Branding Strategies for Newspapers

MICA has designed a three-day workshop to address editorial and marketing challenges and branding strategies for newspapers. Dr. Pradeep Krishnatray, Dean-Research, MICA, has mailed me the following details:

Riding the Wave

Branding Strategies for Newspapers

February 3 ‐ 5, 2011, MICA Campus, Ahmedabad

During the last decade, unlike several developed countries, the newspaper industry in India has shown intense competition; not only have new newspapers been launched but also newspapers published from one city or state have launched new editions in different cities and states. Several traditional newspaper bastions have been successfully breached.

Today, newspaper industry in India is being described as the “Sunrise Industry” as against the “Sunset Industry” in the rest of the world. It is predicted that in the next decade the print industry in India will grow at a rate of 5 percent. Top dailies across the country have seen growth in readership in the recent round of IRS. Publishers are now looking for strengthening their brands and for new opportunities to ride this wave.

• ·         What do you do as the next best newspaper?
• ·         How do you retain your leadership in the market?
• ·         How do you make your mark as a newspaper brand?
• ·         Can you create a niche brand against competitive pressure?

MICA has designed a 3-day workshop to address editorial and marketing challenges and branding strategies for newspapers.

Programme Objectives

• ·         Understand winning strategies: Case studies of newspapers from Indian and foreign markets
• ·         Branding newspapers in dual audience market
• ·         Understanding profile of readers-consumers
• ·         Design content and activation strategies appropriate for readers-consumers
• ·         Analyze competition strengths and weaknesses, trends in newspaper market
• ·         Workshop to reflect on live problems based on issues related to participants’ market place
• ·         Learning Outcomes
• ·         At the end of the workshop, newspaper managers and editors would be able to
• ·         Analyze competition and audiences and use insights obtained from it
• ·         Make editorial and marketing decisions from branding perspective
• ·         Design newspapers from audience perspective

 Speakers:

• Mr. Ajay Umat, Group Editor, Divya Bhaskar
• Mr. Amit Sheth, Design Consultant and Visiting Faculty, NID
• Dr. Anita Basalingappa, Chairperson, Marketing Area, MICA
• Prof. Ashok Ranchhod, Director, MICA
• Ms. Indrani Sen, Media & Marketing Consultant, Adjunct Faculty, MICA
• Mr. I. Venkat, Director, Eenadu Group
• Mr. Jwalant Swaroop, Director, Advertising & Business Development, Lokmat Media Ltd.
• Dr. Pradeep Krishnatray, Dean-Research, MICA

 Programme dates

3 – 5 February, 2011

Venue

Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA)

Programme Fees

` 18,000/-

Communications Faculty

`10,000/-MICAMICA

Management Development Programme Office

MICA, Shela, Ahmedabad-380058, Gujarat, INDIA

Tel: +91-2717-308250, 247946 to 51

Fax: +91-2717-308349

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Refereed Indian Communication Research Journal Launched

Communication teachers, students and researchers in India now have an Indian refereed research journal. 
The Media Mimansa, the critique magazine of the Bhpal-based Makhanlal Chaturvedi Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalaya, has become the peer-reviewed research journal beginning with its Volume IV, No. 1, July-September, 2010.

Those associated with me will recall that I have been discussing the need for launching such a journal for the past five-six years. 

Everybody agreed, but who would take the lead? I even used to suggest that we could have an online journal, to begin with. During one informal meeting of media school heads, they asked me to take the initiative promising that they would support me in the endeavour. 

I did take some steps, but let me confess: it was not an easy task, and I failed to move further. Soon, I retired as HoD and did not have any base to continue with the initiative.

I persisted and kept mentioning the proposal through this blog. I was delighted when peers in two communication schools ventured to bring out their annuals as journals.  I expressed my happiness in so many words through the posts of this blog. In due course I realised, however, that it was not a smooth ride for the heads of the schools of the two institutes as they failed to bring out their next issues on time.

When Prof B K Kuthiala took over as Vice Chancellor of the Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, I congratulated him; and ventured to suggest that his university should launch refereed journal, in English and Hindi. In less than 20 minutes, I received his mail saying that a meeting of the University faculty had taken a decision to that effect earlier the same day.

The editorial signed by Prof Kuthiala in the latest issue promises us that the Media Mimansa would accept research papers both in English and Hindi. The papers will be published in both the languages to create a link between those working in English with those who read and write in Hindi.

The current issue is almost like a text book in Communication Research. It focuses on what, how and why of communication. More important, it has an Indian context in some, if not all, chapters covered in the issue. The issue provides us discussion on some finer points which are not easily available in Indian books on Communication research.

The Media Mimansa would send every research paper to at least two experts who would decide if it is worth published in the journal. The author would receive back the paper for modification if these referees make suggestions to that effect. If the author does not agree with the suggestion, the editor will send the paper to a third expert, as is the standard procedure followed by reputed journals all over the word.

I do hope that this journal will fulfil the need felt by young researchers, particularly the teachers in communication and journalism colleges and post-graduate departments. It is important for them not only in their academic pursuits but also for career advancement because the UGC has made it mandatory that only those research papers published in referred journals would be considered for appointments and promotions.

The Makhanlal Chaturvedi Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalay has done its job and has given us a research journal. It is up to the researchers to provide quality research papers that meet the international norms, and also subscribe to Media Mimansa so that the activity is sustained, and future researchers have references available in Indian context.

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Media Mimansa

Volume 4, No. 1

July-September 20101

Editor: Prof B K Kuthiala

Vice Chancellor

Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication

Language Editors: Prof C K Sardana (English), Mr Raghvendra Singh (Hindi)

Subscription: Single Copy: Rs. 100.00 Annual 350.00
Institutional Membership: Rs. 1000.00 (Annual)

Students and research scholars: Single copy: Rs. 75.00, Annual: Rs. 200.00

Mode of payment: Crossed draft in favour of Registrar, MCRPVV, Bhopal

Address: Registrar, Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, B-38, Vikas Bhavan, M.P. Nagar Zone I, Bhopal 462011

For inquiries: 0755 2554910, Mobile: 098935564 

mail: mediamimansa.mcu@gmail.com

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