Category: MxM @ 1

By Insiyah Rangwala

I would like to start by saying happy birthday to MxM India!

MxM for me personally has been a great experience. It has been a fantastic stepping stone in the media field, as well as just a great place to start one’s working life. One of the things I started off with was compiling a customer database and though this kind of work can get dull, it was one of the best ways to learn and understand who is who and what the different aspects of this industry are.

I have learnt a lot from the people I worked with. It was a work environment that was out of my comfort zone as everyone was much better informed than me about the kind of work we were doing. I enjoyed participating and watching someone who knew the existing scope of work but is still trying to innovate and break through the clutter.

I felt like I had a say and my knowledge of newer mediums such as social media and other digital platforms was utilized.

Everyone’s opinion was taken into consideration. Even though I lacked knowledge about most of the basic things I was still heard and taken seriously. Internally the feedback was proactively taken into consideration by everyone at all levels which is hard to find, and makes MxM a unique workplace. I felt like I had a say and my knowledge of newer mediums such as social media and other digital platforms was utilized. I felt like an important part of MxMIndia and felt that I contributed to what it is today.

Apart from building on what I already knew, I was also given the opportunity to broaden my horizons. Writing was not something I thought I wanted to do. At MxM I was still considered for opportunities where I interviewed a German Count, I covered an event and also wrote a story based purely on research, thereby experiencing different kinds of news – sources as well as delivery. I think I personally enjoyed interviewing people a lot; that was something I might never have found out if not for MxMIndia.

Best of luck to MxMIndia, and may it celebrate many more birthdays!

By Johnson Napier

“When we dream alone it is only a dream, but when many dream together it is the beginning of a new reality.” This may well have been the maxim that may have inspired the founders/owners when they initially dreamt about floating a media dotcom venture more than a year ago. While it would be immature to speculate on what must have been going on in their minds at that point, it would only be fair to say that this maxim is the reality which has steered the MxMIndia team ever since it took off.

Though it has turned a year old now, MxMIndia’s story is one that could easily be referenced by aspirers or businessmen as a model to go by when launching a venture of a similar kind in future. Clearly the space was crowded when MxMIndia set foot into the market, and there was a whole bunch of naysayers who wondered whether the project would be as exciting and encompassing as the others in the space. But all those questions have taken a backseat now as we stand head and shoulders next to the best in the space. If not by way of reach, at least in popularity terms, one can be rest assured that our stories, our approach and our refusal to take the road much travelled is what is making us stand apart from the crowd. Much of the credit for this showing could be attributed to the editor-in-chief & CEO of the firm, Pradyuman Maheshwari, who is still as aggressively involved with the day-to-day stories and going-ons as he was when the project first took off.

The excitement of doing something new and out-of-the-box every day is what keeps one going even further.

Personally, though my journey with MxMIndia began in November 2011, the course still looks as refreshing as ever. The excitement of doing something new and out-of-the-box every day is what keeps one going even further. A few examples that come to mind about stories that had a unique sense of distinction in them include the shutting down of Imagine TV, NDTV-TAM issue, Dentsu’s takeover of Aegis & Taproot, Vikram Sakhuja being elected global CEO of Maxus, etc. These were stories that aroused participation and opinion from industry folks in a big way as they were presented in a manner that is unseen or un-attempted by contemporaries in the space. The media forecast booklet that we did in participation with Mindshare, the Hinterland supplement with BIG CBS…and other supplements that keep coming out from time to time, have been widely accepted by one and all from the industry.

But enough of the adulation, time to move on to something that’s fundamental to our existence today. And that’s the support and trust that has been reposed in us, time and again, by our well-wishers and individuals from the industry, without whom we wouldn’t be standing where we are. Their encouragement, whether through their columns, their quotes, or simply by sharing their feedback, has enabled us to keep treading a path that most wouldn’t dare taking. We assure you that it is something we will carry on doing without any hesitation and fear. After all it is something that we pride ourselves on, day in and day out.

