Shailaja Bajpai’s column in The Indian Express is a must read as was Ajit Bhattacharjee. I do remember Mihir Sharma writing regularly on the media. The Hindu has an ombudsman. I’m sorry if I have left anyone out. There are also innumerable blogs which discuss the media. And we at mxmindia.com do what we can to hold up a mirror to the media.

     

    However perhaps there is an argument for more mainstream effort in critiquing journalism so that the reading and viewing public are in the loop if not playing an active part. And for somehow including television news in the mix since that is where much of the public anger stems from.

     

    Anyone have any ideas of how it can be done?

     

    **

     

    Firstpost.com which started out so well with its platform for opinionaters is now being accused of being too kneejerk in its responses. This accusation is not without its merits. Often, opinion pieces will be written before the full facts (or even half the facts) of a case are known. And no apologies are made later. Given the seniority and experience of the people running the show, I am a bit surprised by this shoot and run policy, the possible consequences of which are that it will lose traction or become a laughing stock.

     

    I can understand the compulsions under which firstpost.com bought the satirical site Faking News and why Faking News sold itself, but wonder how free fake news will now be allowed to be…

     

    **

     

    Since there is evidently no stopping the Jiah Khan life and death juggernaut, I give up.

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator based in Mumbai. She is also Contributing Editor, MxMIndia. She can be reached via Twitter at @ranjona. The views here are her own

     

  • As the cliche goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Unsubscribing from TV audience measurement might help improve television programming in India.

    Anil Thakraney: Divorcing TAM could be a blessing

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Okay, so a whole lot of broadcasters are busy unsubscribing from TAM’s data. If you ask me, I would say that’s not such a bad thing. TAM’s methodologies have been questioned and debated for years and years, and yet the issues haven’t been resolved, there is discontent in the world of media, nobody seems to be happy. TV audience measurement has been a monopolistic situation, and therefore broadcasters had to simply bite the bullet. So far.

     

    I had met Shashi Sinha for an interview last year (for mxmindia), and we brought up the subject of lack of credibility in audience measurement. Sinha feels this is a problem that can be fixed with moolah. This is what he said: “Someone has to put money on the table, it’s as simple as that. The solutions are all known, I know very bright and talented people in research, what needs to be fixed is known. The problem is: No one is willing to invest. Today, if television measurement costs Rs 20 crores, what if Rs 100 crores was spent on it?” Although I am not an expert on this subject, have to say I am not sure if the problems have to do only with lack of adequate funding. Perhaps BARC will set it right next year, though I wonder if they have such deep pockets.

     

    Anyway, from the looks of it, crores of rupees worth advertising spend will now be decided, at least for the next one year, by many advertisers without using TAM’s data. And speaking for myself, this situation excites me. Because this means that advertisers and media planners will start using common sense and intuitive thinking. Instead of blindly putting massive amounts of money based on questionable data. As far as the Hindi GECs go, perhaps all the money won’t be spent on saas bahu shows, other formats/ideas could find much-needed support. This would put pressure on producers/channels to experiment more. Even on the news channels, advertisers would use gut feel, and perhaps shows whose anchors holler and shriek less will find some ad revenue. And if the decisions are proved wrong, planners and brand managers will be forced to take responsibility for their choices, rather than pass the buck onto TAM. In short, this would result in risky but innovative decisions.

     

    As the cliche goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Unsubscribing from TV audience measurement might help improve television programming in India. And cheers to that.

     

    ***

     

    PS: A photographer managed to get these expressions from bachchas. By giving them an ice-cream cone, and then abruptly taking it away from them. I know that’s mean. But it’s cute too. 🙂

     

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • Such an award will help shift the focus back to real journalism. The reason why many of us opted for this profession in the first place. But got disillusioned along the way when we discovered that a healthy financial bottom-line seems to matter more than a healthy nation in the corporatized Indian media.

    Anil Thakraney: Tehelka’s award for courage is a good idea

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Tehelka has announced the ‘Tarun Sehrawat Award For Journalism Of Courage And Conscience’. The award is named in the memory a young journo who died on duty last year, at the age of 23, in the Naxal heartland. I think such an award is needed, and it’s a timely idea.

     

    Because, with the massive media explosion in India and the resultant cut-throat competition, real journalism seems to have been relegated to the back seat. Proprietors and marketing directors are calling the shots in most organizations; the editor’s role has become secondary. Profitability is now the name of the game, and this is what leads to ugly, completely unethical practices like paid news. Naturally, this is terrible news for India. For the nation’s good health, we have to encourage journalists to push the boundaries, and within the restrictions they find themselves in today, find a way to unearth the hard truths. There are plenty of awards given away to the members of the media each year, but I find them meaningless. Because they appear to reward style more than substance. Tehelka’s effort therefore is very welcome.

     

    And what I find most interesting is that the award is meant only for young journos, those under the age of 30 years. Terrific. We need to motivate the youngsters, we need to remind them why are journalists, we need to make sure they don’t get lost in the world of materialism and puffery. And if these dudes taste blood at a young age, chances are high they will retain the same passion for journalism throughout their careers.

