MxMIndia

Tag: Outlook Group

  • Senior mediaperson Mitrajit Bhattacharya has been presenting a weekly digital video show for Outlook Outlook magazine since last month

    Outlook completes a month of Bollywood Talkies by Mitrajit Bhattacharya

    By A Correspondent

     

    Mitrajit Bhattacharya

    In keeping with its growing digital presence, the Outlook group added a new Bollywood interview series with senior mediaperson, columnist and author Mitrajit Bhattacharya. The show airs every Friday at 9pm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube apart from the Outlook website. Currently on to its fifth episode, each show has Bhattacharya conversing with film personalities such as Neeraj Pandey, Kabir Khan, Taapsee Pannu, and Adil Hussain.

     

    Said Shrutika Dewan, Vice President Brand Marketing of the Outlook Group: “Since 25 years now, Öutlook has been synonymous with serious and credible journalism. Through Bollywood Talkies with Outlook, we deep dive into the world’s biggest cinema, their protagonists and behind the scenes”

     

    “Added Bhattacharya: “We are trying to create a show which is all encompassing – mainstream to niche, that covers all kinds of cinema. Of course, we will have A lister actors and directors from the Hindi and regional movie industries. Longform and indepth, this show aims to have freewheeling conversations with the movers and shakers of Indian movies on the highlights of their careers, craft of acting and direction, and their favourites from the world of cinema. There is no show like this on any platform currently, entertaining and archival both at the same time.”

     

     

  • B Srinivasan is the new Vice President, Indranil Roy is General Secretary and Pradeep Gupta has been re-elected Treasurer

    R Rajmohan is President of Assoc of Indian Magazines

    By A Correspondent

     

    R Rajmohan has been elected as the President of Association of Indian Magazines (AIM) at the AGM held in Mumbai. Rajmohan, Chief Marketing Officer ( North) & Head- Special Projects, Malayala Manorama Group, is a veteran in the print media having worked with The Times of India, India Today, Hindustan Times, Outlook, Open Media Network etc and has been a Governing Council member of AIM since its inception. B Srinivasan, Managing Director, Vikatan Group, is the new Vice President.

     

    Indranil Roy, Executive Director & Publisher, Outlook Group has been elected as the General Secretary. Pradeep Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director, CyberMedia, who is a former president of AIM, has been re-elected as Treasurer.

  • In Week #2 of Coffee & Conversations, Rahul Kishore meets Maheshwer Peri, until recently CEO of the Outlook Group and now Chairman and CEO of Careers360

    Coffee & Conversations with Rahul Kishore: Week #2: Maheshwer Peri

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    Maheshwer Peri strikes you as no-nonsense , gritty with a fun side, hard taskmaster kind of guy when you first meet him. He is. But with a smart and funny side. A guy who’s totally on the ball with all that is going on around him whether it be politics, news channels, print or his love: Education. I met him over a cup of coffee and began by asking him:

     

    Do you consider yourself lucky?

    Yes! All my breaks have come because of luck. I was  an investment banker with Hathway Investments and we decided to get into the publishing business and Outlook was born. I became a publisher by chance. Got into education by chance too. Luck has a role if you grab it. Bosses were good to me but they couldn’t have been otherwise also. I am humble, nice to work with, retreat easily if I feel it’s right to do so and not a sycophant at all.

     

    The beliefs that define his ‘Outlook’ in life?

    I am ethical he says. It’s a good business practice these days to survive. Those who say ethics for any other reason are not right. We live in an extremely transparent world where the slightest mistake can be easily highlighted. It can completely result in the collapse of the business.

     

    Punctual.I hate people waiting for me.I always am punctual.

     

    I am not surrounded by ‘yes’ men. If we go for a presentation as a team, it’s difficult to tell who is the leader of the team. Gradually that happens, but I allow any and all to lead if we feel that is the right way forward. People are encouraged to say what is right.

     

    How does he destress?

    With his kids, he says.The younger one especially. Walks often to Sanjay Van from Vasant kunj where he lives. He has chosen a middle class locality deliberately to reside in as he wants his kids to grow up imbibing these very values. He often gets off his car and walks home if the mood takes him. Every two years, he takes off to a healing farm to detox and clear his mind. Also makes his business plans here. Holidays once a year mostly in game parks in India.

     

    If a movie were to be made about his life, who would he want to play him?

    Ayushman Khurana is his answer. Why, I ask. Because he’s normal. He’s human, has no halo. Has a child in him, like I do. Also can act stupid at times. He can also show the fighter and grit in me. His answer floored me…

     

    Dream job?

    Lawyer, he says. You will find him practising law and helping the poor once he retires. Getting a law degree is very much on his mind, he says. Also wants to educate people and harness the fire in their belly. This fire, he says, is wasted in stone-pelting, rebellion and aggression. This needs to be harnessed. The politicians have failed us. We should channelise this into some constructive activity. That would be something I would like to achieve

     

    If Bill Gates walked in with a hundred million, what’s the one big idea that Mahesh would offer to change the world with the money?

