There is only one word to describe the response to Das ka Dum by Dr Bhaskar Das: Huuuuge. There are of course many who say that the column was a no-brainer. Those who’ve had a chat with BD are familiar with his repartees and spiritual responses to down-to-earth issues and problems.
To those who’ve come in late, the link to the last column is: https://www.mxmindia.com/2019/09/das-ka-dum-todays-question-to-dr-bhaskar-das-are-you-really-spiritual-or-is-it-a-facade/. And the link to the one before that is in the last column.
The questions will be answered by Dr Bhaskar Das, the former big boss of the Times of India group and Zee Media and Dainik Bhaskar and now Republic TV. For those who’ve known him or have heard him, Dr Das belongs to the rare species of advertising sales professionals who has this unique combination of being a deeply spiritual being and a very persuasive salesperson. His unique turn of phrase can make you chuckle, but almost always sets you pondering. At MxMIndia, we enjoy our conversations with him. And for every googly we bowl at him, he hits back like no one has ever before.
Das ka Dum will feature Monday through Friday, except on our ‘no edition days’. Enjoy Day 3.
With so many people losing jobs in the media, would you say it’s a safe place for people to take up as a career?
VUCA is the new normal. Media is no exception. Stability is the new death trap. And since worry is not a mode of preparation, one needs to upskill oneself continuously to remain ever-ready for pivoting, both horizontally and vertically. Those who love instability, media is the space for them. It’s not for the faint-hearted.
Editor: As we mentioned on Friday, some of the words and phrases our dear and delightful BD uses could go over your head. So, purely in reader interest, we will link such words to the dictionary meaning. Like we’ve done in the case of ‘VUCA’ today. VUCA isn’t of course a tough word… it’s just an acronym for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity.
We launched this feature yesterday, and judging by the number of views it generated, we can say it’s a super-duper hit.
For those who’ve come in late: here’s a link to yesterday’s Das Ka Dum: https://www.mxmindia.com/2019/09/introducing-das-ka-dum-where-dr-bhaskar-das-responds-to-our-questions-like-only-he-can/
The questions will be answered by Dr Bhaskar Das, the former big boss of the Times of India group and Zee Media and Dainik Bhaskar and now Republic TV. For those who’ve known him or have heard him, Dr Das belongs to the rare species of advertising sales professionals who is a true gyaani… and may we add, likes to share his gyaan. His unique turn of phrase can make you chuckle, but is sure to set you pondering. At MxMIndia, we enjoy our conversations with him. And for every googly we bowl at him, he hits back like no one has ever before.
Das ka Dum will feature Monday through Friday, except on our ‘no edition days’. Enjoy Day 2.
Sir, are you really spiritual or is it a façade? After all, a hard-core ‘sale-oo’ like you can’t always be so philosophical in outlook… right?
It’s a very legit query in a world where facade can be attributed to anything. That we are all all spiritual beings is a default reality. In our perception of duality, spiritualism is perceived as a facade. It has no connection with marketing/sales. Absence of customary evidence of one’s spiritualism is no evidence of its absence. But I empathise with the mendacity of such doubts.
Editor: we appreciate that some of the words and phrases our dear and delightful BD uses can go over your head. So, purely in reader interest, we will link such words to the dictionary meaning. Like we’ve done in the case of ‘mendacity’ today. If you still can’t figure what he really means, sorry, we can’t help you. Curse yourself for not having had the opportunity of interacting with him (BD, who else?!)
He is one of the Indian media and entertainment sector’s most respected professionals. We’re talking of Dr Bhaskar Das, the former big boss of the Times of India group and Zee Media and Dainik Bhaskar . For those who’ve known him or have heard him, Dr Das belongs to the rare species of advertising sales professionals who is a true gyaani. His unique turn of phrase can make you chuckle, but is sure to make you ponder. At MxMIndia, we enjoy our conversations with him. And for every googly we bowl at him, he hits back like no one has ever before.
Starting today, BD, as he’s known in the fraternity, will take our questions: one a day. And respond to them, like only he can.
