13th Global Communication Conclave: Festive Discount Valid up to Diwali

Beyond symbolic CSR

India Inc should develop smarter ways to deal with natural calamities

By Bakul Gala

Video and pix courtesy: https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/

Kerala floods, like all other earlier calamities that have occurred on the Indian soil and sea, have not only exposed the State’s unpreparedness, but it has also the way Indian corporates handle such a crisis, time and again.

As a corporate PR guy, all through these years my clients have at best written cheques, at worst asked me to get them mentioned in CSR stories and on the CNBC scroll. To the extent that in one of the monthly review meetings with my ex client, my agency then got negative marks for not being able to garner headlines the way other corporates managed to get. Bhala, UskiKameez Meri Kameezsehjyaadasafedkaise syndrome? I call it: Vulture PR.

Are there any lessons that corporate India has learnt from the Kerala disaster? What’s there a way forward? Or were we just going to conduct ourselves the way we had been doing thus far?

Water, water allover. Nowhere to go

Well, I strongly feel that Indian companies need to clearly understand a few things:

1.       Now, more than ever, the pressure is on the corporate world to step up and aid in relief efforts in India. Why? Simply because, costs of dealing with natural disaster costs are shooting while government coffers are shrinking. By some estimates, in the last 25 years, the costs for overcoming natural disasters has gone up by a whopping 600 - 700%, after accounting for inflation. Kerala requires Rs 20,000 crore to rebuild itself whereas access to funds has barely touched Rs 1,500 – 2,000 crore. So, there is a huge gap that requires to be bridged and only our corporate world can take that kind of leap of faith.

2.      Having a disaster relief programme in place helps not only the victims but the brand as well. It shows the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and the much required passion quotient.

It goes without saying that Governments and corporates will have to find ways to jointly organize rescue have public and private rescue efforts coordinate more closely to put as many resources as possible toward rescue and recovery efforts. A PPP model for a different purpose.

There may not be a template list of disaster victims’ requirements. At the same, there is no mechanism to keep track of what is available with companies and where. Besides, relief organizations, stretched thin by the severity and the massive scope of any disaster, are largely unable to take advantage of non-monetary offers because they don’t have the staff available to evaluate or accept resources from non-traditional actors in relief.

Floods leave a trail of destruction across Kerala

But let’s ask ourselves a tough question: Does an Indian corporate even know what needs to be done during natural or man-made disaster? Is there any structure to it? Further, is there any Disaster Relief Department (DRD) or at least a DRD programme under its CSR department?

Allow me to present a certain plausible structure that India’s top 1000 companies can follow:  

ü  Donation(fund) management

o   Streamline communication between requesters and donors, i.e. employees. Funds to be deposited directly into a charity's bank account.

ü  Sponsorships

o   Create a comprehensive corporate giving platform to manage sponsorships. Speed is of essence - implement disaster relief and employee relief programs in less than 24 hours. Synchronize these efforts and channelize these resources towards sponsoring programs that will further garner funds

ü  Item requests and donations

o   Manage in-kind giving and item donation requests and possibly give donation certificates

ü  Volunteer

o   Allow your employees to do their bit. A company's identity is not only defined by its business practices and products, but also by the conduct of its employees.Maruti Suzuki donated Rs 2 crore while its employees donated Rs 1.5 crore is a good example but a set of Good Samaritan bank employees who launched the private rescue effort is a classic example of employee volunteering during trying times

ü  Matching Gifts

o   Allow employees to submit charitable gifts to causes of their choice

ü  Rupees for Doers

o   Reward and motivate your employees by implementing ‘Rupees for Doers’ programme. As employees complete volunteer hours, they clock revenues. Both, hours and monies, should be allowed to be logged in for redeeming it when the need arises

The author, a Communication
veteran

Concurs my media veteran friend B N Kumar, “Another thing which I strongly recommend is the pooling-in of resources which can be effectively done at the level of business and industry forums such as FICCI and Assocham. Or an umbrella body of all federations or associations?”