    The words demographic dividend excite him. People think building roads is investment, education is social welfare. Actually we need to invest in people. Educate them. Invest in people instead of plants and machinery.

     

    Work pattern that works for him?

    I work six days a week. My phone is always on and I reply almost in under 30 minutes each time, if busy. Sunday is an off day. I have a small team and I work with them closely, he says.

     

    One word that describes him

    Outspoken. Being a typical Arian, this bluntness comes out. He is a no-nonsense guy. No time to waste on unnecessary social graces.

     

    A CEO he admires?

    Azim Premji… a near-instant instant response.

     

    Loves the social side, the philantrophy, his simplicity and his sense of ethics.It is okay to be like him and still make those billions.

     

    What animal do you like?

    Elephant. Elephants are humble, keep to themselves and are not bothered by anyone.

     

  • Employees, Outlook group reach an out-of-court settlement as all dues have reportedly been paid to the satisfaction of all concerned

    People India mag closure case settled amicably

    By A Correspondent

     

    It’s a case of all’s well that ends well.

     

    The Mumbai Labour Court case where Editor Saira Menezes and 16 other employees of People India magazine petitioned the Court against Outlook Publications President Indranil Roy and Editorial Chairman Vinod Mehta asking for settlement of dues by proper procedure in the event of termination has now been amicably settled out of court. As has been reported by MxMIndia earlier, the Labour Court had stayed the Outlook magazine group’s decision to terminate the employment of People India staffers without proper procedures.

     

    The Case was supposed to have come up for hearing today (Tuesday, August 6). All dues have reportedly been settled to the satisfaction of all concerned.

     

    Late last month, the Outlook group had announced closure of the licensed Indian editions of People, Marie Claire and Geo magazines. The closure was with immediate effect and July 31 was to be the last day of work for the staffers of the three magazines. While the exact number of staffers is not known, it is learnt that some non-editorial department employees too were asked to leave.

     

    Meanwhile, according to posts by Neena Haridas, editor of the now-shut Marie Claire India, efforts are on to revive the Indian edition with another publishing partner or by Marie Claire directly. Time Inc, a division of media conglomerate Time Warner, is also said to be seeking an Indian partner.

     

  • Free Press Journal has tied up editorially with Outlook group and will carry select stories from the Outlook Business and Outlook Money magazines on the business pages of the daily

    Free Press inks editorial tie-up with Outlook group

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Free Press Journal newspaper and the Outlook group have announced a collaboration under which the newspaper will carry select stories from the magazines Outlook Business and Outlook Money on the business pages of the daily.

     

    The collaboration will help the FPJ, as the newspaper is popularly called, expand its coverage, particularly in the BFSI sector, and as also help the Outlook magazines reach out to a wider target audience in Mumbai.

     

    The tie-up was effected last week as the Outlook magazine stories began appearing effective Friday, January 11

     

    Indranil Roy

    Said Indranil Roy, President of the Outlook group, “We have collaborated with the Free Press Journal newspaper to ensure that our content reaches out to a wider targeted readership base in Mumbai. The unique co-operation drives value by enlarging the target audience of Outlook Business and Outlook Money, taking our content and perspective right on to pages of a daily newspaper. In essence, the newspaper readers will now have the benefit of our perspective sitting next to the FPJ stories of the day on key sectors like banking and finance.”

     

     

    Abhishek Karnani

    Said Abhishek Karnani, Director of the Fress Press Journal: “The collaboration with the Outlook group is yet another step in our journey to expand coverage, lend new perspective and offer more value to our growing base of readers in Mumbai. Select stories from Outlook Business and Outlook Money will help us add to our growing coverage on the business pages of the newspaper. We will continue to invest in the newspaper as we build on our offerings to meet the changing aspirations of our readers in these times.”

     

  • The evening also witnessed two special awards being given to late Pradeep Vijaykar and eminent journalist Madhu Shetye for their outstanding contribution to the domain

    Press Club Bombay honour bigger than Padma Shri: Vinod Mehta

    By A Correspondent

     

    Acknowledging to the audience that his heart still favoured Mumbai over Delhi and it was Mumbai that saw him at his pioneering best, Vinod Mehta, now advisor to the Outlook Group, was a picture of pride and fulfilment as he received the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on him by the Press Club of Mumbai on May 4.

     

    Receiving the award from Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Communications & IT, Mehta thanked the members of the fourth estate and said that this award means more to him than even the Padma Shri. Mr Mehta was felicitated for his selfless contribution of more than 35 years to his passion – journalism. Mr Mehta joined a host of winners from the fourth estate that were honoured by the Press Club for outstanding contribution to the trade.

     

    The evening also witnessed two special awards being given to late Pradeep Vijaykar (formerly with Times of India) and eminent journalist Madhu Shetye for their outstanding contribution to the domain. Gurbir Singh, President of Press Club of Mumbai delivered the keynote address while veteran sports journalist Ayaz Memon was the emcee for the evening.