We’re calling it Das ka Dum. And we’re certain you’ll enjoy it.
~~
Our question for today: It’s Ganapati immersion today. If you had an opportunity to ‘immerse’ one thing from the Indian media ecosystem, what would it be?
And his response: Pushing old technique to solve challenges of tomorrow which has arrived. After all ostrich position is beyond see-level.
Within five months of launching R.Bharat, Republic Media Network has set up R.Fluid, an all-new SBU to strengthen its branded programming portfolio.
The Arnab Goswami-owned Republic Media Network announced R.Fluid to create platform-agnostic content-led opportunities for brands. Rachit Tiwary will lead R.Fluid as Business Head. This is in continuation to his role as the Director of Brand Solutions at Republic Media Network. In addition, Priya Raman has been appointed as the Programming Head of this function. She joins this vertical with over two decades of experience in content and production.
Said Group CEO of Republic Media Network, Vikas Khanchandani: “Content-led conversations, discussions, features, activations, and events with a platform/media agnostic approach is required to find effective solutions. I am confident that the Fluid team will strive to make the partners and brands win using Republic as its pivotal asset, considering the large reach and high engagement across platforms,”
Added Dr Bhaskar Das, Group President of Republic Media Network: “The key task is to grab the ever-fleeting attention of today’s hyper-bored consumer and having engagement through content. The birth of Fluid epitomises the market’s need for creation of clutter-bursting ideas that can avoid the quicksand of consumer indifference. The strength of Fluid is its fluidity to adopt and adept at any contextual imperatives of its customers,”
Added Charu Thakur, Chief Executive Producer of Republic Media Network: “Republic is a 100 per cent content-driven company. Fluid is an extension of our brand and we are excited about bringing top-notch content opportunities to our audiences through this new member of our network.”
Ranjan Kapur, WPP India Chairman, former Ogilvy India CEO, a mentor to many young entrerpreneurs and one of the Indian advertising industry’s leading lights, passed away in Mumbai on Saturday, January 27. He died due to a heart attack. He was 75 and survived by his wife and daughter.
Born in Lahore in pre-Partition India in 1942, Kapur had did an MA in English from St Stephen’s College, Delhi in 1964.He joined Citibank, but the lure of the creative business got him to Ogilvy in the ‘60s. He moved to head Ogilvy India in 1994, and he helped catapult the agency to the top. There have been many tributes paid to him on the social media, some of which we have compiled in this report.
Bhaskar Das
Dr Bhaskar Das: An Advertising Man who was also an officer and gentlemanÂ
I vividly recall that afternoon on January 14 at 1.30pm. When the door opened at 281 B Twin Towers at Prabhadevi, two sunny side up faces–Jimi and Ranjan embraced me and my wife at their annual new year brunch. At their artistically designed flat, every corner of the room was abuzz with animated conversations. Ranjan and Jimi always appeared to me as made for each other-attended to each and every guest with warmth and smile. At that moment, I couldn’t visualise that I would meet Ranjan for the last time.
Though I never worked directly with Ranjan, I heard a lot of positive marketlore about his aggression, combativeness in the market and business per se, Â for his agency and the confidence that he enjoyed of the WPP Group supremo. My first encounter with him happened way back in 1996 when he was occupying the corner office of O&M, Bombay. That one meeting revealed the Man –statesmanly demeanour, impeccably courteous, clarity of vision both for his agency business and the Industry , and the foresight about the forces that would impact advertising landscape including digital — a rare skill amongst his contemporary leaders.
Ranjan straddled the Indian advertising and marketing like the Collosusof Rhodes for more than four decades. He motivated, mentored, coached many stalwarts of advertising world of today. Everyone agrees that his human qualities are multifaceted–aggression (when it comes to business), modesty, ability to pun, storytelling, social sector activism, a painter and sculptor (this latent talent found expression during later stage of his life).
Ranjan has touched so many lives and left an indelible impression for ever. The invitees on January 14 could never imagine that destiny had arranged for sumptuous farewell party from him to the industry leaders. What a way to say goodbye, Sir!
