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Media buzz in the job market
March 4, 2010 – 4:59 am
By
TRESHA GUHA, SIMC 2010, ADVERTISING
A number of companies in India are recruiting thus keeping the job market going and thanks to these companies, the job market scene in India is hale and hearty. Among these, the leading names are IPSOFT, Capgemini, firstsource, ConnectM, IBM and GlobalHunt.
As of now, the leading job categories in India are accounts and tax and audit, media and marketing, agent, airlines and reservation and travel and anchoring and television andfilms. However, some other jobs are also gaining in prominence, of late, like architecture and interior design, banking and insurance, call center and telecalling, content and editing and journalism and corporate communications and public relations.
Job opportunities are available with film and television production companies, distribution companies, publishing houses, radio channels, news channels, event management companies, etc.
A new place for placements, the web!
March 4, 2010 – 4:38 am
While the education space In India is upcoming and tuned towards the future, a lot of things are required to change the scenario and move on the whole engine to the next level. With this focus in mind, web professionals are launching portals dedicated to provide news and all related activities information in various campuses across India. While some portals focus on campus placements at Engineering and Business Schools, others even offer media related talent. The SIMC placement section is a case in point www.simc.edu/placement_postjob.aspx. The section endeavours to be the one-stop resource for all advertising agencies, public relations agencies, Television channels and radio stations to scourge for talent.
Such websites & portals seek to provide aspirants / students everything that helps him or her take a better decision. It tries to remove confusion and bias and relies on facts and information. From the placements news in details including profiles offered and interview questions frequently asked these portals also include rankings of engineering and MBA colleges, events happening in various campuses, various company’s pages giving information about the prospects for an employee, admissions updates for different colleges, analysis of admission test papers, deadlines related to various exams, various events and competitions in colleges and forums to discuss your queries and campus activities.
Are the clouds of recession lifting over the Indian economy?
March 1, 2010 – 6:51 pm
By
TRESHA GUHA, SIMC 2010, ADVERTISING
That is the big question everyone is asking today, whether they be economic analysts or policymakers in the central government and the financial institutions.
Others are pinning their hopes on positive indicators like the latest advance corporate tax collections which have risen by 14.7 percent in the second quarter of 2009-10. Simultaneously, the stock markets are surging while foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are making their presence felt once again in Indian markets.
In other words, it looks as if the good times are back. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has already gone on record to project over six percent growth in the current fiscal. Manmohan Singh attended this week’s G20 summit with the confidence that India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world right now.
In any case, it is clear that India, like the rest of the world, is slowly emerging out of the recession. US Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke has already made the definitive statement that the recession is over. For India, however, the problems of the agricultural sector remain a hurdle that will have to be overcome if it is to get back to a high growth path. On the plus side, it looks likely that the forthcoming winter crop will yield higher wheat output than last year and this will give a further boost to domestic foodgrain stocks.
The services sector will be the top employer in India, while the public administration and education sector is to hire the lowest number of employees.
The recessionary blues may thus take a while to blow over, but clearly all the signals point to a partial recovery by the next fiscal.
National Radio Meet
August 8, 2009 – 5:18 am
By
RANJAN ATREYA, SIMC 2010, ADVERTISING
You heard it creak, you heard the knobs being rolled over and over again, you saw the old eyes lighting up when the clarity was just right and then you grew up. Yet that sound never left you, it got a little lower in volume, maybe faded a bit around the edges but that sound never left. It was the sound of appreciation, of patience, of trust and most importantly it was a sound of belief. Over the years, your ears heard new sounds; different voices; they were called upon more than once by many a people at the same time. Soon, there was a whole new range of sounds and a new concept of sights in front of you. Brilliant sights; full of colour, full of life; it swept you off your feet. But the old sound came back somewhere, in a new form but as an old memory. As an aftertaste but in a new dish, it was something unforgettable yet unrecognizable.
If you, reading this relate to this sound then join us in our journey. Rummage through the old attic, find the dusty old boxes packed away or just sit next to your grandparents, you’ll find the magic we are talking about.
