Kerala PRCI unit hoists YCC flag

PRCI Kerala unit has launched it YCC (Young Communicators' Club) recently.  Dr Kalyani Vallath, who is a well known practitioner of Good English is chosen to lead the Chapter.

Prof.( Dr ). A  Ramachandran, Vice Chancellor of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies Launching the Kerala Chapter of YCC. Dr Tessy Antony, Head Dept. of Literature, St Theresas College, YCC Director Dr Kalyani Vallath, PRCI Kerala Chapter Chairman T Vinay Kumar, Secretary and P K Natesh Treasurer are also  seen.

Lines between journalism and PR are blurring, says media veteran in IANS interview

IANS spoke to veteran media professional B.N. Kumar, National President of the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) and Executive Director of Concept PR, who recently completed 40 years in media-first as a journalist and then a PR practitioner-to focus on the rapidly changing communication trends.
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Q: What about the relationship between journalists and PR professionals? Is

it still love-hate?

Online Media Clips Collage

A: I don't see anything wrong in journalists looking for information from PR people. It is the PR professionals' job to facilitate the flow of information. And it is for the journalist to check and cross-check whether the information given by PR is right or wrong or a plant-serving a vested interest.

This is where, sometimes, I feel that the lines between PR and journalism get blurred when some media friends play into the hands of unscrupulous story-planters.

Q: Need a little elaboration on this....

A: In these days of cutthroat competition and race for TRPs, journalists are under constant pressure to score with Breaking News. PR professionals often complain that they do not get enough time to respond to media queries and, as a result, one-sided stories often creep in. Also, it is not easy to get negative stories killed. If you try to suppress it in one publication, it will find its way into another media.
The link to the story:

http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/lines-between-journalism-and-pr-are-blurring-says-media-veteran-116071400220_1.html

Powai traffic island named after slain journo J dey

Secretary, Mumbai Press Club

A little over 5 year ago, on 11 June 2011, senior crime reporter and a fearless investigator, Jyotirmoy Dey, was gunned down amidst a hail of bullets in Hiranandani Gardens, Powai. Everyone knew him as J Dey. A man of few words, he was liked by all. 

As Mid-day’s Editor-Investigations, he was snatched away cruelly at the prime of his career.

J Dey’s killing united us all and the Mumbai Press Club led a campaign to get justice for Dey. The morchas and outpouring put the then Pritviraj Chavan government on the back foot, and the police scrambled to arrest suspects and find motives for the murder. A dubious police officer who had tried to hide the trail was suspended, some sharp-shooters who executed the assassination were caught; and the police tried to create red herring trail by planting stories against J Dey to divert attention from the main trail.

The Mumbai Press Club fought long and hard to have the case transferred to the C.B.I. and went up to the Supreme Court. But to no avail. The Mumbai Police wouldn’t let go. They named gangster Chota Rajan as the man who coordinated the killing, and blamed and arrested journalist Jigna Vohra as the main culprit who had ‘instigated’ Chota Rajan on account of ‘professional rivalry’. Ultimately, Jigna Vohra, arrested under the dreaded MCOC Act, was released on bail for lack of evidence 8-9 months later; and the investigation did not go beyond Chota Rajan.

Ironically, the gangster was arrested a little over a year ago, and all cases where he was involved have now been transferred to the C.B.I. – something we had demanded 5 years ago. Nailing down crucial details of J Dey’s killing – who was behind the trigger and what was the motive – is still wide open.

Unfortunately, we have short memories, and for most of us J Dey is dead and buried. However, the Mumbai Press Club continued its ‘Justice for J Dey’ campaign. To mark his contribution to journalism and to his brand of fearless crime reporting, the Club has been successful in convincing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to name the Powai Garden’s D-Mart Chowk as ‘J Dey Chowk’.

At a solemn ceremony, the plaque for the ‘J Dey Chowk’ – just across the road from where he was gunned down – was unveiled by Mumbai Mayor Snehal Ambekar, on today.

