MxMIndia

Tag: MediaAsides

  • Any characters in Thakraney's book resembling people in advertising and journalism, we asked someone in the know. "Yes," we were told. "Especially in the media. He has not even tried to conceal the resemblance too much."

    MediaAsides: Times mulls realty channel, Anil Thakraney’s crime novel characters resemble media folk…

    By Mediaahwallah

     

    And on a day when Pratap Bose has announced his new agency, we are back dearies.  With some goss, some asides and some gupshup.

     

    Times Network to launch real estate channel

    We aren’t sure whether this it’s going to be very high on the ratings roster, but our sources in Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, DN Road and Kamla Mills Compound tell us that it’s going to happen soon.

     

    The spreadsheets have been approved, the sanctions have been got and if all goes as per plan, Times Network will launch a full-fledged channel on the real estate sector.

    If our memory serves us right, in the mid-1990s, NEPC had come up with an exclusive real estate channel. It didn’t last too long.

    But in the case of Times of India group, the real estate sector depends a great deal on the print avatar, so this could well work.

    We will wait and watch.

     

    Lalit Modi takes on Vineet Jain

     

    Lalit Modi
    Vineet Jain

    If you don’t follow Lalit Modi on Twitter, do so now (the handle is @lalitkmodi).

    Obviously reacting to the aggressive coverage on him on Times Now, Modi is now taking the battle to the Times camp, and he has been taking on Bennet, Coleman (the Times of India and Times Now parent company) managing director Vineet Jain in his tweets.

    None of Modi’s attempts to embarrass Jain have been successful so far, as other than tweeting several times all of the weekend, there has been no dramatic claim or expose. Until the time of writing at least.

     

     

    Anil Thakraney’s crime novel has characters having close resemblances with media folk

    Anil Thakraney

    MxMIndia regulars and folks in the ad and media business are familiar with Anil Thakraney’s writings.  Thakraney’s first book – a crime thriller — is due to be released on July 22 and is titled ‘An Invitation to Death’. The story is about a serial killer and is set in contemporary India.  According to info available on Thakraney’s website (anilthakraney.com), the protagonist is Darius Irani, a hyper-intelligent young man who goes on a murderous spree, targeting young, beautiful, urban women, who fall prey to his easy charm, sense of humour and innate madness.

    Any characters in the book resembling people in advertising and journalism, we asked someone in the know. “Yes,” we were told. “Especially in the media.  He has not even tried to conceal the resemblance too much.”

    Aha! One book we are going to pre-book for sure. And since deliveries will happen a month from today, we’ve requested for the first chapter which is available for free.

     

    Can’t wait to play the guessing game!

     

  • The text of the letter sent to employees intimating them of the termination of an errant CEO

    MediaAsides: How a leading media group sacked its boozard CEO for misbehaviour

    There’s been much relief in the newsrooms as the CEO of a leading media organization got the marching orders from his bosses last Friday.

     

    Earlier in the day, the CEO’s boss (the Group CEO) sent a mail to employees:

     

    “Dear All

    We in  holding company  came to know last evening of an incidence where ?CEO name? had not acted in the best interest of the company. While not being present in office throughout the day, he, in inebriated state, took some irrational decisions and humiliated key management team members on phone.

    These key members, due to his repeated such behaviour, have lost faith in his abilities to lead ?Leading brand Name? team.

    We as corporate do not tolerate such behaviour from any team member. We expect that all of our team should always show respect towards each other and work in interest of the company.

    Thus taking exceptional notice of this incidence, ?Leading brand Name? board has decided to terminate services of ?CEO name? with immediate effect.

    We have persuaded ?Trusted lieutenant? to stay back with us and take charge. He and xyz will make sure that moral of all you team members is boosted again and we continue to perform and make our mark in Mumbai.

    ABC and DEF: I will ask you to make sure that our edit and advertising team members remain motivated.

    We have full confidence that all of you will continue to work and achieve targets set out by management in an amicable manner with full coordination.

    For any assistance and support we have asked our representatives GHI and JKL to be present with you all.

    All the best.

    ABC DEF

    CEO, GHI XYZ Limited”

     

    So why aren’t we naming names? Although we have received the mail from three different sources, since it’s not been validated by the sender or his/her organization as well the CEO in question, we have dropped the individual’s names as well as that of the organization. However, it’s not too tough to figure who’s who and one doesn’t have to look too far for hints on who the CEO is (note: the boozard in the headline is our usage, but the implication is in the mail).

     

    There is reportedly much relief in not just the offices of this media organization plus but also for those who quit thanks to the man who won few hearts. We have a few questions:

     

    1. If there were complaints in the past which pointed to the the CEO in often in a drunken state, why was he allowed to continue?

    2. While the holding company should be commended for allowing a free run to the team, shouldn’t the bosses have their ears to the ground and know who’s working and who’s not? (or shall we say, Kaan-put in a Gupt way)

    3. For instance did you know that the axed CEO wouldn’t come to work twice days in a week? So only three days of work in a week!

    4. Will you now continue to persist with the regressive paid content policy that the axed CEO introduced and championed?

    5. Does the organization have a policy on alcohol consumption? Not just in office, but can an employee be consuming alcohol while on duty or at work?

     

    We understand that attempts are being made to reopen papers and look at some of the business decisions taken by the former boss.

    Until then the new dispensation is getting its act together.

    It’s a question of morals and morale. Jaago!

     

    Some movements in trade media too…

    There has been some action on the other side of the fence – in the trade media too. Anant Rangaswami, senior editor at FirstPost will now hold additional charge as editor of Storyboard, the popular A&M show on CNBC TV18. The change happened due to the moving on of Anuradha SenGupta who did a brilliant job as editor and anchor for 12-odd years!

    Elsewhere, exchange4media group’s executive editor Noor Fathima Warsia is also said to have quit after a long and successful innings with the group. No clues on her next port of call. Ditto with Anuradha SenGupta. When asked on Twitter by digital marketer on when one would know of her next destination, she replied: “As soon as I decide…the journey’s good right now :)”

    Hmmmm.