While a beginning has just been made, hope to see MxMIndia achieve many more milestones and celebrate umpteen more anniversaries!

By Vidya Heble

 

It is a little like moving from a big city to a smaller urbanopolis. Going from working in a large organization, to throwing in your lot with a start-up. For one thing, at a big organization there are several things one takes for granted – such as, for instance, infrastructure, logistics, administration, and the all-important cafeteria facilities. In a small organization, these activities are concentrated in a very small team, and often everyone pitches in.

On the flip side, when you walk into the office at the small organization, it’s like walking into one’s own space. Not a big, sometimes impersonal cubicle farm. There’s no need for a trip to the cafeteria. Instead, one hears the typical whistle of the tea-boy (who doesn’t take long to figure out everyone’s individual preferences) and brings chai to one’s desk. At MxMIndia, we have a special bell that we ring when we hear the whistle, and this lets the tea-boy know that the cup of pick-me-up is wanted in Number 13. Once upon a time, this used to be the bell that summoned the copy boy. If you know what a copy boy is, you can have a glass of chai as a reward.

Because we all pull together, it goes without saying that if someone needs a hand, there are several to help, right there. In the start-up, everyone is a friend.

To take a slightly more serious tack, one crucial difference between a big organization and a small one is that in the latter, everyone pulls together. There is no room for slacking, and no safety-net to catch any superfluity. It’s a small boat, and everyone’s oar matters. This, to me, is an advantage because it keeps us keen. Sure, we sit around shooting the breeze now and then, but I think that on the whole our use of time is more efficient.

And because we all pull together, it goes without saying that if someone needs a hand, there are several to help, right there. In the start-up, everyone is a friend.

But it is precisely because there is no safety-net, that it’s been an exciting time. Getting the story, ensuring it is accurate, telling it well… we do it all in a sort of measured frenzy, and though we have moments when we think we’re going to fall short, it somehow all comes together.

Cliff-hanging, often. Satisfying, always. It’s been a great year and we don’t want the rollercoaster to stop.

By Shruti Pushkarna

It’s been a wonderful one year at MxM and of course, for MxM. I joined MxMIndia a little before we launched the website, August 22 to be precise. Unlike the usual emotions attached to a start-up – will it do well or not, what kind of a response will it garner, et cetera – I had none of those feelings when I started out. For me it just seemed right to join MxM, there was a sense of positivity about it. And looks like I wasn’t wrong at all!

For a start-up, MxMIndia has done exceedingly well, creating quite a reputation for itself in the industry. My personal journey has seen ups and ups in the last one year. Being a television producer, I joined MxM with a focus on video content. But as is true for most start-ups, you can hardly stick to a fixed profile of work. When I look back now, I can say I got a chance to do a lot of other stuff that I wouldn’t have done in my conventional role as a TV producer. But back then, the first time I was writing and reporting a story, the idea seemed ridiculous! Now, one has to understand that in conventional TV terms, a producer is very different from a reporter; might I even add, a producer deems it unfit to be compared with a reporter. So you can imagine the plight of a high-headed producer when he/she, who thinks of reporters as lesser mortals, is expected to report and write a story! But I must thank MxMIndia for giving me that chance to explore other areas of work.

I got a chance to write stories, interview people, shoot and edit video stories and more! There were instances when I approached a story that I had no inkling of. The more scared I would be to take up something that I had no knowledge of, the more delighted I would be at finishing the story because there was so much I had learnt in the process. One such instance was, when CA Media announced its investment in two Indian companies, Endemol India and Only Much Louder. I must confess I couldn’t have done much without the help of my Editor, but the fact that I wrote a big story, and had three separate interviews following from the story, made me feel alive!

The more scared I would be to take up something that I had no knowledge of, the more delighted I would be at finishing the story because there was so much I had learnt in the process.