Through an effective disaster relief programme, you can change public opinion about your brand, reach the target audiences on an emotional level and act as a role model for other corporate entities.

Why wait for the next disaster, why not start the DRD right away!

PRCI 13th Global Communication Conclave to be held in Pink City on Feb 15-16, 2019

·         Theme: Communication- What’s the Big Idea!

·         MUJ  to host the interactive event

·         Early Bird delegate fee to go to Kerala & Kodagu flood relief

·         Young Communicators national seminar for students

JAIPUR:  National communicators body Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) will hold the 13^th Global Communication Conclave at Jaipur on February 15 and 16, 2019 focusing on the theme: Communication - What’s The Big Idea.

Communication veteran Vijaylakshmi will be the chairperson for the Conclave which will be hosted by Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ).

PRCI has fixed an early bird delegate fee of Rs 2,000 per head valid up to September 15, 2017 and the entire proceedings will be sent for the flood relief and reconstruction work in Kerala and Kodagu, PRCI Chairman Emeritus and Chief Mentor M B Jayaram announced. The delegate fee will later be revised upwards in two phases – 2^nd early bird and final.

Earlier, PRCI’s Kerala chapter was to host the 13^th Conclave but the event has now been shifted to Jaipur owing to the devastating flood fury that struck Kerala. The Kerala PRCI team on its part is busy working the relief and reconstruction measures, actively coordinating round-the-clock with an NGO called FACE.

The Jaipur Conclave, which will be interactive as always, discuss the growing importance of Communication and PR across the socio-business spectrum focusing on both public and private sectors, technology, tackling the menace of fake news, media trends globally, and ideas that work, said PRCI governing council chairman B N Kumar. Over 500 communication professionals from corpcom, agency, marcom and HR.

"We are MUJ are excited as PRCI has decided to hold its next Global Communication Conclave at our campus. The event will add colour to the Pink City as Communication professionals from India and abroad converge here on February next,” said the University's president and vice chancellor Dr G K Prabhu.

“We are sure it will mark opening of a new chapter in enhancing Knowledge levels for MUJ's Communication department and students. We eagerly look forward to receiving speakers and delegates and offering them the world famous Rajasthani hospitality at our campus," Dr Prabhu said.

The conclave assumes great significance as it will focus on government communication as well, said PRCI national executive president S Narendra, former adviser to PMs and ex-spokesperson, Government of India. The other sub-themes which the Jaipur conclave will deal with include transparency in PR, crisis communication and credibility issues.

PRCI through its youth wing Young Communicators Club (YCC) will also hold a national seminar and debate for the mass communication student community. “We will hold contests across various city campuses as preparatory for the event,” said YCC national chairperson Geetha Shankar.

Padharo, Pink City: 13th Global Communication Conclave - Feb 15-16, 2019

Campaign against Kerala crooks - #keralafightsback

As you are aware many unscrupulous people are misusing the desperate situation of the people in Kerala due to the flood and landslides. The government has strictly warned these culprits and informed them that very strict and stringent action will be taken against them if found out that anyone is indulged in hoarding, black marketing, charging excess price or any other unscrupulous practices.
If you come across any of the above, please inform us with photograph of the establishment/persons/ airlines and other details.

-U.S.Kutty, Chairman, PRCI, Kerala Chapter

#keralafightsback - Communication professionals to mobilise relief funds

This video depicts the current scenario in Kerala, fighting back the worst natural calamity
PRCI global conclave fee for CM’s relief fund

BANGALORE:  Mobilising its mite for the Kerala flood relief, national communicators’ body Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) has decided to donate the entire ‘early bird’ fee collection for the forthcoming 13^th Global Communication Conclave to be held in February next, with the theme PR – What’s the Big Idea?
PRCI will donate the collection to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, said PRCI chief mentor and chairman emeritus M B Jayaram. The Conclave venue will be announced in the next couple of days.

PRCI has fixed the first early bird registration fee at Rs 3,000 per delegate for the two-day Conclave and it is valid till September 16, 2018. The registration form and he payment gateway details are posted here.