     

    Of course, Tehelka is trying to build its own brand, and that’s fine. The important thing is this: Such an award will help shift the focus back to real journalism. The reason why many of us opted for this profession in the first place. But got disillusioned along the way when we discovered that a healthy financial bottom-line seems to matter more than a healthy nation in the corporatized Indian media.

     

    ***

     

    PS: Crazy. A totally harmless commercial has invited a dirty backlash on the YouTube video. All because it features a mixed-race family. As a matter of fact, I think such ads should be encouraged, they are important for the plural societies we live in. And a pat on the back to the advertiser for refusing to pull the commercial. Cheers to Cheerios!

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • Stalwarts who fight through battling panellist on weeknights have had to repeat the exercise on Sat and Sun afternoons, rues Ranjona Banerji

    Ranjona Banerji: No Sunday R&R for journalists

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Life has been tough for journalists looking forward to a little Sunday R&R for over a month now. Between the IPL, the BCCI, the BJP, JD(U) and the NDA (an epidemic of acronyms?), every weekend has been big breaking news time. For television especially, life has been tough. Editors have been yanked out of their weekend plans and all the stalwarts who fight through battling panellist on weeknights had to repeat the exercise on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The other casualty has been incessant Bollywood programming.

     

    This Sunday’s prize has to go to Rahul Kanwal of Headlines Today for dumping his studio in Delhi and conducting discussions and monitoring news from Patna, as the Janata Dal (United) formalised its split from the National Democratic Alliance. In fact, Kanwal is a sober and sensible moderator (compared to many of his shriller compatriots on other news channels). However, when it is the armed forces that are under discussion, jingoism trumps journalism even for him.

     

    Newspaper editors probably had an easier time monitoring events from their drawing rooms as no one knows if they come to work on weekends or not! The Editors’ Guild can though put up a request to political parties, the police and other government, quasi-government and non-government organisations to avoid going through divorces or making revelatory announcements on the weekend!

     

    **

     

    Which reminds me: where is Markandey Katju, our intrepid chairman of the Press Council of India? We have not heard anything from him in a while.

     

    **

     

    The reshuffle in the Cabinet by the UPA/Congress possibly got less attention than it would have because of the split in the NDA. But even so, most newspapers seemed more bothered about the age of the ministers than anything else. It’s bad enough that today’s journalists think that everyone over the age of 50 is “elderly’ but to see all news through the prism of age is short-sighted and foolish.

     

    **

     

    The Twitter world saw its worst side come through this week. Former head of R&AW and security analyst B Raman died this week He was a prolific tweeter who talked about his ongoing battle with cancer, the country’s foreign policy and his disquiet about Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. This led to his death being celebrated by pro-Modi tweeters. That the anonymity provided by social media gives people more licence than they have in real life is not a point for debate any more. But the baser side of human nature is always distressing whenever it is revealed.

     

    **

     

    The oddly intrusive nature of today’s world and the dilemmas those pose were outlined in a newspaper story about celebrity TV cook Nigella Lawson and her husband, advertising maven Charles Saatchi. The UK newspaper Sunday People published pictures of Lawson and Saatchi involved in a fight at a London restaurant, with Saatchi gripping Lawson’s throat with one and then both hands and Lawson looking obviously distraught. The link: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nigella-lawson-attacked-husband-see-1955564

     

    People who saw it at the restaurant evidently did nothing or little. The couple left, the story was published a week later and the police had to look into it after comments on Twitter cooked up a storm. Finally an explanation of sorts was delivered by Saatchi: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2013/jun/17/nigellalawson-thepeople?CMP=twt_gu

     

    The upshot of all this is the “media” in all its entirety is now a constant in our lives. Journalists as we know no longer have to be around to peep and pry. The technology to do so is available to everyone. Social media may not be the voice of God but it is the voice of some of the people and cannot be ignored. And if the people are not peeking where they shouldn’t, governments are doing it. The only recourse for those interested in increased privacy is to get really thick curtains, but one doubts even that will help. Forget Big Brother, everyone’s watching.

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator based in Mumbai. She is also Contributing Editor, MxMIndia. She can be reached via Twitter at @ranjona. The views here are her own

     

  • Even an otherwise confident brand like Axe has fallen for the Indian celebrity circus. However, the cool thing they have done is that Ranbir gets beaten by a non-celeb.

    Debrief: Axe Blast: The chick scorecard

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Axe continues with the same old, tried and tested route: Use our deo, and chicks will chase you to the end of the world. This time they’ve roped in Ranbir Kapoor to do the honours. Even an otherwise confident brand like Axe has fallen for the Indian celebrity circus. However, the cool thing they have done in the commercial is that Ranbir gets beaten by a non-celeb.

     

    My feminists pals aren’t going to like this TVC at all (just they loathe all the male deo ads), because the chicks our guys ‘score’ are now being metered. A clicker device is used by the star each time he gets ‘favourable’ female attention, which is plenty of times. Just as our young Casanova is feeling all chuffed, another man shows him his own clicker, which has a much higher score. Well, Ranbir needs to work harder, which means start using Axe Blast.