Individuals like RanjanKapurare a rare specimen of human beings. They are not made anymore. We shall miss you Sir. Rest well and peacefully.
Dr Bhaskar Das is Executive President, DainikBhaskar Group
Ajay Kakar
Ajay Kakar: End of an era
I believe that the fame and love that a person attracts should not be gauged by the attention he gets during his holding a high office. But thereafter. And what can be a better tribute, than the love a person attracts, when he is no more.
Today, as I walked out of the cremation grounds where the life and journey of RanjanKapur came to an end, I marvelled at the multitude of people who came to bid him adieu. People from all walks of life, all ages and from the world of Advertising and beyond. All those whose life Ranjan touched and enriched.
Ranjan had retired as the MD of Ogilvy, a decade and more, ago. And when a typical person’s corporate life comes to an end, Ranjan was invited and requested to continue to mentor the industry. As Country Head and then Chairman of WPP. And steward to ISMI WPP Institutes. And remained on the board of many companies. Client companies. Clients who loved, respected and valued his wisdom. So much. How many from today’s generation can boast such client respect!
Since yesterday when the sad news of his demise spread, Facebook is flooded with love and rich adjectives that Ranjan so richly deserves.
A boss. A mentor. A guide. A gentleman. The last of Mohicans. A rare all-rounder, unheard of in today’s days. He could speak on any brand, with knowledge and passion. His understanding of business and brands was unparalleled. His sensitivity to creative, too. No surprise then that at Ogilvy he created a “3 legged stool” with Piyush and Rane. They thought and worked like one. A key reason for the agency’s success – with brands and the agency’s flattering financials.
With the passing away, the world of advertising and brands sees the end of an era.
A man with interests and hobbies beyond brands and work. He used to pen portraits in seconds. Loved sculpting and naming his creations. Enjoyed making perfumes.
He lived life king size. Yet remember envying the blood red Merc coupe he bought and drove, as he ended his corporate life.
His birthday wishes coming, every year. Unfailingly. From the days when there was no mobile diary or Fb to remind you.
I was blessed to work for and with him. He held my hand and supported me set up and grow a financial practice for Ogilvy. And then also entrusted me as country head of Ogilvy PR. Had me on the executive committee of the agency.
So having seen him up close, I could go on and on. Each of us has such fond memories and stories that any one or two will do injustice to the man and legend.
Ajay Kakar is CMOAditya Birla Capital
Pratap Bose
Pratap Bose: Ranjan was one of the finest brains on technology
I heard the news on the Ogilvy group… it was a very sad day. Ranjan was my finest boss ever. I owe everything to him. He was my go-to man. And in a sense a godfather. I met him just a month ago. I still remember when I left Ogilvy, he said I was stupid to join another agency and that I should turn an entrepreneur. He even drew a business plan across the table!
He was an Epic Man. A risk-taker, who would think forward in everything. Even at his age, he was one of the finest brains on technology.
I joined Ogilvy in 1993 and got to know him when he came to India in 1994. The interaction was very regular until he retired, but even later, he was always around me.
Sir Martin Sorrell trusted him immensely, and in fact I met the WPP chief through Ranjan a few times. His passing is a great loss for the industry, and for me personally.
Pratap Bose is Chairman and MD, The Social Street
Goodbye #RanjanKapur .. Will never forget your spirit, warmth and constant sense of wonder .. the world will miss you ..
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) 28 January 2018
They say nothing grows under a mighty banyan tree. Ranjan was the rare exception. Many a giant oak flourished in the sunlight of his shadow. My heart breaks for Jimi and Tina. It breaks for all of us who were blessed to have him in our lives. #ranjankapur #legend #fatherfigure
— Bobby Pawar (@FRIEDFOODBRAIN) 28 January 2018
I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry. #ranjankapur
— Bobby Pawar (@FRIEDFOODBRAIN) 28 January 2018
A professional par excellence & a gentleman. You will be missed my friend. #RanjanKapur https://t.co/7vFA7oatO2
— Raj Nayak (@rajcheerfull) 27 January 2018
A very very sad day for Indian advertising. RIP Ranjan Kapur. I am lucky to have worked with him – he was one of the biggest influences on many of us at that time. They don’t make them like him anymore. The biggest chapter of Indian advertising just got concluded.