PRCI has appealed to all communication professionals to generously donate for the #keralafightsback project and send the word across their organizations and clients as well. “This is the least that we can do for the flood-ravaged Kerala,” said Kumar.

The previous Global Communications held by PRCI have seen large participation and delegates number crossing 500.
Headquartered at Bengaluru, PRCI has close to 30 chapters and floated a global platform called World Communicators Council with the aim of bringing communication professionals from various spheres on a common platform.
PRCI has successfull launched social communication projects such as #MissionMumbaiLocal, #SaveParsikHill, #PotholesRforever and #IamMangroveIamDying.
With #keralafightsback, PRCI salutes the true resilient spirit of Kerala - Gold's own country.

A Politician & an Honest Man

By S Narendra

Former adviser to Vajpayee and other PMs

Pic courtesy: www.bjp.org

Indian democracy has lost in Atal Behari Vajyaee’s passing away one of its foremost champions. I had the privilege of working with him when he was the prime minister, the last among the four PMs I served as the Information Adviser. He was enormously courteous, open-minded, patient in his dealing with civil servants like me. Atal ji encouraged us to speak up our minds frankly. In one of my previous posts on PRapport, I have narrated my experience of serving Prime Minister Vajpayee during his 13 days stint in office in 1996. (http://prapport.blogspot.com/2015/09/blast-from-past-vajpayees.html)

Customarily, prime minister’s make a formal TV/Radio broadcast to the nation soon after assuming office. As expected, when Vajpayeeji became PM, I was asked by his close political aide Pramod Mahajan to call the Doordarshan camera person to record the broadcast.

When the TV camera crew was making arrangements in PM’s office, where Vajpayeeji was going through the draft text penned by Mahajan, the prime minister called me and asked: ‘Have you seen the draft’. I had not. Although I had kept a draft ready, Mahajan had told me that my draft was not required.

On the prime minister instructions, I read the draft and hesitatingly give my opinion thus: “Sir, you are a national leader. Somehow, this draft makes you a BJP prime minister. It does not fit your stature.”

Vajpayeeji reread the draft. The broadcast was cancelled.

I had not known Vajpayee ji personally. Some persons in the party and media had conveyed to him that I was a Congress party chela and should be replaced.

Vajpayee ji could be a devastating critic of his political opponents. Verbal attacks were measured and had rapier like sharpness, but always fair, and rarely confrontationist. As a result, in politics he was a consensus builder.

India of the present misses him and his political sagacity.

अटल अजातशत्रु, राजनीति का वैभव ...

वह अटल अजातशत्रु वह राजनीति का वैभव जा रहा है

हवाओं रास्ता दो 

मेरा भारत रत्न मेरा जननायक जा रहा है

वो जब बोलता था तब लोग मंत्रमुग्ध होकर सुनते थे।

साथ उसके वाणी का सम्मोहक जा रहा है।

पोखरण में जिसकी धमक को दुनिया ने देखा

वो जिसने खींची राष्ट्र में स्वर्णिम चतुर्भुज की रेखा

हवाओं रास्ता दो 

मेरा राष्ट्र रत्न मेरा देश नायक जा रहा है।

राजनीति की काली कोठरी में जो सदा बेदाग रहा

सत्य को सदा सत्य कहने वाला अपने विचारों पर अटल रहने वाला

कवि ह्रदय विचारक जा रहा है।

हवाओं रास्ता दो

मेरा राष्ट्र भक्त मेरा राष्ट्र नायक जा रहा है।

कृतज्ञ राष्ट्र,कृतज्ञ राजनीति, कृतज्ञ जनमानस निःशब्द खड़े देखते हैं।

हम इंसानों के बीच से वह देवतुल्य महामानव जा रहा है

हवाओं रास्ता दो

मेरा विश्व रत्न मेरा गणनायक जा रहा है।

*अलविदा युगपुरुष*

भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि🙏🏻 🙏🏻🙏🏻

- Aarti Arora, Executive Director, Concept PR

Haar Nahi Manoonga...Salute to a Statesman Par Excellence

Video courtesy: www.bjp.org

PRapport salutes to former premier Aral Bihari Vajpayee who passed away today. Here is a collection of tributes:

Everyone waited for his speeches…

By Bishwajit Mukherjee,

ABC, IABC Fellow

At college we had a classmate, Pratibha Thakur, who would give us information about Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s arrivals in Patna. He always chose to stay at the Jana Sangha State President Thakur Prasad’s house on Dak Bungalow Road.