The inauguration of the J Dey Chowk is a very important event for us journalists. It not only is a mark to the memory of the fighter J Dey; it is also a reminder that the case is not closed and the investigation and perhaps arrest of some of the main killers is still on the agenda.

The chowk is also a remembrance for nearly a dozen journalists who have died in the line of duty in recent months in what is seen as amongst the worst periods of media freedom for this country.

Mint movements - Ira back to TV

Media Update @ One Source

A compiled update here  Rejig in Mint Mumbai-Ravi Krishnan, Associate Editor and Columnist in Mark to Market section has been elevated as the New Chief of Mumbai Bureau. *Along with Ira Duggal, lot others have put in their papers.. PR Sanjai, Ashish Mishra, Pooja Sarkar and Amrita Pillay
* Aparna Iyer who is currently in the banking bureau is being moved to Mint money team with Manas Chakraborty
* PR Sanjai is joining Bloomberg
* Pooja Sarkar is joining ET
*Amrita Pillay to Business Standard and Ira Duggal to bloomberg quint

Courtesy Jaspreet Kaur @ GBM @ One Source

Kerala YCC launch on July 13

The web called social sector

 

Book Review SOCIAL SECTOR COMMUNICATION IN INDIA by Jaishri Jethwaney, SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi-11044, 2016, Pages 268, Rs. 850.

by Prof. C K Sardana, Bhopal

Sociologists often refer to the social sector as the third sector, public and private being the other two. Social sector has emerged at a galloping speed with a burgeoning human capital of more than 130 crores. Despite massive expenditure on Social Sector, India has been performing extremely poor on various development indicators when compared with other developing nations including some Sub-Saharan countries. India languishes at the bottom half of the Human Development Index (HDI), wedged among underdeveloped countries such as Namibia, Sao-Tome, Principe and Solomon Islands. The countries endowed with less natural resources and lower calibre human capital have performed better due perhaps to responsive and effective governance.

The reviewer -
Prof C K Sardana

Let me quickly underline the fact that everything has not gone haywire. There are sectors where we have done extremely well -- much ahead of even the advanced countries. We have had three main revolutions -- Green Revolution, IT Revolution and Space Revolution.  Today, Indian engineers, doctors, scientists, bankers, academics and specialists in other fields occupy top positions in the Government and other organizations in even advanced countries like USA.

Juxtaposed with the above is the fact that the country continues to have the largest mass of illiterate people and malnourished children, poorest public health service, dirtiest rivers in the world,  billions of people clamouring for food, jobs, safety and security, largest number of suicides by farmers, labourers, students, oppressed women and so on.

SOCIAL SECTOR COMMUNICATION IN INDIA by Jethwaney seeks to address some of the key issues in social sector communication combining concepts and practices with hands-on skills. It aims at providing an understanding of various tools and strategies required in this communication. An important endeavour of this communication is to gauge, from time to time, peoples' mind set, expectations, environment around and then effect such changes in communication as will prompt policy-makers to give up arm chair approach and people at large to whole-heartedly come forward and play their role in making development policies a success.

The book has seven chapters beginning with a comprehensive overview of the social sector in India followed by social marketing, CSR, advocacy, communication and social mobilization, grassroots communication, case studies and hands-on skills in writing for and through New Media. While there is a passing reference to PM's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, very little space has been given to Government's initiatives  like Digital India, Skill Development, Fight against corruption, empowerment of women etc.  Price of Rs. 850 for a 268-page book is high.

Notwithstanding the above, the book is rich in information and data, its narration and overall approach. It should be extremely useful to policy-makers, NGOs, Government Departments, Funding Agencies, Monitoring bodies and, above all, to students of development communication and media. (casardana@gmail.com)

It’s a hat-trick! Concept PR signs up UBA, Mumbai City FC and SportzConsult

MUMBAI, July 11, 2016: Notching up major client wins in United Basketball Alliance (UBA), SportzConsult, and Mumbai City FC, India’s premier public relations consultancy, Concept PR, has strengthened its sports vertical.

The UBA aims to promote the sport of basketball at the grassroots level in India by getting professional teams into the game. The UBA Pro Basketball League is the first men's professional basketball tournament in India. Having conducted two successful seasons, UBA is gearing up for the third season in July this year, and Concept PR will be handling all communication activities for UBA and the league.