Welcome to the National Radio Meet, 2009.
19th and 20th September
SIMC, Lavale
Posted in simc
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Future of the OOH space in Kolkata vis-a-vis Mumbai and Delhi
June 1, 2009 – 6:41 am
By
DEEPALI PAVAGADHI, SIMC 2010, ADVERTISING
Though Mumbai, and Delhi are touted to be the twin meccas of the Indian advertising over the last few years, there’s an emerging cosmopolitan cousin that has been shockingly out of the hype and hullabaloo that emerges from the conversations on the popular ad vistas of India.
With a nod from a few who have been tracking the Indian ad market, and a shrug from others who have just started thinking of it, the place is Kolkata, where the OOH space seems to be a lot more inviting, and open to innovations as compared to its relatively more cosmopotalis-ed, and recognized brothers.
So is this a revolution in the future of the ad, a mere windstorm that would lose its vigour with time, or a revelation for a hundred aspiring advertising professionals, who head to Mumbai for formulating their own success story in the ad industry without even a doubt?
Well, the skeptics would retort that only time would be able to tell. But how about shedding some light on the status quo of advertising in the city, that is popularly known for its ‘jhaal mudi’, ‘roshogullas’, ‘sondesh’(and of course a lot of other things that more than just whet the appetite!).
Here’s what the numbers say: The health of the OOH industry as a whole is predicted to be hunky dory in the near future. As per the FICCI PwC report, the OOH industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13% from Rs 11 bn in 2006 to Rs 17.5 bn in 2010. Infrastructure development in the form of highways, expressways, airports, increase in commuting time, and robust growth of the Indian economy would drive this growth. (Ref.: www.equitymaster.com)
Though in spite of the healthy future predictions, there’s no doubt that recently in Kolkata, the OOH sector has taken almost a 50% dip in its revenues, given the slowdown.( Ref: Report by Pradipta Mukherjee, Business Standard (Kolkata), Mar 23, 2009). However, this could be just an outcome of the corporate houses cutting down their advertising expenditures because of the economic conditions that are prevailing. The same report mentions that nationally too, the ad revenues have dipped by 50%. Currently, Kolkata seems to have a 25-40% vacancy in the outdoor space; but Mumbai is much worse with around 50-60% vacancies. Therefore, in hindsight, it wouldn’t be unfair to say that the OOH space in Kolkata is flogged to a lesser extent than in Mumbai, in light of the recent slowdown rues.
However, in general, there’s speculation that the OOH space is expected to see a tremendous growth in the future, given the expected infrastructural growth, increased amount of time spent outside home, and the general economy boom in the coming years. But, at present, more than half of the OOH revenues only come from the tier 1 cities, and places like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata are the frontrunners. In these hubs, a lot of the industry decisions also have to be dependent upon the regulations on outdoor advertising, which are being implemented by their local civic bodies. These regulations are designed keeping in mind the road safety of the commuters. The permission criteria, under the regulations, usually consists of site selection, physical characteristics (including size and shape, colour, illumination and luminance, advertising device content, structure), legibility and development. These obviously differ from one city to another, based on the infrastructural demands, resources, the civic body that operates in that city et al. The regulations, though mostly form a very latent aspect of the way advertising operates in a particular land, are nevertheless very important determinants of how appealing a geographical unit is to the corporates, and how inviting is it to the agencies that would be enrolled by the corporates.
According to the most recent ruling of the Supreme Court, there have been some regulatory changes as far as the outdoor advertising environment in Delhi is concerned. A ban on billboards on certain places has been lifted, after almost a decade. But there have been certain restrictions at the same time. As a precautionary measure against road accidents, billboards on unipoles will be placed at a distance of 50 m from red lights and intersections. Moreover, the new policy disallows hoardings near cremation grounds and along all arterial stretches, viz Ring Road; and rooftop hoardings. (Ref. : www.signnews.com, report: Ban on billboards lifted a decade later Delhi to see a planned boom in outdoor advertising, dated:27/09/09).