Thakur Prasad was a well-known lawyer in town and was a close friend of my father, who was a Barrister and also the Administrator-General for the State of Bihar. Hence it was easy for me to show up after college at Thakur’s residence whenever Vajpayee visited Patna. I would park my cycle in front of his porch and walk inside as most of the inmates knew me.

We would participate in the chats and light-hearted banter that would be the order of the day over cups of tea and samosas which would be on offer often.

Once I found out what time he is scheduled to speak at the Gandhi Maidan, I would quietly leave the house and make my way towards home. There I would leave my cycle and, after a freshening up, walk towards Gandhi Maidan.

In those days there was no security issues and so I could go right up the dias and sit at arm’s length munching freshly roasted peanuts in newspaper cones. So I would listen to stalwarts like George Fernandes, Acharya VinovaBhave, Minoo Masani, Dvivedi, Ram Manohar Lohia and others. But everyone would wait with great eagerness and anticipation to hear Atal Bihari Vajpayee. And he will never disappoint. His oratory, his knowledge, his sincerity and devotion to the cause of India was never in doubt. He was one of the greatest poets and orators that modern India has produced. His speeches would be mind-blowing.

Vajpayee is no more. The world and the nation will miss him. He has left avoid that will be difficult to fill. May his crusade guide today’s leaders to a glorious, unfettred and unbiased path that can truly be called a legacy that he has left behind. (The author is Founder-President, International Association of Business Communicators India Chapter and Former Director on the Executive Board of the IABC, USA)

Former Air India Director Jitender Bhargava (extreme left) remembers his
contact with Atal ji and says: "I am speechless today when I heard about
the great statesman's death

A Rare Rattan: A rare 'Rattan' indeed with all the qualities of a great orator, towering leader, strong administrator and top notch poet who always selflessly served the nation. He was a great Parliamentarian.You will stay in the hearts of all Indians.Vajpayee ji was a great politician India has ever produced.

May his soul rest in peace. - Renuka Salwan, Director - Public Relayions, Panjab University.

End of An Era: The Era of Statesmanship in Indian Politics Ends with the sad demise of the former Prime Minister of India Bharat Ratna Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. May his soul rest in peace.- Chaya Umesh Chandra, President Elect PRCI Bangalore Chapter

#PotholesRforever - over to Maha Human Rights Commission now. Will Govt act?

PRapport View:
Hope the government will act now. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has forwarded our complaint to the Urban Development Department. - BNK

#IamMangroveIamDying - CM acts on plea to check debris mafia in MMR

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has acted swiftly on the plea made to him to check mangrove killer debris mafia and save Mumbai.

Fadnavis has referred one appeal to the Urban Development dept and another to Home Ministry.

Hopefully, we shall see some action soon.

Please check this interview to Navi Mumbai Awaaz:

And here is the text of the communiqué sent to the Chief Minister:

Hon’ble Mukhya Mantri ji:

We as a society have been systematically destroying mangroves in Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Be it in the island city, the western and eastern suburbs or for that matter Navi Mumbai – mangroves have been the target of destruction for several years now.

Debris is the inevitable by-product of construction. Debris mafia has been recklessly and rampantly killing mangroves by dumping the construction waste along the creeks and the sea.

Now, an astonishing fact has come to light. The government infrastructure projects neglecting mangroves and wetlands.

In Uran area, we found massive destruction of mangroves and the Regional Forest Officer himself has confirmed the killing of as many as 4,500 plants in 4.5 hectares. Local residents have named JNPT SEZ for the rampant killing of mangroves.

Even a school student having EVS as a subject would tell us the importance f mangroves for the protection the City’s environment, the coastline and for maintenance of bio-diversity.

Yet, none cares. Sad. Very Sad.

Have we forgotten the Chowpatty and Mithi floods?

Do we have to wait for another tragedy to realize and then plan steps to protect the mangroves?

The various officials will tell you that the mangrove re-plantation is nothing but a sham. Mangroves cannot be grown on rocky areas. They need natural surroundings.

Through this petition, we request you to look into the issue of ecological destruction and come out with a clear cut policy to protect environment – be it mangroves, rivers, wet lands or even the hills. Parsik Hill, as we have pointed out earlier, has been the victim of reckless quarrying for four decades.

Thank you.

With regards.

B N KUMAR – Editor, www.thenatureconnect.com

RAF to protect mangroves? CM acts on greens suggestion to protect Mumbai coast

Watch NMTV special with BNK

MUMBAI: Swiftly acting on a suggestion from environment activists to deply a Rapid Action Force (RAF) along the Sion-Panvel highway to check mangrove killing debris mafia, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked the Home Department to look into it.

“We received a mail acknowledging our suggestion and appeal to preserve mangroves and check the rampant dumping of debris on mangroves,” said social communication activist B N Kumar, whi si also the governing council chairman of PRCI. The CM’s mail said the Home Department has been asked to take further action, he said and appreciated Mr Fadnavis for his prompt action.

Environment focused website thenatureconnect.com headed by Kumar and NGO Shree Ekvira Aai Pratishtan (SEAP) have sent a joint mail six days ago along with a photograph of debris dumped on mangroves on the creek at Vashi, in a stone’s throw from the toll Naka, to the Chief Minister six days ago.

“This was in continuation of our campaign against the systematic and reckless destruction of life-saving sea plants by debris mafia in Mumbai Metropolitan region (MMR)” said Nandkumar Pawar of SEP.

Debris is an inevitable by-product of construction. But what is a matter of serious concern is that debris mafia has been rampantly killing mangroves by dumping the construction waste along the creeks and the sea. The government could plan to set up a Rapid Action Force to check debris mafia and take stringent action against the culprits, the mail to the Chief Minister said.

Calling for responsible disposal of debris, Kumar said the various landfill sites could be chosen for dumping debris, not certainly the mangroves

The missive to the CM also drew the government’s attention to the massive destruction of mangroves in Uran area and pointed out that the Regional Forest Officer himself has confirmed the killing of as many as 4,500 plants in 4.5 hectares. Local residents have named JNPT SEZ for the rampant killing of mangroves.

Asking whether we have forgotten the Chowpatty and Mithi floods, the activists asked:  “Do we have to wait for another tragedy to realize and then plan steps to protect the mangroves?”

Who moved the Media Cheese?

BOOK REVIEW: By S Narendra

Who moved the Media Cheese?

Who engineered the demise independent media ?

Often, we all hold technology, the Internet and the ipads responsible. A new book by the senior editor of the New Yorker magazine Ken Auletta has traced the real culprit-that is you and me, the media audience, who gained control over what they want to hear or see. And also, we prefer content without payment. That’s available aplenty online thanks to Google, Facebook and multitude of other cyber platform. Combined,  they are the ‘frenemies’, meaning most of us who want content without payment and free content providers on digital platforms who working against the survival of  free and independent  media.

The TV remote control with its fast forward button, DVR began  the trend of  enabling audiences to skip advertising. As such, they broke a key link in free market capitalism.The author of the book under review, KenAuletta closely studied media and communication and wrote a regular magazine column under the title; ‘ Annals of Communication .According to him, advertising is a short- hand for marketing and consumption  that  connects supply and demand, the invisible hand  that  is supposed under pin the free market capitalist economy. The media (newspapers, TV, Radio, entertainment, quality news Journalism, information industry) vitally dependent upon advertising thrived when they served as channels connecting audiences and consumers.

According to credible guesstimates, at present advertising globally (that is total marketing and selling activity including formal advertising) is worth $2 Trillion. A  London based 2015 study of advertising showed that in US each dollar spent on advertising created19dollar in sales and supported 67 jobs in many sectors. It predicted that by 2019 advertising would kindle 16 percent of all economic output. It is estimated that advertising directly employs about a million people worldwide. Such a vital sector was set on a new course initially by TV remote control  that  grew into an irreversible  consumer habit in the digital age that equipped audiences with ad-blocking software.

Another tectonic shift was occurring in the advertising agency business itself. The firms marketing products and services and their advertising agencies traditionally worked in close collaboration in furthering businesses. It was a relationship based on transparency and trust. When the digital media came to dominate and d people’s information consuming and buying habits, the media fragmented as never before. This had a profound impact on ad agency- client relationship. Uncertain of the outcome from advertising expenditure, clients began to squeeze agency fees and profits and enforce greater accountability for ad expenditure ;on the other hand, agencies started  bulk buying of media space  across media at one price and reselling them to clients at a higher price. Such practices further eroded the agency-client trust. As profits came down, advertising agencies were unable attract talent and  adequately service the clients.

Giant digital platforms like Google, Facebook, Snapchat and many others transformed themselves into both advertising platforms and gained access to humongous amounts of consumer data and insights. This enormous advantage put to greater advantage by offering advertising services directly  to clients where in they were able to customize message to individual consumers.  Another development was that the agencies were walled off from gaining access to audience data garnered by  Google and the  rest. No doubt big advertising conglomerates have developed their own data bases and deployed big data analytics to compete and serve clients, but they could never hope to match the levels attained by digital platforms.

The revolutionary shifts in media scene and audience’s habits impacted entertainment, information and news media, especially independent and quality Journalism in many ways. Traditionally, independent news media and content was principally supported by advertising. As audiences moved to other platforms, advertising also moved. As if that blow was not enough, the digital platforms like Google, Yahoo and Facebook offered content free in exchange  of the users sharing their personal information with them. Google is in a position to offer content ‘free’ because 87 percent of its $ 80 billion revenue, for example, came from advertising. Facebook’s  $ 27 billion was also from advertising.

The power of digital media is increased in an unprecedented way by the spread of mobile phones, now estimated to number about six billion. Nearly half of them or more are smart phones with enormous computing power, tracking their users every move and capable of situational marketing. The mobile embedded artificial intelligence tools like digital assistants have machine learning  capabilities that have capabilities for filtering messages. On the one side, such capabilities empower both marketers and consumers, while on the other they work against competition and choice , of content and consumption of products and services.

Quoting from the book Attention Merchants, the author draws attention to another serious issue. The people’s eyes are riveted to electronic screens connected to the Internet. By demanding  free content accessed through the Internet, consumers without realizing it invitee more intrusive ads and receive inferior journalism (including fake news).The digital platforms  like Google, or Amazon are converting themselves as all purpose platforms like China’s Tancent. This Chinese platform connects 800 million users, who spend  daily at least one hour on its site including We Chat. The company offers multiple services with one app, enabling people to chat, shop, pay. It handles daily 500 transactions, employing 300 million credit cards that link 300,000 stores.  Tancent’s one app,  combines the varied functions of PayPal, Facebook, Uber,  Amazon, Netflix, Expedia and countless others.

The reviewer: Ex-Spokesperson
Govt of India & adviser to ex-PMs

Where is advertising headed now and in the future? 

Here is some idea. In the most advertised US market, in 2016 the total advertising spend was more than $200 billion. The digital advertising showed double digit growth, soaring from $83 billion in 2017 to $129 billion in 2021.Digital advertising spending surpassed TV for the first time in 2016, and this gap is likely to widen by $10 billion every year. Mobile will be the main driver of this growth, comprising over 73 percent of digital growth.