 Team SportzConsult delivers enduring business value to its clients through its programs which stand out for their innovative concepts, thrilling fan experience and impeccable execution. Over the last eight years, the company has delivered more than 500 events, creating opportunities to play for more than one million people every year. SportzConsult has served India’s 100+ most well-known Brands, Corporates, Leagues, Franchises, Federations and Associations. Backed by a passionate team with experience in Sports, Media, Consulting, Advertising and PR SportzConsult strives for excellence across all its business verticals. The Gaja Capital-funded Premier sports management company SportzConsult mandated Concept PR for its communication needs.

 "As we double up the strides in our quest to change the sporting landscape in India, we needed a PR house to essay and voice our efforts on a larger canvas to the right target audience. I am glad we have zeroed in on Concept PR to take care of the media mantle. I am sure we will script it right and bright from here on,” said Jitu (Jitendra Joshi), Director and Co-Founder at SportzConsult.

 

Ashish Jalan

Announcing the new wins, Ashish Jalan, CEO and Director of Concept PR said: “We are extremely happy to have acquired this string of new businesses which demonstrates client confidence in our sports vertical headed by veteran media professional and our executive director, Pooja Chaudhri. The team has been doing wonders with iconic events such as the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon and IDBI Federal’s sporting activities among others. We have developed the capability to handle public relations for any sporting activity across 100 cities in the country.”

Having worked successfully with Mumbai City FC during the first two seasons of the Indian Super League (ISL), Concept PR will continue to champion the communication mandate for the Mumbai-based team in 2016 edition too. Co-owned by Ranbir Kapoor, Mumbai City FC presents a young and fresh brand of football, a display of consistent performances in season one and two, and have been recognized as a distinguished attacking contingent.

 “We have been handling the communication mandate for the top sports companies and events in the country for over a decade now. These include leading sports management agencies such as IMG Reliance, Procam, Globosport, CAA-Kwan,  and leagues such as the Indian Premier League, International Premier Tennis League, Barclays Premier League, Indian Super League, and Hockey India League. The International Cricket Council (ICC), IDBI Federal are some other clients for whom we have managed communication.  We have developed unmatched expertise and capabilities to provide strategy, tactics, and media relations for any sports-related mandate,” said Pooja Chaudhri, Executive Director, Concept PR.

It’s Big! YCC @ SIMSR Mumbai poised to touch 400 students

• Guest faculty, Knowledge Forums planned

MUMBAI, June 02: The Young Communicators Club (YCC) of PRCI is poised for a big leap as SIMSR (K.J.Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research) has agreed to set up the unit at the campus.

PRCI national president B N Kumar and Mumbai Chapter general secretary Sanjay Rammoorthy had discussions with Isaac Jacob, SIMSR Area Chairman, and Prof. Hardeep Singh, Asst. Professor – Marketing, on conducting PRCI and YCC activities at the campus.

Prof Singh has given his consent to be the YCC coordinator. He will depute a student team for planning activities of their interest.

A large gathering of students burst into loud applause as BNK announced the setting up YCC at SIMSR during the Daughters Day events yesterday.

Three cheers to YCC! SIMSR students eager to start YCC activities

PRCI will arrange for knowledge forums, practical training workshops, seminars and guest faculty from among communication professionals.

Jacob expressed the hope that the YCC activities will help students to broaden their horizon and make them industry-ready.

Prof Singh said YCC could start with communication students numbering 120 and spread its coverage to over 400 students.

SIMSR has agreed to offer its logistics support to professional activities by PRCI and YCC in the campus and even outside.

PRCI Chairman Emeritus and Chief Mentor M B Jayaram, Governing Council Chairman R T Kumar, General Secretary Ravindran Kesavan, YCC Chairperson Geetha Shankar and general secretary Avinash Gaikwad have welcomed SIMSR to PRCI/YCC fold.