     

    Not bad. For one, the celeb isn’t the brand user in this case (though subliminally he is), which is refreshing to see in desi advertising. Two, the chick meter is an idea that young chaps will like. Guys do boast about the women they have scored with (the figure is almost always vastly exaggerated), and the device helps put that (fake) number on record, so to speak. Axe can build on this simple little tool in the future.

     

    In short, this ad works. That it will leave feminists pissed off won’t worry Axe too much. This brand isn’t for them, it’s meant for chronic skirt chasers like young Ranbir.

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1-5): 2.5. Same old stuff, but refreshing use of celeb

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views of the writer are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • As the disaster strikes and the aftermath plays out, television journos must do one and only one thing: Focus on the 3Rs… rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations. And only discuss the whodunit and the whydunit after some amount of normalcy has been restored.

    Anil Thakraney: Uttarakhand disaster: TV anchors screw-up yet again

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    You know who’s the biggest moron in this world? The man who reaches a building on fire, stands outside and wants to discuss in detail with those trying to douse the flames exactly what was the cause of the inferno, and who screwed up.

     

    Don’t know if this occurs to them, but some of the news channel wallahs have been doing exactly this on the Uttarakhand calamity. My friends in television must understand that their job differs from the newspaper editors when it comes to covering natural disasters or terror attacks. As the disaster strikes and the aftermath plays out, television journos must do one and only one thing: Focus on the 3Rs… rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations. And only discuss the whodunit and the whydunit after some amount of normalcy has been restored, after the victims have limped back to safety. This is because television is a live medium, it carries immediacy of news. But instead of doing this, on prime time, some news channels got those usual crappy, noisy debates going, to pin responsibility on who was behind this ‘man-made’ disaster.

     

    Just think about this: What if one of my friends or relatives is marooned in Kedarnath right now? Frantic, I would be madly surfing the news channels to see how folks are being rescued, and would hope get some details of the persons stuck out there. Or, god forbid, discover if the individual dear to me is gone. In fact, this is how a BBC would go about things. Instead, I see star anchors in a free-for-all with netas and the usual studio guests. Can you blame me then if my blood goes on the boil?

     

    While newspapers and magazines can and must cover a natural disaster with a 360-degree view, television has to cover the story step by step, and only shift gears at the right time. The question is: Why aren’t the idiot box runners doing the obvious thing? I can think of two reasons. One, perhaps because they are idiots. Or two, the anchors are convinced that shouting and screaming inside studios is the only way to gain ratings, whatever be the subject. You are free to pick the right reason.

     

    ***

     

    PS: An eerie anti drink driving campaign from the UK, one that might give you a heart attack in the pub itself. If they try this out in the Indian pubs, I suggest using only male mannequins. Else the BMC lady will object.

     

    Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2338000/Shocking-anti-drink-driving-campaign-scares-pub-goers-simulating-car-crash-complete-fake-blood-toilet-mirror.html

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • Gossip suggests that some of the winners at Cannes are 'scam' ads, because 'nobody' has seen the winning entries in the media. It's very likely that none of them are scams. But to know that, we need access to the media plans of the winning entries.

    Anil Thakraney: Cannes winners, release your media plan

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Congratulations to the Indian ad world, it was a very satisfying show at Cannes; 33 trophies is really wow when you consider that till only a decade back we used to win zilch.

     

    However, the rumour mill is buzzing. Again. Gossip suggests that some of the winners at Cannes are ‘scam’ ads, because ‘nobody’ has seen the winning entries in the media. The PR winnings sound dodgier, the work appears to have been designed to please an international jury. For example, that bit about adopting a pothole. Wouldn’t firangi judges just lurve stuff like this from Incredible India? Everyone out here is wondering exactly how may potholes got sorted.

     

    Now, it’s quite possible that the gossip is unfair to the winners, it’s very likely that none of them are scams. But to know that, we need access to the media plans of the winning entries, and that’s impossible. One could have filed an RTI application, but sadly, the ad world doesn’t come under its purview, not yet at least. So then what’s the way out? I would urge the winners to publish their media plans in the trade media. With details of the number of insertions for press ads, number of hoardings used, etc. And the PR winners should publish full details of the operations and the effectiveness of their campaigns. I think this is important for it shall help kill the gossip. In any case, if you have done genuine work, why not proudly publish the facts?

     

    On another note, must say our continuing disappointing run in the digital category is a cause for concern. I can only think of one reason why we aren’t winning anything: Our old world creative directors who are obsessed with the traditional media, and have failed to evolve. Well, they better change this fast. By finding people who can help them understand the digital space. (By the way, many of these giants haven’t even tried out social media, I kid you not.)

     

    Lastly, a pat on the back to the TOI group. Despite being a huge, huge organization, they consistently find a way to inspire their ad agencies into doing scintillating work. Marketing directors and brand managers of other large companies should borrow a leaf from them. On why bigness should never come in the way of good creative work.

     

    ***

     

    PS: Cool idea from the makers of Homeland, the hugely popular US TV serial. They are looking for ‘extras’ for the next season, and are inviting members of the janata to come forward and apply. Great way to promote a soap, Indian TV serial makers should try it too.

     

    Link: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/05/homeland-casting-call/

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney