Tag: Dear MxM

By Jaisurya Das

 

Ladies and Gentleman, Welcome back to yet another edition of Dear MxM, the fraternity’s very own sounding board! PwC’s Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2017-2021 was released this week with an encouraging estimate that the Indian Media and Entertainment industry will cross Rs 291,000 crore by Year 2021.

While internet will remain the fastest growing in percentile points, the bit that caught my fancy is that globally internet advertising has already surpassed TV. While this was expected, I didn’t think it would happen this quick. 

What does this hold in store for the mainline players of our country? That is the question that will soon demand soul searching. Internet advertising is poised to grow at a robust 18% + vis a vis a worrying 3% for publishing or 11 %+ for TV. 

There is speculation however that the aftermath of the GST regime may unsettle things. If this happens, we can expect a fair degree of variance in these projections by PWC who have hitherto been more or less accurate in their predictions in the past. The challenge will however be faced by the smaller players in mainline print and TV who may find themselves unable to balance the cost equation.

Downsizing is already here so the obvious cut will then be on quality and marketing expenditure, both of which are lethal to play around with… 

One thing is certain and that is the fact that the digital space will garner significant shares of the advertising pie and the sensible will wait for this to happen. It isn’t easy considering the costs of running media platforms, yet to build a successful enterprise, the entrepreneur must distinguish between a cost and an investment.

For now, let’s just invest in our readers queries for the week, this time from the cities of Pune and Mumbai:

 

Sir, I read Dear MxM of a few weeks back where you had written about the job security or the lack of it in a new English news channel. How long should one wait to figure if a new media enterprise is successful?

Good question! In today’s world there remains no stability and hence it is tough to classify any one company as

safe and stable to work for. This is the element of risk one has to take.

However it is advisable to wait and see how their first year pans out ( if you are cautious kind ) and their year end numbers which may give you an indication of their performance and assets. Normally the first 12 months is a good indication of where the media firm is headed.  Yes, launch expenditure and marketing costs remain high in the first year but that can be discounted to give you a more realistic picture before you take the plunge.

Additionally, checking their market equity is recommended as often their performance depends highly on how the market perceives the company and the brand in question.

 

I am a sportsman, but I also interested in an advertising sales job. But do publications or channels encourage sportspersons to take up sports and represent the company and later state and country in a sport? There are various organisations which do it, hence the question.

Yes indeed! There are several firms sponsoring sportsman and promoting sport in a big way, though I must confess most of them are public sector or very large business conglomerates. I haven’t seen too many media and advertising companies going hammer and tong about their sports talent ( beyond participation in smaller tournaments ) save one or two in South India.

It would be advisable for you to check this in detail with the concerned HR departments in order for you to be able to leverage your sporting talent. If you are serious about your sport and have the skill then i would pick a company that seriously values this. A career choice is important to make and hence take a firm call now.

 

I have seen your answer to the question on creativity in digital advertising. As someone employed with a digital agency, my view is that while clients and agency bosses may look at the easier way out, there’s always scope for doing something out of the box. New ideas are always welcome.

May I draw your attention once again to my response. I didn’t think the clients adopted the easy route and my point was the mentality to just seek an adaptation of their mainline campaign to the digital medium. This obviously stems from the lack of finite understanding of the internet medium.

Digital offers much more than just new ideas and as you mention, creativity and thinking laterally can all be showcased effectively in this medium. To add to that, the medium itself is on a vertical growth trajectory and this in turn leads to several options being available for the advertiser.

I am more than convinced of its efficacy and ability to provide a vibrant platform to showcase great creative talent.

 

On that creative note, it is time that I move on with the rest of the week before I can put my feet up and soak in the onset of the monsoon! As of now, Pune has seen just about 14 minutes of rain over the past week. That doesn’t really translate very well into ‘mm’ and thus time shall be the measure for me as of now! And yes, enjoy your weekend, rain or otherwise.  Sayonara and God bless!

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also the Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com.

 

For more on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in The views expressed in this column are his own. 

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Tom Peters wrote his classic ‘Thriving On Chaos’ around 1989 if am not mistaken and I remember being deeply immersed in it during the early 90’s like I was in any book that came my way. This one caught my fancy actually thanks to it’s title and my affinity for the chaotic world…

Ladies and Gentleman, Welcome to Dear MxM, the longest running counselling column for the media, marketing and advertising trade! 

Those of you who are in the trade will know the continuing action surrounding the English news channels and the consortium of sorts that seems to have emerged to take on ArnabGoswami’s Republic TV. It’s interesting how the worst of enemies can together to take on a competitor however weak or strong he may debatably be… 

And Republic TV seem to be ‘thriving on chaos’ and enjoying all this adulation by the hour. Immense coverage, debates, social media posts and huge numbers tuning in ( or so the BARC numbers suggest ) to add to it all. This is quite something isn’t it. They just trigger all this action around, sit back and watch the fun. 

Am not too sure how long the fun will last though, what with the courts stepping in and issuing notices etc but they certainly seem to be getting the eyeballs! For the right or wrong reasons is secondary here. The larger picture is using chaos as a method to grow and build brand and how artistically Arnab is doing this. I must hand it to this man. He has the public attention and so swiftly too. 

As an ardent media watcher am waiting to see how this shapes up but for now, I must focus my energy on perfecting the art of great PR at zero cost aka ArnabGoswami! 

Tip my hat to you for this Mr.Goswami ! 

 

On that note, it’s time to move on from Republic TV to our very interesting set of questions for this week from the cities of Chandigarh, Kochi and Bengaluru…

 

Sir, isn’t it shocking that news channels which are supposed to be watchdogs in a democracy are fighting each other. And to think of it, their association took an extreme step without even a discussion on the issue. As a youngster part of a news channel, I am dismayed, but as a friend said, I shouldn’t bother about these things. Your advice, Sir?

Typical of any media war when everyone just jumps in without thinking of the consequences. In my opinion both sides could have ideally had some dialogue rather than just going ahead and punching each other !

BARC exists to do a job and I see where they are coming from on this by going ahead with the results, yet when there is a new baby on the block some amount of dialogue may have helped. At this juncture BARC may not have too much to do with this so-called consortium pulling out and I doubt if they are affected at all since English news channels are a minuscule part of their membership across the country.

I am not sure if this will affect advertising revenues for these channels though as some media pundits predict. Personally I think media planners are smart enough to know which channel is doing well and will place their money there. Viewership data may not always be the decision maker and more so now.

I agree with your friend however and advise you to just absorb all this but stay unmoved. Controversy and fights are part of any large business and media isn’t any different. Soak it all in and enjoy the storm. All will be well my friend!

 

I am a little dismayed with the kind of work that is being done in a few digital advertising agencies.The emphasis is not on producing original work, but just adapt creative thinking to digital. Or do a banner ad with a funny involving Rajnikanth or Gabbar Singh. I have just done my internship and have 6-8 months before the final placement and I am hesitant about getting into digital directly. Please advise.

Good question indeed! As I see it, this is more a cultural issue starting from the client downwards. All think mainline and using digital is still to a great extent satisfying client curiosity more than anything else.

Clients want to be seen on the medium more because of his competitors presence than believing in the efficacy of the medium. Mainline is almost revered by clients that they often just want the digital agency to do adaptation than fresh work. From what my friends in digital tell me, it’s really upto the agency to break free and come up with creative excellence.

The medium does allow you to get highly creative even with the same objective and though. It allows you far more precision targeting and thus it’s also the responsibility of the digital team to push themselves into great creativity and delivery rather than just end up being a support mechanism for clients’ campaign.

Am not sure if I have been able to guide you on this, but I firmly believe that it is indeed a good space to be in provided you make effective use of the opportunity and push limits beyond what is apparent. All the best to you!

 

I am an avid reader of books, and as a kid I have dreamt of being a book publisher or work with a book publishing company. But now that I have grown older and am about to graduate, I am confused whether it’s the right profession to be in. Please guide me, Sir.

Tough question! The larger issue here is the death of the reading habit and more so with physical books. Yes, some authors sell and there’s a lot of noise all over but believe me, there isn’t big money coming in for authors or publishers.

Publishers end up making more than the authors in most cases, what with the large margins but the profits are diminishing with the cost of paper that is going skywards. Quality printing requires a lot of investment and the variable costs are unbearably high.

As far as you are concerned, my advise would be to try and intern with a leading publisher and understand the dynamics of the business before you plunge into it as a career. Am not sure at this juncture as to which area you are looking at within the publishing business but some good work experience would certainly help you take a firm decision.

 

That reminds me, I have a good book waiting and I better get set for my weekend ahead to be able to sit back, sip my beer and soak in some good reading! Awfully hot summer though but I am hoping the met bureau is right for a change and we do see some showers for Pune! 

Well, we all live with hope don’t we ? On that hopeful note, let me wish you all a terrific weekend. Be good, stay safe and take good care of yourselves. Sayonara and God Bless.

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also the Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com. For more on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in. The views expressed in this column are his own.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Welcome back, ladies and gentleman! 

It’s a balmy morning here in Pune and it won’t be long before the balmy turns unbearable what with the amazingly feisty summer we are having in Maharashtra…

I guess the heat is in the air and evidently in media too; Alleged misappropriation of proprietary content to scams that are being supposedly unearthed by the hour. Quite amusing to say the least!

While I have lots to say on these micros of media ethics, I shall hold my horses for another time, before my editor reminds me of the deadlines that I am very quickly approaching. But you will hear from me on this very soon since this involves a subject that I am passionate about.

Intellectual property is a goldmine that must be protected at any cost, be it media or the literary world. The gross violations that are unearthed by the day are blasphemous to say that least….

But for now, it’s the weekly questions from our readers in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Read on…

 

Sir, I am interested in a career in auto journalism. I love cars though I do not have any education in automobile engineering or design. How do I become an auto journalist?

Thanks for writing in to us at Dear MxM. To be honest, I haven’t come across any course or specialisation for automobile journalism, however India does boast of a few excellent auto journalists..

This is a very specialised area and does require you to have micro understanding of how automobiles work and perform and thus it would ideally take some training in this regard. I am of course assuming that you already possess a fair understanding of automobiles and their mechanics.

It would probably be a good idea to try and get an internship assignment with an auto journalist and learn on the job. Alternatively you could also create your own blog for this subject and start marketing it on social media which would be a great testing ground.

This will in turn get you feedback which will help hone your skills further on this segment. You could then follow this up with contributions to magazine and auto websites to get noticed and then move on with your career! All good wishes on that.

 

I am a copywriter in a leading advertising agency, but enjoy social media. Is there scope for people like me in digital advertising?

Sure! There is scope for everyone in digital advertising provided you have the creative skills, analytical approach and good understanding of audience interests.

Since you are already in copywriting, you are familiar with the planning that goes into creating campaigns and this will certainly help you in digital advertising. All the growth that is happening is focussed on this area and hence the potential is huge.

I would advise you to start looking for a break in a good digital agency, ideally a smaller one to allow you the freedom to multitask and learn on the job. There are several smaller agencies that churn out some great work. Do your research and take the plunge.

Am sure you will do just great!

 

I have been handed over the pink slip last week, and this is only because the company has decided that it doesn’t want the division I am in because it’s “non-core”. I do understand that the company wants to focus and do away with the outdoor division, but since it’s no fault of mine, it should give me more than the standard severance pay of one month. What’s your view, Sir?

Am afraid not. Severance pay or notice issued to you will follow the clauses set at the time of employment unless revised otherwise.

Yes, severance pay does differ and from what I have seen now, companies offer three months’ pay as a token of good measure. While this in itself is low considering how much time it takes to find suitable alternative employment, it is best to accept it and move on with your life.

My personal view on this calls for a more moderate approach where people are given a window of three months to search for alternate employment and at the end of this term given the standard one month’s notice to resign/ leave etc.

This is however not always possible and as I mentioned, it is best to leave respectfully and move on with your life.

 

That reminds me, it is time for me to leave and get on with my day before I severe myself for reporting to work late everyday. But do have a super weekend and enjoy yourselves to the hilt. Be good though. It’s safer. Till we meet again then. Sayonara and God Bless you all!

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also the Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com.For more on his work, visit www.xanadu.co.in The views expressed in this column are his own.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

For the record, India became a Republic on  January 26, 1950 but this isn’t what this column is about. This is about Zen and how essential it is for our country.

Ladies and Gentleman, welcome back to yet another edition of Dear MxM !

Today I shall very briefly explain the concept of ‘Zen and the Art of Television Maintenance’. As you may have figured, this necessitates meditation of the highest order…

Let’s start at the very beginning and this roughly translates to getting a new set of batteries for your TV remote. This is basic ammunition and must be kept in mind when you intend on braving the news. On a more serious note, there are better things to do, and TV news is only one section of the menu you see when you press those buttons.

However, if you still wish to adopt these medieval methods of harakiri, then go ahead and find yourself a decent chair and aim your remote. 

Soon, you will be presented with a huge bouquet of choices ranging from the absurd to the hideous. Mind you, all giving you the news 24/7. 

You will also notice that a lot of these news channels are attempting to be clones of one another with only their montage changing. This my friends, is when you need Zen. 

Breath slow and deep till you arrive at the new kid on the block…

Fiercely independent, hard facts and highly incisive. Don’t you dare get ideas now, I was talking about the National Geographic capsule on the tigers of Iindia… But this isn’t the point here. 

I am honestly very worried now, since I had this Zen and TV all sorted and suddenly I find, I am back to Square 1.

They’re crawling all over my social media timelines now and doing this live on FB thing too. I wonder if they’re soon going to crawl out of my bed linen next. It was bad enough to have 24/7 ranting and now it’s raised to the power of 2 with social media added. 

By the way, what were their stories about?

While I figure that, let me give you a chance to read our weeks complement of Questions from our readers in Patna, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

 

Last week, a friend was told that he needs to quit the organisation because of below par performance. And this is when he wasn’t ever told he had underperformed. The organisation HR said either you quit or you get fired. That’s so unfair. While the friend has now quit, what should one do when you are forced to quit? What happens if you don’t quit?

 

Sorry to hear this but management level staff are really not protected from such decisions since they all sign to a very well worked ‘terms of employment’ document on joining. Most of these agreements are water-tight and allow for anyone’s services to be terminated with a standard notice period or salary in line of notice.

Resigning is a better way to exit than being terminated since all this is recorded in your service record as well as in reference checks by the new employer. Yes, if you don’t quit. then the company will be forced to terminate with reasonable ground which isn’t really tough to prove with clauses and cases that could include anything from performance, to not following office procedure etc.

I am not in a position to comment on this case specifically but my honest advise would be to leave gracefully if the organisation does not need his services any longer. This way, any reference check will also go fine rather than irking them further. This is most likely part of a corporate downsizing operation and he must be among their hit list for this. As you are aware, we are seeing a lot of retrenchment and downsizing happening across media and other industries consequent to the drop in advertising revenues.

 

My organisation has now imposed a new rule that one can’t quit and join a rival organisation. The admin head said this is part of the contract. But if I don’t join an organisation in the same business, as a journalist what do I do. I can’t be running a restaurant now or selling insurance. Are these contracts legally tenable. Also, before you say, I should’ve read the contract before signing, Sir, you know very often you are very keen on a job and can’t really get contracts changed.

 

Am afraid I have to draw your attention to this very point all over again. Competitive protection clauses are tough to overcome and can lead to legal battles.

However, there have been cases where our competent courts have ruled in favour of employees under similar situations. This can be challenged in the courts of law since it really prevents experienced people from moving anywhere rendering them unemployed.

It must however be understood that legal battles call for a lot of patience and money coupled with a competent lawyer on your case. 

I personally am against such clauses introduced by several media companies and think it very draconian and in my opinion a violation of the Constitution of our country.

 

Sir, I work in Patna and I am in marketing and sales. After having worked for nine years here, I find that I can’t bear the heat and am falling sick often. What would you advise: taking up a desk job or move to a hill station or a city where the climate is less cruel.

Yes, a move to a more comfortable city would be the ideal choice for you, lest all this sales experience is not put to use.  The blazing heat is a curse for sales professionals and takes a serious toll on their health and performance.

I suggest you consider looking around for options in cities like Bangalore or even Mumbai where the summer’s are more bearable. The other option would be to have your employer take you off the field for a short while to help you recover and regain your health. This would also see Patna through with its harsh summer.

These are options am sure your employer can work around if your health demands it. It is advisable to speak with your superiors on this and then take a final call on the road ahead. Meanwhile stay cool, think cool and keep yourself well hydrated!

 

That reminds me, it’s time to move on to get my own dose of hydration for the weekend! Till we meet again, this is Jaisurya Das, your neighbourhood Agony Unclewishing you a super weekend. Sayonara and God Bless you all.

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also the Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com. For more on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in The views expressed in this column are his own.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

This week’s compendium of questions I received, included one from Chandigarh, asking if it was ok for news anchors to scream “shut up”to their invited guests. In this case a Pakistani guest on the programme…. 

Ladies and Gentleman, Welcome to Dear MxM and the fall in decorum of our news media! While I have answered this reader’s question as best as I could, I thought it apt to provoke your thought on the subject of our and aggressive news anchoring.

We are probably going to witness a lot of heated discussions on news capsules now with a newer entrant standing by to air, but this is the larger picture.

Does decorum exist any longer or is it not necessary any longer.

Do audiences yearn to witness more of such unparliamentary arrogance or is it just the channels usurping this character? It baffles me honestly and hence this short introduction. Insulting someone you invite on the show is quite unacceptable and yet, taken quite lightly..

Does great news reportage require this? Is this about the genre we are in that necessitates constant titillation? I have far too many questions to ask and would love to hear all your views on this subject.

But for now, it’s sheer disgust from me. Fortunately, India can boast of better journalists who know where to draw their line and as for us, we ought not to lap this up like hungry canines. Protest and teach them how to behave if that’s what is required. Am sorry to sound like a prude but that’s how I feel about good journalism versus juvenile anchoring.

Anyway, it’s probably time to stop ranting and take you to this week’s Questions and Answers from our readers in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Chandigarh.

 

Sir, I was in Delhi last week and found that there are so many newspapers available on the stands. Much more than what we have here in Bengaluru. But are there enough people reading these papers?

Good question indeed! Now, this is for the newspapers owners to answer but in my opinion the situation is pretty much the same in all our metros.Reading per se is on a decline and more so with the younger generations and hence the problem is larger than just a choice of a newspaper. This is where the core of the problem lies and I don’t see this situation improving in the future. The advent of digital and the increased penetration of mobile internet etc is only going to move the young further away from reading physical newspapers or books for that matter.

Coming back to your question, yes Delhi has more dailies and this is essentially because of the seat of power. Industrialists want a powerful voice in the corridors of power and they believe owning media would help them make inroads into the chambers of the powers that be. Now, it’s a different matter that everyone will not be heard or even heeded but that is all relative and hence anyone’s guess.

Media is a powerful tool and it does make sense owning a slice of it, no matter how big or small it may be. Finally its about being seen in the right places and that’s all it takes to build perception for business houses and corporate czars…

 

Sir, I read your response to the sexual harassment question. When I complained to HR about my boss getting too close for comfort, calling me a “babe” and with a “hey sexy”, I was told that this is how it works in creative advertising agencies. A colleague even suggested I show myself to a shrink or come in a burqa. Please advise.

If you ask me, your HR needs dramatic change. In simple terms, they ought to be given the boot if this is the kind of reaction to a sexual harassment complaint. This is indeed appalling and If I were you, I would escalate this to the CEO of your company.

Every complaint must be taken cognisance off. Besides the fact that ignoring it can lead to judicial action and the company may be faced with serious legal repercussions. As for the HR who handles this indifferently, they can be penalised in the same provision of the Act and not taking cognisance is in itself a punishable offence.

I certainly think this needs to be taken up with your CEO and others since they certainly have a problem on hands, if their own HR department reacts in this manner. If you do not wish to escalate this, I suggest you move on and find a more employee-friendly environment to work for.

 

Sir, the other day, I heard an English news channel anchor tell his guest “shut up”. Now he was from Pakistan and was defending his country, but is it okay to lose your cool and say what every one want to? Is decorum in news media dead?

Yes, I did see this and it was quite deplorable on the part of the anchor. to say the least. There is a certain decorum that is to be followed on national TV and more so to an invited guest on the show.

This is typical of the immature arrogance of anchors who often forget where to draw the line in their effort to build TRPs. Little do they realise that such language and demeanour only turns people off and they stand to lose more in the bargain.

It’s certainly not cool or professional to behave such and I completely agree with your concern on this.

 

Cool is certainly what I want now, considering the damn summer were having here in Pune.. So while I search for the eternal coolers of the city, I wish you all a wonderfully hot weekend too!! I know that is being mean, but what the hell, I am allowed some liberty once a while and I don’t have a guest either on this column so… ! Sayonara and God Bless you all. 

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also the Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com. For more on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in. The views expressed in this column are his own. Questions may be sent to editor@mxmindia.com with Dear MxM mentioned in the subject line.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Jog my memory if you can, but I just can’t seem to recall any brand in media that has become a leader showcasing one human being; the one that did it, came with huge monetary muscle that went beyond acceptable marketing budgets and hence…

Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, welcome back to a fresh edition of Dear MxM!!

Now that all I have your attention for a few minutes, let me ask you this one question that is of immediate relevance…

In the media space, do brands make giants of people or do these faces make giant brands ?

The answer to this would probably decide the fate of the famed ArnabGoswami vs Times Television war that is panning out across the country!

I have reason to believe that the first few weeks will hold the key to sustainability and the larger concern for both players would be the diminishing audiences for TV news per se. I for one have stopped watching TV news for long now and am not certain if one man or one channel can get me back with the same vigour that I enjoyed a few years ago.

Time is our biggest nemesis and TV news isn’t spared it’s wrath either and it will need a very elevated level of content and rhetoric to overcome the madness of racing against the clock.

I guess for now, it’s best to sit back and soak in the excitement as these companies and people pull out all stops to gain the winning edge… !

 

Read on for our Q & A for the week with our readers from Mumbai

and Delhi:

 

Sir, am interested in getting into an agency that specialises in photography for the media. Is there a future for these? Please help 

Thanks for writing in to Dear MxM. To be honest, am not sure how many agencies exist in this space purely for photography services. Yes. there are professional photographers who supply their work to advertising agencies etc but they are most often independent people with a few assistants.

As companies go, there are very few large established ones in this space and hence growth and lateral movement may become a constraint for you. You have not specified your specialisation and beret of that my advice would be more generic.

There is a future for all creative work but it’s all about getting the right mentors and ideal opportunities to showcase your talent. My honest advice to you at this stage would be to meet with a few professionals in the photography space and weight your options on the road ahead. All good wishes to you!

 

I know this has been asked before. I have been reading a lot about sexual harassment cases in the media and not much is been done despite all the furore. Why don’t sites like MxM and columnists like you do something about it?

Why are you singling out media? Almost every space sees cases of sexual harassment and both women and men go through situations such. Media probably is more in the news and gets all the exposure and hence the belief that this is rampant in this industry.

This isn’t the reality though and there are numerous cases that come up in other industries including the evergreen IT industry among others.

I have personally written on this subject several times on this website and others as well to draw attention on the concerns.

This very website has covered various views on this subject but the problem lies elsewhere and it’s character-related. If you have a rotten egg in a basket, you will end up with a bad omelette, no matter what spice you use!

People need to be sensitised constantly on treating each other with respect and more so at work!

Time to get real and rein in those hormones collectively!

 

Sir, recently I read about a leading media group restricting employees to be active on the social media especially Twitter. Is it fair?

No, I don’t think it fair to restrict basic social freedom, though yes some amount of restraint may be sensible.

As long as the employees don’t use these mediums to badmouth their companies and/ or their colleagues etc, I see no problem with this.

Most often these restrictions come into force, when people take freedom for granted and start abusing it. Corporate decorum is important and striking a balance is the key to being active on social media and yet not overstepping the line as a corporate citizen.

 

This also means it’s about time I restrain the length of this column and move on to my weekend! Have a lovely weekend my friends and take good care of yourselves. Till we meet again then, its #JD saying Sayonara ! God bless you all.

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also the Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com. For more on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in. The views expressed in this column are his own.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Ladies and Gentleman, Welcome back to this edition of Dear MxM, India’s largest online sounding board for the fraternity…

With mercury rising to a blistering 42 degrees celsius in my city of Pune, the only thing I have on mind is a cold shower and ideally six times a day. And yes, a good glass of beer at the end of work is also a sound objective that I work towards this season. 

Media is seeing its share of heroics, semantics and rhetoric that is typical of the ensuing news war on Indian Television and this promises to be delightful for all of us in the industry. 

So while we take stock of what has happened in the past 24 hours on this subject, you can have a go at this week interesting bouquet of concerns from our readers at Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai. 

 

Sir, A colleague of mine suffers from severe body odour and bad breath. While we have been able to fix the breath by organising a medical check-up thanks to a large toothpaste company, but how do we tell her about her BO. The thing is she very good at her work, and is indispensable to the team, but it’s a struggle to be in the same enclosure as her in the summer.

Ufff! This is tough and so very sensitive but it needs to be tackled in the greater interest of people around. One way would be to have a good friend of your colleague speak to her about it.

This is normally the best way to be diplomatic with such an issue. If that doesn’t work then a few e-mails about this condition and details on how it can tackled is the way to go.

 

Yes, that is the in-your-face method but if you are left with no option, then resort to providing information ! In the interim you could use a good room freshener!

I have recently been offered a job via my campus placement with the outdoor division of a leading advertising agency. I have heard that outdoor is all about hustling and operations, not much of creativity. Though I think, you’ve got to be very creative to catch the eye of a motorist or even a pedestrian. Should I take up the offer or look at opting out and going to a regular creative agency?

Am not too sure which side of the business you are targeting to be able to give you a defined view on this but for now, am assuming it to be creative.

The outdoor business is a different ballgame, though from a creative perspective it’s pretty much as good or bad as any other medium. It does call for innovative thinking especially with clients who are ready to stretch the rupee beyond traditional hoarding flexes.

Hence, it’s important to be at the right outdoor agency and work with good clients with largish budgets that will allow for innovative thinking.

All the best !

 

I know you have answered this question earlier. I was always very influenced by Mr ArnabGoswami and his aggressive brand of journalism. I am 24, and identify with his brand of aggressive news anchoring. But I am worried about how stable the company is since it’s not a traditional media ownership. What do you feel, Sir?

Indeed he is a fine journalist and exceedingly aggressive as you rightly said, but running his own company will be a different ballgame.

I can’t really comment on the stability of his new firm or any new baby on the media horizon for that matter, since it’s all finally how the audience reacts.

I would think, the first few weeks post launch would be the most critical from a content perspective. He will have to have a solid bunch of stories in the first few days to get those eye-balls.  If he misses the initial phase, it’s going to be really tough to gain any loyal readership

However, to answer your question, let me assure you that this firm or any other firm is as good or bad as the other in the current patch that media is going through. Revenues are getting hit by the day and costs spiralling too so all firms are on a tough wicket.

Stability is a thing of the past, and if that is what you seek, I suggest you look outside media !

 

On this note of unstable stability, may I now take leave for you, till we meet again. Take good care of yourselves, be good and enjoy the summer! Sayonara and God Bless!

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also the Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com. For more on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in The views expressed in this column are his own.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

This world doesn’t care for columnists. I am convinced of this now and hence decided to share my grief with all of you, my readers.

Ladies and Gentleman, welcome back to YET ANOTHER meaty edition of Dear MxM! Damn, I don’t even know how many columns I have written so far and my kind Editor doesn’t do the maths either. Tsk Tsk, apparently the maths may lead to some serious depletion of corporate funds or so I am told.

The only hope in hell is the imminent possibility of making it to the Guinness. and with this utopian faith, I hammer on relentlessly at my keyboard. I must confess I often wonder, when the world will realise my contribution to the virtual world, week after week, column after column…

It’s now begun to feel like ‘P.C.Sorcar’s Water of India’ ; Each time you think its all done with, it fills up again. Serious issue this is, considering that the assumption one is making right through this pursuit, is that these columns are actually read by normal human beings.  And if you are one of those, actually reading this, you are doing reasonably well for yourself and have the liberty of time to read banter.

I know we all have this desperate need to amuse ourselves every now and then and in the absence of the comic books of my generation, this can be prove to be fairly tough to put it mildly. But let me tell you, that this serious stuff and is designed to empower you with a plethora of skills.

But for now, all that you need to know is that you are being empowered and amused all at one go, albeit at this colonist’s expense. And yes, in case you have forgotten, the Editor is still doing his maths.

And should you wish to keep yourself empowered and entertained in the meanwhile do read our famed Q & A for the week. For the record all the questions this week are from readers in Mumbai and Kolkata. 

It’s seething hot there apparently…

 

Sir, we often have to stay up late in office for work, but this gets tough in April-May every year as my team wants to watch IPL matches. I raised this with the CEO and the HR department and asked them if we can put a big TV in the office so that people can watch the matches along with doing some work, and my proposal was shot down. 

Not only that, they’ve even blocked WiFi access to HotStar and some other websites airing it live. While I understand that IPL isn’t work, but why are HR departments so stuck up on things like these. They say we track the score on the internet which also distracts. But how about facilitating a work environment where people don’t have to stay after office? Sorry, a long question. What’s your advice?

Very long question! But, yes, I shall attempt to answer this with a similar manuscript!

Pertinent point you have made on this trend of keeping people late in the office. This seems to have become integral to a lot of industries and more sour fraternity or advertising, media and marketing.

It is considered sacrilege to leave office on time. I am reminded of my own experience with this during my corporate days. I remember having moved to this city and taken over the reins of the advertising department at first. Unfortunately, my work ethics didn’t allow me to sit back or hold back my team beyond what was absolutely necessary. I remember having received a curt call soon after taking over asking me if I was in office. This was at the hour of 8pm and I emphatically said no. I remember the boss asking me If i had forgotten that I was the head of an important department and was expected to be there at work like him and the others, including my predecessor.

Well, I stood my ground and refused to wait back in the absence of work. Time healed this and eventually the boss realised that work was happening and probably even faster than earlier despite me closing office at the hour of 6. This is a cultural issue and unfortunately a lot of people don’t have it in them to be upfront and change these mindsets. Leaders are used to wasting time in unnecessary meetings to deliberate every piece of paper that comes to their table..

I seriously believe this trend is taken head on by the young professionals today and beaten to death. People must work and effectively but not at the expense of personal/ family time. And yes, if you are being kept back inordinately, you ought to be given a chance to watch your match too!

I know this may sound ludicrous but I seriously think this disease must be controlled before the generations to come move in to work with sleeping bags and anti-depressants.

 

Sir, I find my boss is always hesitant in clearing my cash vouchers as if he owns the company. Why should there be such stringent measures for checking if things are legit?

Well, if he does he think he has ownership of costs, he must be a very loyal boss and the company ought to be proud of him. This is a dying trend and protecting and saving your company’s money is far from priority today…

Having said this, it is important to understand that by signing your vouchers without giving it a look could lead your boss to trouble too. Please do not forget that a faulty claim need not be engineered and is often caused by silly human error. It is thus important that this is scrutinised by more than one person to ensure it is appropriate and of course legitimate expense as per your company policy.

I don’t think you should be taking this so personally. If you have a just claim, forget about the process, collect what is due to you and move on. No one is doubting your credibility or honestly. It is a process and it must be respected.End of Story.

 

In my appraisal this year, I was told that I need to brush up my spoken Hindi and Bengali as my company plans to eventually only retain those who are trilingual. But, Sir, i am not a native Bengali speaker and have come to Kolkata from Bihar. I love my job (and my bosses are happy with my work), but I can’t get myself to be reading news or conducting interviews on camera in Bengali. Please advise.

So linguists are in order now. Well, cost-cutting measures call for almost anything now. So have the same team handle all genres and all languages.

At this rate, it won’t be long before you are asked to learn Hebrew and Spanish as well! But then, the company is always right.

Now that roughly translates to “stop cribbing about your company when you are still there”. Leave or just soak in the trend.

The job market is terrible now and hence finding a great job isn’t as easy as it seems. While i do understand that languages aren’t like buying yourself a pack of chips but is there an option?

If you do find another interesting job, move on. Else take the grind, attend language coaching and prove your mettle. It’s a tough world and an even rougher patch with media revenues not at their best, so am afraid I cant give you a more consoling answer.

I do take this opportunity however to wish you the very best ahead.

 

And now, if you will excuse me, I need to go and replenish my stock of beer for the weekend. It’s Vishu and good Keralites like me do justice to all that the state is famous for… So till we meet next time, Sayonara and God Bless. 

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also the Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com. For more on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in The views expressed in this column are his own.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Exciting time for Media Watchers and Commentators (read: my breed) as the stage is set to witness an epic battle that will unfold on our TV screens and off it.

Ladies and Gentleman, welcome back to Dear MxM, India’s broad shoulder for the media, advertising and marketing fraternity. 

Yes, prepare for a blitzkrieg that will be unleashed for the Arnab vs TOI or Arnab vs the Rest of News Media as he would probably term this! Interestingly, I don’t think this is about one against the other as much as it is about a very interesting case study of a David vs Goliath, as some of the fraternity term it.

However, as my friend in the hot seat said, there is no David’ and Goliath in a market battle. It’s one brand vs the other and who aces it finally. The market offers equal opportunity in terms of an interested audience and this I agree with completely.

What is interesting however is the strategy that will be adopted and this is the whole point of my column today. I notice that the basic ingredient for a successful strategic plan i.e.’paranoia’ missing in all the rhetoric that ArnabGoswamihas been taking around forums.

#Paranoia is essential for a great combat plan and even the toughest of Generals in War approach the war-room with an inherent paranoia on when the rug will be pulled right under their feet.

I love Arnab for his in-your-face approach and for his imminent love for his craft; both these are extremely significant characteristics for winners, yet this may fall short of a home run, if there isn’t paranoia.

On the other hand, I see closely guarded statements from MK Anand (MD, Times Television Network) on this scenario unfolding. He is am sure, working stealthily on their combat plan and annihilation roadmap, yet he isn’t over-confident;  And If I know him right he would be approaching this with the same integral ingredient, paranoia!

It’s exceedingly simple for the fraternity and others to term this a war between David and Goliath and so on, but I can tell you that this isn’t going to be as simple as it seems. Out in the market, its equally tough for both.

Yes, there will be noise and more noise and money being thrown into the ring several times over. Hopefully, it won’t end up being a battle of one button vs the other on your remote?

Time will tell, but do remember, paranoia is essential for success. And yes, paranoia isn’t an anxiety disorder here.

It is just the 5th ‘P’ in the marketing mix.  ‘P’ for #paranoia !

 

Sir, I have just learnt that the owners and my bosses have decided that our agency office will shut shop and merged with a bigger office. And that means that I may be out of a job or will have to relocate a big city which will take away all my savings. Thankfully nothing will happen for another six months. What should I do… relocate or look for another job in my small town? (sorry, I don’t want to reveal my location as it will be a giveaway).

And hence, you are sitting there and ruminating about stuff that may not happen at all! Rumination is often the cause of much dissonance, anxiety and even depression.

Stop overthinking my friend. As of now, nothing has happened and you are not out of your job.. Moreover if you have the right skills, what is there to work about. If not one, another employer will give you the right opportunity..

But if you don’t have the craft, then you ought to seriously ruminate on your next steps. For now, I am assuming you do.

All the best, friend !

 

Sir, you wrote about Hindustan Times coming to Pune, but the paper just closed a few editions. Is it safe to look for a job there, or would you say that no employer is a 100% safe these days?

Absolutely! You got that right. No employer is safe and it would be exceedingly foolhardy to expect any job security in an era that is struggling to decipher what the world has in store…

HT Pune is as safe as keeping your hand in close proximity of an induction cooker top. If its on, your in serious trouble, and if its not you may just get no traction at all!

But this is the world of media and nothing can change it. The unpredictability is it’s essence and for those who want to swim along, this will remain a river rafting ride that is never ending.

So stop overthinking and move on, be it Pune, or anywhere else.

 

I am a BMM student in Mumbai. While my college schedule is hectic, I have some time available to get into either a computer course or learn a foreign language. I don’t know what to do. Please advise.

Hi, and thanks for writing in. To be honest, I wouldn’t know the difference either of them will make ! These extra highlights are good for your CV but rarely help build on your core competencies.

I would much rather suggest a course on digital marketing and subjects that are more aligned with the current market scenario. More importantly online and digital is going to be the main source of learning and consumption in the next decade so it will be worth your while..

 

The other option is to do French, German or Mandarin for that matter and pray that there is a good enough career opportunity that comes with it.

Either way, you have my good wishes my friend.

 

On that note of hope, it is time to carry on with my knitting and leave all of you to prepare for your weekend…Do take good care of yourselves and stay hydrated for this horrid summer that is draining our electrolytes by the minute. Keep the mails coming in ateditor@mxmindia.com. Till we meet again then, Sayonara and God Bless.

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also Contributing Editor of MxMIndia and Co-Founder of pune365.com. For more on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in. The views expressed in this column are his own.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Correct me If I am wrong, but I have a strong feeling that the era of the media sales professional is dead.Ladies and Gentleman, welcome back to your favourite weekly ‘in the face’ column for the media, advertising and marketing fraternity.

Now if you will excuse my intended digression during this moment of nostalgia. There was a time I remember well when there was such a flurry of sales people in the market that apparently executives from the same group were introduced to each other at agency and client offices.

Today, it’s all virtual I am told.“Sirji, business is all happening, We are fully connected with the market but now the market is down Sir. You know situation”

I reply quite earnestly “ Yes yes, I understand “ Now we are connected, and clients are also liking your FB posts. So business will happen but the market is down.

From cavorting and ever smiling CEOs to selfies enriched with the right political signals, this breed has evolved into a new genre of megalomaniacs. Do these immensely popular ( read FB likes ! ) CEO’s, Managers and the like contribute to surviving the downturn??

Am afraid. I don’t think so. And in this holocaust of ineffectiveness brands like HT prepare themselves for an august entry…

Go with the old bandicoots.

They may seem like ‘deadwood’ and spent, but I can assure you, they are far more acceptable and will work their backsides off to compete against this breed who believe business will fall into their august laps. No more coat or selfie will help.Advertising and revenue generation needs effort and it’s about time media houses realise the folly of hiring a generation that is too full of themselves.

Get your act together. Hire people who can make a difference. They receding hairlines and dignified salt and pepper only add the sex appeal that these kids can’t give your brand..!

 

Back to my knitting.  Presenting our Q & A for the week from readers in Chandigarh, Delhi and Mumbai.

 

Sir, I know there have been several questions on appraisals here. But my agency says that its revenues have dipped post-demonetisations and we can therefore not get any appraisals this year. But how come the bigwigs are going to Cannes for the annual advertising festival? Why splurge? The reason given to me is that if we don’t go to Cannes, we won’t even get the business we are getting. Any logic?

No logic, my friend. As I always say: ‘ Every law has a sister-in-law! ‘

Cannes is today a cult and it’s much like wanting to own a Harley. You may not be able to afford it but you still want it. It is  about being seen at Cannes and being ‘in sync with the times’Being able to afford it is secondary here. It’s about being conspicuous with your absence…!

Why would I cut back on my brand persona? Not being there, would probably imply, we aren’t doing well, so why take the risk. Blow up your reserves and be seen. Appraisals and employee motivation doesn’t stand a chance against the fine art of packaging all that you have, and don’t have !!!

Honestly, not much business happens at any of these conventions and conferences. It’s just about positioning. End of Story.

 

I am in my final year of engineering at a NIT and want to become an ad-film director. When I told this to a few of my batchmates, they screamed that it’s not a good decision as my engineering degree seat could’ve been given to someone who would use the knowledge to good use and not jump careers. I agree that what I have done is not right, but I am not the first to have done this. Sir, please help me feel less guilty!

I must confess I am biased thanks to my own experience with careers and the huge shift I took from the hotel industry to the madness I call media.

Honestly speaking, this is your life and probably the last chance you will get to decide a significant part of it. Think no more.If you know your calling, just get after it like there is no tomorrow. The rest is immaterial. The world doesn’t run your life.

 

Sir, I find a number of courses available in mass media at the undergraduate level. But is it better to do a BMS or BBA rather than a BMM? (I want to get into marketing of music radio stations)

Essentially graduate level niche courses in media studies, media marketing etc have all been created to give job opportunities to those who wish to start work soon.

Yes, these specialised courses do help you get the right perspective and also ( in good universities ) help you find immediate employment. The rest is really case dependent and can be structured if need be.

I would think it’s better to do bachelors in media studies in order to be equipped for your career ahead.I wish you all success!

 

Ladies and Gentleman, it’ss time for me to say ‘Sayonara and God bless’! We will, however, be back next week, same time, same space…

 

Jaisurya Das, Maverick and Media Evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also the Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com. For more on his work visitwww.xanadu.co.in. The views expressed in this column are his own.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Ladies and Gentleman, welcome back to an all new edition of Dear MxM, India’s premier counselling board for the advertising, media and marketing fraternity!

Yet another landslide victory for PM NarendraModi, now that he has pocketed UP with elan. Not surprising though, considering the wave in favour of Modi and the sheer mass support he gathers on social media.. 

I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of those viral WhatsApp messages are well thought off campaigns disguised as individual posts. Quite recently I saw one from a leading doctor who was narrating his chance meeting with Modi (well before he was in the hot seat ) on an international flight.. 

I haven’t had the good fortune to personally meet this man yet, but there is certainly something that is triggering such positive social response. Is it his oratory skills or the fact that we are seeing much more of the PM and he’s more ‘in the face’ unlike his predecessors ? 

Yes, I have seen changes happen in government departments and the much-needed speed coming in, but is this the only reason for such overwhelming response to everything that is being done?  The critics are still very much around, and yet, I haven’t see anyone scoring so far. 

They are most often steam rolled by the immediacy of support from the world around him. 