— Partha Sinha (@parthasinha) 28 January 2018
RIP Ranjan Kapur ( Chairman, WPP INDIA ). How many of us have humility to give prompt feedback on a packaging created by our juniors? pic.twitter.com/i8S0ACVRZM
— Manish Bhatt (@manishscarecrow) 28 January 2018
Saddened to hear about Ranjan Kapur. An architect of the Advertising industry in India. Cherish the moments spent with him and Jimi
— Prasoon Joshi (@prasoonjoshi_) 28 January 2018
a true gent who radiated wisdom shaped WPP and who made me feel welcome from the first time I visited india for work 25 years ago. Indian ad legend Ranjan Kapur passes away | ET BrandEquity https://t.co/DTYdjeJGql
— eric salama (@ericsalama) 28 January 2018
RIP Ranjan Kapur. You were such an inspiration for so many of us in our younger days and I was proud to call you my friend in the later years. You will be sorely missed @WPP @WPPStream @martinsorrell @roshanabbas @Ogilvy pic.twitter.com/jCE0oVYKm6
— Devraj Sanyal (@DevrajSanyal) 27 January 2018
Deeply deeply saddened at the passing on of RANJAN KAPUR: a great advertising professional and an even greater human being. The world is much much poorer with his death.
— SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) 27 January 2018
Ranjan Kapur, RIP. Contributed more to building modern Indian advertising than anyone else.
— Anant Rangaswami (@AnantRangaswami) 27 January 2018
The first edition of IndIAA Awards happened on Tuesday, October 13 evening with leading advertising, media and marketing professionals in attendance. Of the 500 entries received for 17 categories, the final shortlist had 76 nominees with 16 winners. Â The IndIAA Awards were received by the Advertisers along with all the co-creators of the campaign, across Creative and Media Agencies and also included other agency partners from Digital, Events, PR, Activation etc.
Also present were Jury Chairman Harish Manwani, COO Unilever and Non-Executive Chairman, Hindustan Unilever and Jury members – Bhaskar Bhat (Titan), Sangeeta Pendurkar (Kellogg’s India), B. Sriram (State Bank of India), and Sanjeeb Chaudhuri (Standard Chartered Bank).
Said Srinivasan Swamy, President, IAA India Chapter “We attempted IndIAA awards as an experiment; we wanted to create a different way of awarding creativity. At the IAA Conversations preceding the awards, Dr. Subhash Chandra and Shankkar Aiyar, as expected, brought fresh perspective and deep insights around News Neutrality through the engaging session.â€
Pradeep Guha, Chairman, IndIAA Awards Committee said, “The IndIAA Award format ensured that ‘ads for awards only’ didn’t come through and this itself was the differentiator.â€
Earlier in the day, Dr Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel Group and Zee spoke to Shankkar Aiyar, author and journalist, on News Neutrality. The conversation ranged from the basic concept of neutrality; the solution to compulsion of revenue versus competition; regulation of news gathering and vagueness of media ownership in India. Dr. Chandra also mentioned a new technological engine being put into place in Zee, which will track stories right from filing, so that there is control over biases.
Dr Bhaskar Das, Chairman, IAA Conversations said, “Going against the grain, if need be, to deep dive into the most relevant industry topics has been the objective of IAA Conversations. The topic on News Neutrality follows the same trend.â€
Tuesday, October 13, sees the India chapter of the International Advertising Association playing host to two events – one, as part of its regular series IAA Conversations, Essel group and Zee chairman Dr Subhash Chandra will be in conversation with senior journalist V Shankkar Aiyar.  The theme of the discussion is ‘News Neutrality’. This is on between 5.45 and 6.45pm.
At 7pm, the first edition of the IndIAA Awards happen.
Both events will be held at St Regis Hotel in Parel (what was earlier Palladium Hotel and even earlier Hotel Shangri La).