In Kolkata, the civic body is set to designate six no billboard zones, and a ban on advertisement on tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs. (Ref.: www.ilovekolkata.in, report: billboard ban on the cards, dated: 08/04/2009) . However, the strength of the OOH sector in Kolkata lies in the range of media vehicles it offers, that goes beyond just billboards. One could also explore and innovate with traffic consoles, and large sized unipoles, amongst the other things.
The recent Maaza campaign with the tagline ‘Maaza lao. Aam ki pyaas bujhao’, has been intitated in Kolkata only in the form of a hoarding, and is likely to be tried in other cities soon. Initiating a campaign in Kolkata, and not in places like Mumbai and Delhi, by a company of such high repute (Coca cola), is sure an indication of the health of the OOH space in the heart of the West Bengal.
In conclusion, the current regulations in Kolkata, are allowing the industry experts to experiment with a bouquet of media options, and the recession has had effects that are lesser in comparison to the considerable loss that Mumbai has seen. Moreover, the recent policy in Delhi seems to have gone easy on the hoardings, but it tightens the restrictions on the unipoles. Therefore, even though stating that Kolkata is likely to overpower the strength of Mumbai, and Delhi would be a tall statement, it would be unfair to discount the hope that the OOH industry in Kolkata is set to take a leap in the future.
So, are we waiting to see the change? Or do we not need to wait anymore?
Like the skeptics would please, let time only tell.
Posted in News and Media
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National Cyber Media Conclave 2009
March 26, 2009 – 6:15 pm
The Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication (SIMC) is organising National Cyber Media Conclave ’09, a media seminar on the 28th of March, in its campus at Lavale. The event will explore various aspects of the cyber medium and its vast potential. A first of its kind initiative by any educational institution, NCMC aims to bring together stalwarts from the cyber world on a common platform where they can address enthusiastic young minds interested in cyber media.
The National Cyber Media Conclave has been conceived and organized by a 5 member team consisting of our media trainees from the mass communication and the communication management programmes. The seminar is meant for undergraduate and post graduate students from all over India, who are interested in pursuing careers in the cyber media, giving them a chance to interact with the best in the business.
The Indian cyber media industry has evolved over the years and is today replete with innovative ideas and ventures. NCMC is one such avenue which will allow students and aspiring media professionals to explore such opportunities. Interactive sessions with stalwarts and pioneers from the industry will provide the students with valuable insights, thus influencing and moulding future careers in the field of Media & Communication.
The National Cyber Media Conclave will host two panels of speakers on the potency of cyber media for knowledge sharing, social change and networking; and the emergence of the web as a medium for branding and marketing. This would be followed by a workshop conducted by Mr. Rajesh Lalwani (Founder and CEO, Blogworks.com), and ‘Web Wunderkind’, a contest on the presentation of a business plan for the cyber medium. The winners of the contest would get cash prizes worth Rs. 15,000/-.
Eminent personalities expected to attend are the event are
- Mr. Kiruba Shankar (Co-founder, The Knowledge Foundation)
- Mr. Jasmeen Bhateja, (Founder, The Blank Noise Project)
- Mr. Shivam Vij (Renowned blogger, Delhi)
- Mr. Atul Chitnis (Senior Vice-President, Geodesic Information Systems)
- Mr. Namit Bimbhat (CEO, Switch Media Services India Pvt. Ltd.)
- Mr. Shiv Bhaskar (CEO, The Viewspaper)
Students interested in participating in this seminar can contact the student coordinators: Hamsini Ravi (09011021853) and Deepali Pavagadhi (09765897445) for further details. No participation fee will be charged. Also visit www.ncmc2009.ning.com for further details and updates.
TEAM NCMC
SIMC
Posted in Events
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Paradise Found
February 11, 2009 – 5:38 pm
When Paradise was lost, Lavale was found.
No, seriously!
Too bad John Milton wasn’t around to see paradise resurrect itself from a mountain of sand, rock and dust to what today is known as, The Symbiosis Knowledge Village; a sprawling green campus amidst purple sunsets and blue hills!