     

    Prior to the awards ceremony, the evening witnessed a scintillating panel discussion on the role that media was portraying in the country and whether it was headed in the right direction. The panellists included Arnab Goswami of Times Now, who moderated the session, Vinod Mehta of Outlook Group, Kumar Ketkar of Divya Marathi and Uday Shankar of Star India.

     

    Mr Goswami began by stating that there is no shortage of attention being showered on media but expressed concern when he said that never has the media done so wrong. “The question that all journalists and editors need to ask ourselves is, are we doing everything right today? Is the chase for news headed in the right direction?”

     

    Replying to his question, Mr Mehta said: “There is no problem with the direction, what is essential is for us to judge the media in the environment it works in. The judiciary and press media still function with a degree of idealism and integrity but there is so much of self-congratulation that is happening; that is something that is slightly out of proportion.”

     

    Expressing his views on the issue of responsibility, Mr Mehta said: “Where the young journos are concerned, I feel they have a good sense of idealism and integrity but if there is somebody who has to take the blame for the current state of affairs, it is the editor. Even if somebody from the team has committed an error, the editor has to take ownership of that and find a solution to it. The problem is that the editors have forgotten what their job is and are pursuing their own agenda. The need of the hour is self-examination; we need to introspect and be accountable for our actions.”

     

    Replying to Mr Goswami’s query on whether there was unity between members of the fourth estate and the role that editors essayed, Kumar Ketkar said: “It is the editors who stop news from being published and not the management as many think. The editors try and control their reporters and that should not be the case.” Mr Ketkar cited the example of the slain BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, who was shot by his brother a few years ago. “When his brother was arrested for his murder, he had written a letter from the jail explaining his stance and he wished to supply the letter to all in the media. I was told that most editors had agreed to play up the letter in their publication and so I went ahead and planned a big editorial spread for the news. But the next day, I was surprised to see that only my paper had carried the news. This shows the lack of unity existing between the media players today.” According to him, “The media today is not clear on the role that it has to essay. They are not mature enough and lack understanding skills. Journalists themselves are timid and lack courage.”

     

    Uday Shankar, CEO of StarIndia went on to describe how television as a medium emerged in a big way first during the 90s and then again during 2008-09. “A lot is being said about how news television has been crowded space but I feel it managed to rediscover its own agenda during 2008-09. I cannot understand when some people say media doesn’t do self-introspection. If that is what is claimed, then how come they’ve come to rediscover themselves? Personally, I feel media has done the right thing by chasing news. If there are people who still have questions about the role of news channels, then I cannot understand whether media should be responsible for what it does or whether it should concentrate on doing the right thing?”

     

    The panel went on to discuss how urban centres led by metropolitan cities were receiving maximum attention from the media and how stories from the rural and less important towns were being ignored in a large way. The need of the hour, the panel highlighted, was to bring out stories from these small cities and towns which were inspirational in nature.

     

    Winnerspeak:

    Ashish Khetan, Editor – Investigations, Tehelka

    “I bagged the top award for my story on the national rural health mission scam that was unfolding in UP. The story was not about the bonds between the corporation and ministers but how corruption was actually killing people. The funds which were allocated for improving healthcare for the needy and rural people were being siphoned off and embezzled by the whole gravy train of bureaucrats, including politicians. Unfortunately the story did not get much play in the national media because it was centered around the poor but I feel the story was more important than 2G, CWG or other scams that were covered by the media.”

     

    Abhijit Sathe, Sr Asst Editor, Mumbai Mirror

    “I won the runners-up award for Crime (Pradeep Shinde award) for my story Hiranandani vs Hiranandani. The award means a lot to me. The story was a big one that chronicled infighting between families of one of the biggest names in business today. I exposed how two siblings were sabotaging each other’s interests. I am greatful that I was selected for, and eventually won the award.”

     

    Rafique Baghdadi, Business India

    “More than react to the win, I would like to say this: more than 62 years ago, a lady called Ms Panna Shah, had done a PhD in Indian Cinema and since then there is nobody who has done that course in the industry as yet. It’s high time the business houses, film industry and the state government should give grants and scholarship to aspiring candidates to pursue that course.”

     

  • The new year will see a merger of Outlook Profit with Outlook Business to become one magazine.

    Outlook to merge Profit, Business titles

    By Akash Raha

    Outlook Profit is soon to merge with Outlook Business and become one magazine. The merger is planned for January 2012, and has been confirmed by Indranil Roy, President, Outlook Group.

     

    Mr Roy told MXM India, “We realized that it is difficult to sustain a standalone equity magazine in such volatile stock markets. At the same time we saw a great opportunity to add more of finance, markets and investing in a business magazine. Therefore after a lot of deliberation we decided to merge Outlook Profit with Outlook Business.”

     

    He further said that the group would aim to put the readers’ choice first in the building of the magazine. When asked what this merger will mean to Outlook Business, he said, “Outlook Business will become a more holistic business magazine. We are currently working on adding other new elements into the magazine.”