Charismatic Yes, Orator ,Yes, Ability to reach out to different wave lengths Yes, ability to call a Spade a Spade, Yes, but so was Indira Gandhi for that matter. Did she garner such positive impact ? I don’t think so.. 

There is an inherent brand strategy (that is almost endogenous) that he manages to weave people with. A strategy that isn’t easy to come by. 

Every word, every action carefully falling into place. Apparent change isn’t enough; The change needs to be known and perceived and this is the difference. This is sure an interesting case study for brands to learn. 

Product attributes must be top of the line, packaging excellent and coupled with this, an inherent strength in the brand to overshadow competition if any. 

It’s probably time this strategy is used to build ‘Brand India’ within our own country ! 

 

Q & A with readers from Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai  

 

My colleagues had organised a Holi function which, as I should’ve expected, got rowdy. While it’s nice of organisations engage employees with parties and bonding evenings, these invariably get to become drinking sessions where many – men and women – can’t hold their drink. My question to you is: how do you ensure that you forget all of the stuff that happened in the party and let it be business as usual with the guy/gal who was acting funny with you?

Do you really have an option? You cant brood for the rest of your life and remain in the same place. Of course this is entirely dependent on the nature of misbehaviour that you had to face during this company party.

If it was nasty or seems like a case of sexual harassment, my advice would be to take this to your HR department and report the same. It is often easy to get away with almost anything in such a situation and hence, there must be a clear line drawn on this. Parties such must be supervised to avoid any nasty altercation of incident that can upset other colleagues attending.

However, if it was all in jest and good spirit, it’s best to ignore it and move on with your work and not waste precious man hours discussing a non-issue.

And yes, the next time, It would be best to avoid attending such gatherings rather than be put through any unruly behaviour if at all.

 

I am a senior head of marketing and sales in my organisation. I wanted to incentivise need-based education and training taken by my team members to make them better at their jobs and hence contribute more to the organisation. But the promoters say this is not the job of the organisation. The bosses aren’t bad but they don’t want to spend too much money. Are there some article or case studies that I can show them so that they change their mind?

Absolutely and it is indeed the need of the hour. Work-based training and regular skill development is an imminent need today and I am indeed very happy to see you taking such initiatives.

I am surprised at this reaction from your superiors who have obviously been disconnected with the world around them. Most companies have very structured programmes both in-house and external and a lot of investment goes in these training initiatives.

The best way would be to have your HR Manager take this up on a more formal note with the superiors since this is very much part of the HR departments role. Organisational Development, Training etc are core KRA’s for any discerning HR professional and am sure they would be ready to have this implemented at a corporate level.

All the best to you !

 

Last week, we saw a lot of tokenism across the media on women’s day. Just so many ads. From a branding point of view, does all of it make a difference?

Well, it all depends on the kind of brand you work with and the basic brand message that exists in the market place. Using levers such as special occasions do certainly help and often draw immediate attention to your brand and brand message.

Tokenism is relative; The proof of the pudding is in eating it and there are several brands that have gained in popularity and recall with their specific occasion campaigns.

However, creativity is the challenge here and not everything works. This is where the brand manager needs careful planning and research along with their advertising agency to arrive at something that is not only arresting but has the ability to stay top of mind, beyond that one date or month.

So to answer your question, yes this does make a difference but only if its well planned and executed, not to forget backed up with a sound brand that delivers its promise to the customer. This remains the most important aspect of any brand success.
So here’s to a successful weekend for all of you. As always, I shall be back with a bouquet of fresh concerns and solutions, next week, same day ! Till then, keep mailing on editor@mxmindia.com and enjoy yourself to the hilt! Sayonara and God Bless ! 

 

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com.For more on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in The views expressed in this column are his own.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Ladies And Gentleman… After much deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that “silence” from my part would be the best tribute to all my wonderfully beautiful women friends.

I was told this entire week is devoted to the #woman and that I am required to be on my best behaviour and so on..

Hence without further adieu I must take you straight onto our reader questions for this week.

And yes, thank you my readers from Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai !!

 

Sir, March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day. Do you think that in the name of gender equality, men in media often get a raw deal?

My friend.. Life is complicated already !! Why are you seeking answers to questions that are so politically incorrect? It is important to understand that, irrespective of what you may think, the woman is always right.  In the context of this universal truth your question is totally irrelevant!

But since you ask, yes, men in media get a raw deal but so do the women. So this raw deal stuff has really got nothing to do with the gender. It’s more company oriented.

And as principal shareholders of media companies would say: Tsk tsk, raw or ripe, it is all so relative.. !

Hence in the interest of global peace, you may like to join in me in wishing all of the female species much happiness and so on.. !

 

Last week, my manager asked me to present travel vouchers which she would sign and then asked me to give her the money. I think it is a corrupt and incorrect practice, but if I report to the HR head, my boss will make life miserable for me. To be fair, she takes us out for lunch with the money, but I think it’s a wrong practice. How do I wriggle myself out of this mess, without upsetting her.

Ha ha, this is one ingenious Boss you have there!! Taking you out on fudged vouchers isn’t acceptable at all…

It’s company money this way or the other but trying to gain brownie points from the team and in the process encouraging fake vouchers is just not done!

May I suggest that you speak to all your colleagues in the team and take a collective decision not to sign any fake vouchers despite what your boss tells you..

And, yes, If it gets nasty, report it to the HR and the CEO. Do not encourage such practices. It’s not going to get you anywhere !

 

I find salaries to analysts and writers in financial research and broking firms much higher than the business media. How can I as a journalist get a job in a broking firm as an analyst or editor?

So it’s all about the money, honey ! To get into broking firms you need to put your best analytical foot ahead and start applying..

However, it’s important to understand that this isn’t journalism or the business of content any longer… If you are fine with analytics and sharing space with the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst ) who will be eventually run your life, it’s all good!

Eventually it all culminates in the eternal question from the Cheshire Cat in Alice and Wonderland…. “ So, Where do you want to go”…

 

Have a smashing week ahead my readers… And yes, all my wonderfully pretty friends .. This is your week !!!! Enjoy it to the hilt !  See you next week, same day, same space !!  Till then, Sayonara and God Bless !

 

Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also the Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com.For more on his work, visit www.xanadu.co.in The views expressed in this column are his own.