Lavale is located at about 2300 ft above sea level; making it one of the most scenic locations along the higher edges of the Deccan Plateau. It wouldn’t be completely honest to call it a hill station. So we’ll just say that it’s something like pocket change, tucked away in the overcoat of the unscathed hill ranges of Pune.
And when in the hills, live like us hillbillies do!
We breathe fresh air. Unpolluted would be an understatement, mind you!
We open our windows, not to yellow taxi cabs or traffic signals, but to clear blue skies and cotton clouds!
We walk-it or cycle-it instead of cab-it or train-it!
We don’t need pyrotechnics or disco lights to light up our nights; we’re covered with a blanket of stars.
Which brings us to, we don’t count sheep; we count stars!
And the best of all, we know what the expression ‘dead silence of the night’ actually means!
Scratch your head, search your memory; when did you last experience one or all of these?
Perhaps on your last vacation to Venice or Marrakech or Champagne… just perhaps!
None the less, these little pleasures are extremely well deserved.
Most of us have jumped through multiple rings of fire, with no ringmaster in sight, to get here… only to learn that the next step is to walk on broken glass…a routine to make us sharper, smarter, stronger and built-to-last!
Here on the hill, our little community is very self contained.
While the classroom and library give us our daily dosage of knowledge, the gym along with the health club allows us to flex our muscles! If we aren’t skimming through reference books, discussing financial downfalls or perhaps a Kurosawa film, you’ll find us diving into the pool, kicking a ball or testing our reflexes in a game of ping pong!
With such great equipment, you could expect nothing less than a perfect symphony orchestra.
So, it should come as no surprise then that the products of this habitat, will woo you with not just brain, but also brawn; and well toned brawn that is!
Now that we’ve made this place sound amazing, wouldn’t you want to come confirm the text for yourself?
If you believe us, do come. If you don’t, we still suggest you come.
And what with the fest on, trust us, you don’t want to be the one person who was elsewhere when the buzz of murmurs was silenced by western drumming scintillatingly infused with the strings of a Hindustani sitar… all taking place as you floated around tiny glowing paraphernalia; city lights beneath your feet and the stars above!
Ethereal, isn’t it?
Posted in simc
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……..My first step in the journey towards SIMC
January 3, 2009 – 1:24 pm
After failing to bell the CAT in maths, I tried SNAP, ending up with a marginally better score, but little hope, though the overall score was 70+.
CHAPTER 1: GOOD NEWS WITH KNOTTY ASSIGNMENTS
Hurray!!! I got an interview call. As per the call letter, we had to take at least 3 interviews of people from media and minimum five filled in questionnaires from different fields. I started using all of my contacts, through my parents, brothers, from long chain relationship, uncles and aunties whom I never met before, and begged to help me. My dad had given me an idea of taking live interviews on a handy cam. And Yes, I managed to finish all my work just in time.
CHAPTER 2: I FACE THE DRACULA IN INTERVIEW
Seemed everything was going fine. A well performed Group Discussion, an impressed Dean Ujjwal for managing an interview with Mridhila Joshi, a news reader from Zee TV and an SIMC alumnus.
I was on seventh heaven, confidence level a little too high while waiting for the interview. There were two interview rooms, one on the sixth floor and the other on the seventh. I was standing in queue, watching the faces coming out after the interview. Those from the sixth floor seemed to be happy, but those from the seventh floor gave a feeling of an earthquake or tsunami happening inside. I prayed – ‘May I be called to the sixth floor’
Suddenly, I heard a knell – ‘Who is Sushant?’ I raised my hands.
“Go to the seventh floor” –He said.
And I fell straight to seventh hell.
(Inside the interview hall)
Lady: Sushant, why did you choose this college?
Me: This is one of the best colleges in media and communication sector. I really wanted to try…
Lady: (interrupting me).I didn’t ask you tell any story. Come to the point. What do you want to become, what is your goal?
Me: I love space and spot advertising. I love to write slogans. I haven’t decided yet but for sure anything in advertising because…
Lady: (again interrupting)…so do you want us to tell you want you should become? Don’t we have any other job?