Said Srinivasan Swamy, President, IAA India Chapter: “News Neutrality is a controversial hot button topic. Given Zee’s global footprint and experience in various markets, Subhash Chandra in conversation with Shankkar will bring deep insights to the subject. We have decided to have the IAA Conversation and the IndIAA Awards on the same day, so that the people attending will have the opportunity to engage on two very different topics.â€
Said Dr Bhaskar Das, Chairman, IAA Conversations said, “Most often, the News Neutrality debate is around objectivity and ideology. Now with accelerated online news delivery and wider television reporting, the conflict is even more apparent. This session of IAA Conversations will definitely bring a new perspective to the existing narrative.â€
Pradeep Guha, Chairman, IndIAA Awards Committee said, “Since the advertiser and the agencies that co-created the winning campaign are honoured on the same stage, this award format promises to be different.â€
WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell and Times Now Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami will be engaged in a lively discussion on Monday, August 18 as part of the ‘IAA Conversations’ series of the Indian Chapter of the International Advertising Association. The event will be held at the ITC Grand Central Hotel in Parel, Mumbai from 3.30 pm to 5 pm.
Srinivasan K Swamy
“We find the IAA Conversations offering an excellent opportunity to engage two well-known media professionals in a meaningful dialogue on wide-ranging professional and personal topics. Sir Martin Sorrell, is one of the most important powerful media professionals in the world and our own Arnab Goswami is one of the most popular faces of news television in the country,” said Srinivasan K Swamy, President, IAA India Chapter & Vice President-Development, Asia Pacific.
Bhaskar Das
Dr. Bhaskar Das, Chairperson of the event said, “Both Sir Martin Sorrell and Arnab Goswami are great to listen to. And now when they sit together at the IAA Conversations, we are sure to not just have a lively session but also see some interesting insights coming up. People who follow ‘Frankly Speaking with Arnab’ will see a similar program but in a live format. An open-to-audience Q&A will follow the discussion.”
The International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter will discuss the role of opinion polls and media reports in influencing voters as part of the IAA Conversations series.
Former petroleum minister and senior BJP leader Ram Naik, Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha, Shiv Sena spokesperson Prem Shukla and leading political analyst and veteran journalist Kumar Ketkar will participate in the panel discussion which will be moderated by Anand Rathi, Chairman, Anand Rathi Securities. The topic of the discussion is: Do Opinion Polls and Media Reports Influence Voters?
The panel discussion will take place between 4 and 6pm on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at the Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai
Said Srinivasan Swamy, President IAA India Chapter & Vice President, Development Asia Pacific region of IAA, “Our objective at the IAA India Chapter is to bring about discussions on key issues concerning the advertising, media and allied sectors. This edition of IAA Conversations is an attempt to deliberate on an issue that has generated much discussion in the run-up to the general elections.”
Added Dr Bhaskar Das, Group CEO, Zee Media Corp Limited and Chair of the event: “The role of the media in influencing public opinion cannot be denied and hence this discussion with key stakeholders will bring to the fore issues and concerns on how opinion polls and media reports can influence the masses at election time.”
The tone for the session was already set by the speaker from the earlier session, who was invited to make a keynote address to the audience on Day 2 of FICCI Frames 2014. Having shared with the audience his secrets to being a popular anchor on news television, Arnab Goswami of Times Now became a subject of debate in the next session titled ‘The Big Fight for Primetime’.
The panelists included Ashok Venkataramani, CEO, MCCS India; Dr Bhaskar Das, CEO, ZEE Media; Vishnu Som, Editor & Sr Anchor, NDTV and Jon Sopel, Senior Anchor, BBC Global News who moderated the session.
Sounding put off by the adulation that his friend and former colleague had received at an earlier session, Vishnu Som was critical as he said that what sells in news journalism today is an element of sensationalisation or entertainment. “The job of any news journalist is to provide news, not infotainment or entertainment. I find Arnab’s Goswami’s style of reporting a bit more dramatic or aggressive if you may call it. Personally, what matters for me is providing content that is high on quality. In that sense, the old style of journalism is much better and remains desirable even today.”
Bhaskar Das highlighted how it was essential to have content that was centered around the interest levels of the viewers. Ultimately, he opined, if you manage to provide good content that will result in better viewership which will translate to better revenues for the channel at large. “It is essential that news broadcasters figure out what is the primetime for the viewer and work towards providing content accordingly.”
On a question on the high number of news channels in operation today, Ashok Venkataramani said that there were too many channels existing in the marketplace which was not feasible. “There are too many news channels operating today and beyond the top 3 players, others will continue to face survival challenges. That is possible by having a sound business model with renewed focus on content.” Mr Venkatramani went on to add that the best way to see that people do not chase TRPs is to stop giving them TRPs. He asserted that it was important to build brands that stayed loyal to their core objective and accordingly, give them enough space to grow.
Taking a hard jibe on the regulators, Vishnu Som was quite vocal when he said that one of biggest problems arising out of the ongoing primetime battle is due to a flawed measurement system. “I find the ratings system to be highly flawed as it is based on limited number of meters installed at homes. In fact, an internal study undertaken by us show NDTV as the clear No 1 in primetime but that is not the case with the current measurement system.” Adding further Som said that news channels today were relying only on advertisers for making money and therefore when the numbers were not right it was causing a dent on the revenue making model for channels.
Pointing again to antics followed on rival channel Times Now, Som said that the primetime in India is majorly between 7-11pm and people have realised that all it takes to get numbers is get in people to talk. “Talking is a cheap exercise as there are no costs involved in getting panelists to speak on air for free, but it results in certain channels getting undue favour from advertisers while those offering quality content don’t get the desired returns. All this needs to change.”
Bhaskar Das opined that the challenge for news channels will be to get the youth hooked on to the content especially since many new platforms were evolving that were offering similar content. But the good thing is that digital is still evolving as a medium and there is still about 3-5 years for television to make changes if it had to stay relevant in the future as well, he remarked.
Experiential marketing specialists Eventfaqs is conducting a conference on ‘captive audience marketing’ on February 6 in Mumbai. Called the Brand Experience Bootcamp, the day-long even includes three panel discussions and an equal number of presentations and workshops (*See Disclosure).
The conference strives to enhance the understanding and be a platform for knowledge-sharing in marketing to captive audiences in environments like malls, multiplexes, airports and live events, notes a communique.
Presented by LIVE Viacom 18 and powered by Phoenix Market City, DDB MudraMax is knowledge partner to the conference. Speaking about the platform, and also marketing to captive audiences, Mandeep Malhotra, President, DDB MudraMax, said: “In the absence of formal training institutes for experiential marketing, this ‘bootcamp’ will help to share experiences of expert who consume and work in the experiential marketing space. The speakers bring with them real expertise and I look forward to learn and also share my experience with the delegation. Together, we will grow better!”
Commenting on captive audience marketing and Live Viacom 18’s association with the Brand Experience Bootcamp, Jaideep Singh, Senior Vice President and Business Head – INS, Viacom18, said: “As curators of live experiences, Live Viacom18 presents this opportunity and is delighted to associate with the ‘Brand Experience Bootcamp’.”
Sessions at the ‘bootcamp’, will range from a keynote by veteran mediaperson Dr Bhaskar Das on ‘Dis-engage to Engage’, panel discussions on: ‘Decoding captive Space’; ‘Marketing to youth’ in such environments and a debate on ‘Sales v/s Brand Experience’. There will also be case study presentations on topics including, ‘Brand Experience Design’; ‘Digital integration in Brand Experience’ and ‘International trends in Captive Audience Marketing’.