SIMSR has already associated itself with PRCI’s #shakti4beti campaign by organizing competitions such as Poster making, Photography and Skit based on the theme, writes Vishnu Kanth, Convenor,Public Relations at the Institute.

The Women’s Development Cell played major role in conducting a week-long competition, ahead of the Daughters Day celebrations, that attracted good response from among the students.

SIMSR organized an event on July 1 where four shortlisted skits were presented live.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Vishal Kedia founder & director of Complykaro and Mr. Yogesh Shanbhag ,VP of Sportz Consult, who were part of the jury that adjudged skits.

“Let us pick up our books and pencils. They are our most powerful weapon”. This statement by Nobel Prize winner Malala itself tells the value of education and how it can improve the importance and respect of a daughter in the society.

If a small initiative by PRCI and K.J.Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research can do so many wonders, why not come forward and begin a revolution where we educate, respect and develop our daughters to be a light in the realms of our Indian society?

Daughters’ Day: Kudos for ‘Hamari Beti’ by Jyotirgamaya

• PRCI Chandigarh Chapter honours Punjab University’s Community Radio

• ‘Hamari Beti’ goes daily from weekly w.e.f. 15th July.

Chandigarh, July 1: Celebrating the Daughters’ Day today, Chandigarh Chapter of the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) honoured the Punjab University’s community radio, Jyotirgamaya 91.2MHz for its thought provoking weekly programme ‘Hamari Beti’.

National Executive Vice President of PRCI, C.J. Singh, informed that PRCI had been organizing Daughters Day since 2011, to focus on the issues of discrimination confronting the women in the country and sensitise the population, and this year the National Council of PRCI has already submitted a petition to the Prime Minister office for declaring 1st July as the National Daughters Day.

Welcoming the chief guest - VC Prof Grover

He said that on 13th February 2013, the 2nd anniversary of Jyotirgamaya as well as the World Radio Day, and at the instance of the Rotary Club of Chandigarh the programme ‘Hamari Beti’ was initiated, which has been a regular weekly feature on the community radio featuring issues, interviews, and discussion programmes, which received tremendous response.

The PRCI presented a plaque of honour to Prof. A.K. Grover, Vice Chancellor of Punjab University and Dr Jayant Pethkar, Chairman, School of Communication Studies.

The Chapter also recognized the contribution of the School of Communication Studies, chairperson of the SCS, Dr. Archana R. Singh, and radio station technical head, Sunil Sharma.

Prof Grover also complimented Dr Singh who has taken the ‘Hamari Beti’ programme to the next level by writing a project in collaboration with Punjab State Council for Science and Technology with Dr Neelam Gulati Sharma as her co-principal investigator for “Science for Women’s Health and Nutrition” whereby this programme would become a daily broadcast from its current weekly status.

Dr Archana Singh (left) being felicitated

Dr Archana R. Singh said that the project would get underway and ‘Hamari Beti’ programme would go weekly from 15th of July addressing women’s health and nutrition issues as well.

The Rotary Club Chandigarh’s President 2017-18  Rtn. P.S. Matharoo, also commended the community radio station for supporting the Hamari Beti project.

Daughters Day - PRCI to launch self defense drive for girls

Concept PR-powered #shakti4beti campaign on 

social media gathers momentum

MUMBAI July 01: Celebrating Daughters Day today, in memory of India born US astronaut Kalpana Chawla, Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) has launched a campaign to run self defense programmes for girls to instill a sense of confidence and esteem to achieve glory.

July 1 is Kalpana’s official date of birth. She had an illustrious career achieving sky high glory and died along with six crew members of the Space Shuttle Columbia which disintegrated over Texas during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, just 16 minutes before landing. Even after her tragic death, Kalpana continues to be a shining example and icon for many girls around the world.

Juries with winners of skit contest @ SIMSR

In Mumbai the Daughters Day was celebrated by Mumbai University's Department of Communication and KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research (SIMSR) by organising events like debate, photography and poster  competitions and skits focusing on girl security.

The two institutions agreed to conduct self defense programmes for girl students.