But the best example is actually of my reportage on Digitization (of cable television). That was one subject, I knew nothing of. I remember the first event I covered and this was essentially video coverage (I wasn’t writing a story then) was an Assocham summit on Digitization. While I drove to the venue, my Editor explained me terms that would be commonplace in a discussion on digitization, like sunset date, ARPUs etc. I felt challenged and least interested! Little did I know, I would be covering and reporting extensively on the subject a few months later. From knowing nothing of Digitization, to writing reports on issues and implications of Digitization, to tracking ground-level preparedness for Digitization, to interviewing key stakeholders in Digitization, I can proudly say I’ve done it all. Of course, with regular lessons from my Editor again, who helped me understand the subject and issues at hand.

Another recent story I enjoyed covering, was when the English news channel NewsX was acquired by ITV Group. Now for some context, I worked for NewsX and saw two or even more management changes in my tenure with the company. So clearly there was a personal curiosity at work while I was reporting the recent management change. Also because the new owner of the channel, Kartikeya Sharma happens to be the son of leading Haryana Congress leader Venod Sharma and the brother of Manu Sharma, a convict in the Jessical Lal murder case. This fact had left reporters and senior journalists at NewsX worried and there were speculations in the media as to how this might affect or change the channel’s stand on this issue. When I got a chance to speak to Mr Sharma, I posed the same question to him, and even though he was furious at me for bringing it up, I convinced him it was best if he addressed the question putting all speculation to rest. And he did.

There have been many learning episodes, many memorable incidents in this past one year. MxM Mondays was a recent addition on the website, and I am happy and proud to have contributed the first two stories to the new section. One was on the issue of media ownership and the other on the state of media education. The format allowed me to speak to a host of people and learn of differing opinions on the respective issues. Again, an interesting experience, in the sense that it wasn’t a regular news story.

Recently I interviewed veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar as he released his latest book. First of all, he remembered me from the last time I’d interviewed him, that was four years ago for a story on Indira Gandhi and the Emergency. I was pleasantly surprised. Of course the interview was great, but the best part of it all was, our little tete-a-tete in Punjabi. I have been born and brought up in Delhi, so the little Punjabi I know is from what I hear my folks talk on the dinner table. But my grandfather comes from Lahore and my parents from Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Mr Nayar was quite disappointed with me for not having an authentic Punjabi (Lahoriya) accent despite my celebrated roots!

I could go on writing because there are so many stories that come to mind when I look back.

Cheers to Team MxM! Happy First Anniversary MxMIndia and here’s to many more!

By Shubhangi Mehta

Something that started off as an experiment has continued to be a year-long journey for MxMIndia and me. In September 2011, Pradyuman Maheshwari, Editor-in-chief and CEO, MxMIndia, told me about his new venture, MxMIndia.

The offer to work with a start-up at the beginning of my career came with scepticism which was accompanied by immense thrill and conscientiousness.  This twelve-month journey helped me to discover and develop my own distinct voice in Journalism.  The stories I’ve done, be it exclusives or features, have been lessons that merge as inspiration and instruction.

The admirable element of working with MxMIndia has been that whether one is a beginner looking to express one’s own voice or someone experienced looking for inspiration, there has been room for it all.

Of course nothing in this world is perfect, in fact nothing should be or else it loses its charisma. There have been colossal moments accompanied by the stumpy ones for MxM and me.

Being a B2B journalist I always thought there was less scope of expressing oneself as a writer; but at MxM I think I was given ample opportunities to write the way I liked. We are let free here but there is always enough encouragement and wisdom from seniors available whenever required.

It’s not easy for a journalist, whose work means connecting and networking with other people, to spend most of the time working out of a part of the world where no one, absolutely no one from the industry is present.

At MxMIndia, I have learnt as much as I have worked, despite working out of home. It’s been one of the most different working experiences for me here, and there can be very few who could understand it, doubtlessly the ones who have sometime or the other have had an experience of working out of home.

It’s not easy for a journalist, whose work means connecting and networking with other people, to spend most of the time working out of a part of the world where no one, absolutely no one from the industry is present. I managed one year doing that and the credit goes to both, MxM and myself – sadly, I will have to pat my own back (one of the drawbacks of working out of home).

Connecting with advertisers and creative people was meant to be a task sitting out of Mumbai; I can’t describe what a pain it can be when one tries to figure out a piece of news sitting in Dehradun but one thing assured in all of this is that once you get the news, and that too an exclusive, no ‘weed’ can give you a high equal to that.

Years will pass by, MxM will grow and so will I, but one thing that’ll stay with me for sure, whether I work at MxM or not, is it will always be one of the most special working experiences for me. Wish you a Happy First Birthday, MxMIndia!

By Kishor Kate

I joined MxMIndia in the month of October, shortly after its launch in September 2011. I handle the Office Operations and other support-related functions at MxMIndia. There is a lot of running around that I have to do from one company to the other for office-related work, and yes, I am also indirectly the one who ensures that salaries are credited on time. I am one of the first people to enter the office and the last to leave, staying until the shutters come down. One of the best things about working with MxMIndia is the fact that I am constantly learning new things. I have learnt how to operate the computer, enter data, and so on. In addition, I also ensure the office is kept spick and span, and that my colleagues do not have any trouble as far as their work equipment is concerned.

What is even more overwhelming is when I am told that I was missed at work or that my absence was badly felt, such as a day when I am on leave, or I spend the whole day on the move and don’t come in to the office.

What is even more overwhelming is when I am told that I was missed at work or that my absence was badly felt, such as a day when I am on leave, or I spend the whole day on the move and don’t come to the office. These are some of the factors that motivate me to work even harder for my company and my colleagues, who I feel have been very kind and supportive as well. Another good aspect about my job at MxMIndia is the exposure it offers me to various multinational companies and big media houses, many that I have only heard about. I look forward to many more exciting opportunities and challenges at MxMIndia. At this moment, I would like to wish MxMIndia a very Happy Birthday, congratulations on completing a successful year, many more birthdays and a very bright future.

By Rafiq Barak

Being the one responsible for what you see on the website daily is not an easy task but then that is what is really endearing for me. MxMIndia has been a game-changing experience like no other for me. First of all, I was appointed a Designer on a part-time basis on September 22 last year with the understanding that I would be made a full-time employee in six months, but this happened within a month and a half itself! It speaks volumes about the kind of work that needs to be done on a daily basis by me.

A typical day for me begins at 8am in the morning but I generally make it a little before time. With so much to be done before the website goes live, the next 2-3 hours are the toughest for me. My work profile includes uploading stories, creating and sending mailers, attending phone calls, image creation etc. I also double as an office assistant as I have to open the door and tend to people who come in the morning, as the office support staff arrives only later.

Of all the tasks, the one that is the most challenging but also fruitful for me is preparing imagery for the Big Story. When analysed, my top 5 most strenuous yet outstanding Big Story creatives include:

1. So why did Turner stop Imagine(ing)?

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2. U-turn to comfort zone!

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3. MxM Mondays

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4. Mid-year Blues: Group M media spends forecast down from 12 to 6.6%

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5. The 1st Anniversary theme picture (what you see currently on your screens today)

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MxMIndia has been a game-changing experience like no other for me. I find the website particularly interesting including the layout, theme, colour combination, etc.

I had prepared a few options but this was the one that was finally accepted. I am happy to be a part of this organisation as I have learnt a lot from my seniors and team members. They have always been helpful and supportive of me. I find the website particularly interesting including the layout, theme, colour combination, etc. I enjoy bringing in fresh changes as and when the need arises.

Lastly, I would like to thank all the readers for sharing their comments personally and also with the editorial team about the looks of the website, day in and out. It helps me to perform better. I would like to end by wishing MxMIndia a very happy first birthday!