Some speakers at the conference include G Sharath Chandra, Chief Revenue Officer, Times OOHl Siddharth Roy, COO, Hungama; Rajiv Mehta, MD, Puma- South Asia; Prem Kamath, Executive VP and GM, Channel V; Akshay Mehrotra, CMO, Big Bazar; Ashish Mishra, MD, Interbrand; Nick Hill, Director of Sales, SpaceandPeople – UK; Rajendra Kalkar, Sr. Centre Director, The Phoenix Mills; Deepa Thomas, Head- Corporate Communications, eBay and Varun Duggirala, The Glitch amongst others. More updates at eventfaqs.com/brandexp
The associate sponsor to the event is SpaceandPeople while the creative partner is Skarma. Design destination Kyoorius is community partner.
(*Disclosure: MxMIndia is a media partner of the Brand Experience Bootcamp)
The most welcome aspect of today’s news is the return of the edit page to DNA. The page was done away with a couple of years ago but returns – together with a re-design – in the April 2, 2013 edition of the newspaper.
Rumours suggest that it was the arrival of new CEO Bhaskar Das which brought the edit page back but there is no way of confirming that and it could well be a decision taken by the new editorial dispensation – one of the many which DNA has had in its lifespan of almost eight years. Either way, the prognosis is positive.
The edit page is called ‘dna of thought’ – a clear tip of the hat to the domination of the internet and its language, as is evident in ‘dna of mumbai’ and so on. There are two leaders – as is the trend these days – and two columns. Or, that is, it is too early to tell whether the lead article will be an analysis on current affairs rather than a comment as it is now. Cartoonist Manjul is the lead on the edit page with his ‘Politickle’ comment. A section called ‘net pickings’ presents snapshots of columns and opinions from around the world and there’s the mandatory nod to ‘positive thinking’, usually beloved of newspaper owners who feel or are told by their friends and family that their “products” are too negative.
On the whole, the return to the edit page is an excellent decision. It anchors the newspaper and makes its own viewpoint clear to the reader. In fact, the second edit the welcoming the IPL is a refreshing change from all the usual fake breast-beating that this cricket tournament brings. (Also ironic, as IPL was verboten in DNA for first season because the then part-owner of DNA had started the Indian Cricket League!) As to why DNA stopped the edit page, those interested in history can look back at a discussion at the Mumbai Press Club which was organised by exchange4media when mxmindia.com founder-editor Pradyuman Maheshwari was editor there:
As far as the whole paper is concerned, the design will take some getting used to. Every DNA page always had too many elements in my opinion – a complaint I made even when I worked there – and now that has been compounded by a plethora of fonts. However, I also find Hindustan Times to be a bit cluttered as far as design goes and I have got used to that. DNA is clearly looking to blend with the digital media as well as with up the branding quotient – the DNA name is repeated in various forms through the newspaper. The concept of a large front page photograph is great – if they stick to it.
I rather like the gimmick of having the old style on the front page which then reveals the new look as you turn the page and get a letter from the editor. It says, among other things, “…we have made the new paper more navigable, readable and classier”. The website is also going to be more “responsive” which means all that phone-tablet stuff.
There are few questions for the newspaper. DNA was once the second-read paper in the city of Mumbai by a pretty good margin, until it lost that advantage to Hindustan Times. Will this design help to regain its status or is it just window dressing? The content has not so far changed and unless that improves no design can save you. And how do you re-engage with readers who have moved on from you?
DNA has many challenges ahead. One can only hope for the sake of the industry that it will find a way to fight an effective battle.
I have to confess here at the end that I worked for DNA for some years, soon after it was launched. Most of that, as it happens, on the edit page!
We launched this feature yesterday, and judging by the number of views it generated, we can say it’s a super-duper hit.
He is one of the Indian media and entertainment sector’s most respected professionals. We’re talking of Dr Bhaskar Das, the former big boss of the Times of India group and Zee Media and Dainik Bhaskar . For those who’ve known him or have heard him, Dr Das belongs to the rare species of advertising sales professionals who is a true gyaani. His unique turn of phrase can make you chuckle, but is sure to make you ponder. At MxMIndia, we enjoy our conversations with him. And for every googly we bowl at him, he hits back like no one has ever before.
Within five months of launching R.Bharat, Republic Media Network has set up R.Fluid, an all-new SBU to strengthen its branded programming portfolio.
By Ranjona Banerji