PRCI has tied up with organizations like Sportzconsult to run 10-day crash courses for girls with the help of trained martial arts experts. The drive will also cover corporates to run workshops to prevent sexual harassment at workplaces with the help of legal experts like Complykaro.

Powered by Concept PR, PRCI launched #shakti4beti campaign to focus on Beti Suraksha (girl security) on social media and online forums which evinced lot of interest.

Mumbai University event: Winner receiving Concept PR gift from Vishal Kedia (centre) and
Dr Sunder Rajdeep, Head of Dept of Communication, University of Mumbai

“Beti Suraksha (girl security) falls in line with the Union Government’s campaign Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao. We as communication professionals firmly believe that it is absolutely important to communicate to the society at large on the issue that bothers all – the security of the girl child,” said PRCI national president B N Kumar.

PRCI - the national body of PR, media, advertising, HR professionals and mass communication teachers and students – has petitioned the Prime Minister and tweeted to the HRD Minister urging for their help and support for #shakti4beti. 

“We are taking up the issue across the country through our 30 plus chapters and happy to see growing interest among corporates to ensure self confidence of women and girls,” said M B Jayaram, Chairman Emeritus and Chief Mentor of PRCI said. 

Veteran journo Raikar felicitated

Veteran journalist and former Group Editor of the Lokmat Group Dinkar Raikar was today felicitated at Mumbai Press Club on completing 75 years of age, and 46 years in Journalism. 

Raikar (left) after receiving PRCI souvenir as Press Club Chairman Prakash
Akolkar and B N Kumar, PRCI national president, and Sanjay Rammoorthy,
General Secretary, PRCI -Mumbai Capter, look on

Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) also presented him a souvenir.

For Raikar, a well wisher of PRCI, It is a milestone well-achieved. The important thing is Raikar has no intention of slowing down or hanging up his boots. He is firmly in the saddle and continues to gallop as an active and leading journalist.

For those who have worked with him and have a story to tell, please be there to share it with all of us.

Raikar was an employee with the Indian Express Group with the technical services department before he entered journalism. In 1970, he was promoted and offered an editorial post in the Indian Express, which he grabbed; and there was no looking back since. He was not parachuted into senior positions, but made his way up steadily from the ranks working as a reporter and finally becoming the City Editor of the Indian Express. In 1993, he was elevated as the Deputy Editor of 'Loksatta' - the largest selling Marathi daily in those years; and he became the front face of the newspaper till he retired in 2002.

 Raikar took a break only for a few months before he was made Editor of Lokmat, then a Hindi and Marathi daily largely circulated in Vidharbha region of Maharashtra. From 2002, under Raikar's leadership, Lokmat expanded not only to a multi-city newspaper all over Maharashtra, but also grew as an English title with multiple editions in all major cities of the state.

 He says he has no intention of retiring from journalism in the near future, and is all set to hit his half century in the profession in the coming years and months.

Rs-10-a-day campaign in Delhi for #shakti4beti

#shakti4beti gains momentum with Beti Padhao campaign!

Keeping the initiative of PM Narendra Modi in their hearts, the Delhi chapter of PRCI will be sponsoring schooling of almost 50 girls who belong to less privileged families.

After an extensive search our team identified the Govt Girls High School situated in Delhi NCR area.

To celebrate Daughters Day and spread the message of BETI BACHAO - BETI PADHAO, the PRCI members we will be visiting the school in mid July,2016 and will handover the amount collected that will cover their tuition fee,books,uniform etc for one year.

An informative session with a leading gynecologist will also be arranged during our visit to make these girls aware of personal hygiene and health.

PRCI will also organise a self defence presentation by an expert keeping in mind the Beti ki Suraksha motto

Prof B K Ravis' book TV and Rural development released

Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri .Siddaramaiah  released a book  entitled " Television and Rural Development" written by Prof.B.K.Ravi, Department of Communication, Bangalore University who is also the Chairman, PRCI, Bangalore Chapter on 25th June 2016. Seen in the picture are renowned Music Director Hamsalekha, Minister for Social Welfare and Backward Classes Welfare Sri.Aanjaneya and Former Minister and MLC Sri.H.M.Revanna.