Me: No ma’am you are taking me wrong. I didn’t want to limit me…..aaaaaaaa….means by knowing this field better….ii..aaa.ii….can…..might….change the preference…
DRACULA: (I felt like Dracula facing me, but masquerading in a lady’s attire)
So, you want to prove me wrong! I just said that if you want to know more about the field, means you have less knowledge about this field.
Me: (Blood pressure high, thirsty, sweating, nature calling, all in one) NO maaa’m, I got work ex of a year in Times JLT and….
Dracula: (Interruption again) So, what should we do with that work experience? How can it help us? I think you are in a wrong place.
Me: NO maaa’m…but
Dracula: Yes, you are in wrong place. Don’t argue.
……………My interview was over and all my hopes are over.
Things to learn:
- Never think that you are prepared because there is a lot more to know.
- Think thousand times before you say anything and never try to explain yourself because an argument.
CHAPTER 3: DREAMS COMES TRUE
I was busy practising when my sister Priyanka called me:
“Hey Steve, you got some courier from SIMC”
Now, what more does Dracula want from me? Oooohhh, Yes…she forget to drink my blood.
I went home and opened the letter. For a while I thought it was a dream. I pinched myself & read that letter again. I got an admission call. My dream had come true.
Things to learn:
- Never-ever lose hope
- Never think you are a failure until you get the results.
SUSHANT KAMBLE
MBA - ADVERTISING
BATCH 2010
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A tribute to team Delhi Footprints
December 4, 2008 – 4:11 am
Sometime in the month of August, was the whole idea of footprints introduced to us. A media seminar- branding- teamwork-blah! None of it sounded as exciting, as it later turned out to be, at that point of time. And Jab We Met, we didn’t have a slightest clue that we would lead to where we did- and how! So all those who have never believed in the power of ‘we’, surely need to meet my team, popularly the Delhi footprints team, 2008.
At the first go, none of the PGs hit it off instantly. Had our share of disbeliefs, lack of faith, and a cocktail of a lot more too. The first few times we met, we only yelled, and became famous for that as well. But, of course, then we settled down more or less. Then, came in an enthusiastic little army, our ug members, and the face of the team gradually changed as well.
Come Delhi, and we worked like never before. There are few things that I clearly remember of my team though:
Neha Saluja’s incessant daily calls to me! (thanks to Reliance, we could stay connected without becoming broke). We cribbed of how the recession would hit us badly, or how we would have to end up begging for money.
Late night panic calls by a certain Mr. ROBIN hood. “Do you realise that we have a very few days left?” This was what was heard repeatedly. “I am leaving for Muradabad. And I am only INFORMING you” Go ahead, I am not your caretaker anyway, is what I could have said. 
Last minute changes in the few creatives, and how hard Shwetha had worked on them, through the night!
Saiba’s messages on gmail, and how she always had to wait for my replies. And how she could never connect to my phone, though I don’t know why!
Aakash’s arguments with this guy called Sharma, the venue owner, who managed to get a decent sum out of us ultimately. Chirag’s last minute creativity, Ayush’s efforts witht he printer, Ridhima’s way of handling logistics so well with Natasha, the ever- consistent Aanchal at documenting and coaxing people to work, Nidhi and Ankita’s tremendous publicity endeavour, Richa’s and Sumedha’s budgeting.
Our D-day goof ups and how we managed to come out clean of all of them!
Shyama ma’am’s constant support, the meetings with her in the central park, and the way she overlooked our flaws!
There’s a lot more to the team and its people though, if not for the lack of space and your patience!
All in all, it’s been a wonderful experience to be a part of this team, and I am proud of it, and the way it worked. Have never been more nostalgic about anything before.
P.S.: Just had a three flat hours sleep, and dreamt that we were working for DFP. But , like someone said, no matter how we wish things turn up the way we want them to, they don’t always do. And, so, good things do come to an end. We plan to party very soon though. Love you guys! 
DEEPALI PAVAGADHI
MBA - ADVERTISING
BATCH SIMC 2010
Posted in Footprints
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