Ugadi - 2011 :Sri Kharanama Samvatsara

Ugadi - 2011 :Sri Kharanama Samvatsara

What is Ugadi?

Ugadi or Yugadi is a Telugu / Kannada / Marathi New Year celebrated every year with much traditional fervor in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.AndhraPradesh and Karnataka people call the festival as Ugadi while Maharashtrians lionize it as GudiPadwa.Yugadi (Yug = New Era,Adi=Beginning) is the day when Lord Brahma has created this universe as per Hindu Mythology.

Ugadi beckons the Spring Season giving an Indication of new leaves to the trees which were left desolated, on the flip side it is passing on the message “leave behind the past sour experiences and rekindle your hopes for better future with positive thinking”. The aroma of Jasmine Flowers, Humming a melody by Cuckoo, scrumptious Mangoes and Pachchadi (All tastes of life) signifies the inception of new Era “The Ugadi”

Ugadi Pachchadi:

Ugadi Pachchadi is a recipe that has similarities of different feelings /tastes / Experiences of the life.It is a blend of all six tastes or flavours (Shadruchulu).Mango indicates Vagaru,Neem leaves and buds signifies the bitterness of the life and jaggery connotes sweetness, Tamarind stands for Sourness and Chillies refer Hotness.

Wishing you all a “Sri Khara Nama Samvatsara” New Year

How to Make your Television Interview a success

Media orientation should be given to the person who is attending the interview in TV studio to make it a success. Following tips may help give his / her best

Ø Don’t be nervous or show fear on your face as each emotion will reflect your feeling

Ø Be active and friendly, bring zest and power in your talk

Ø Make face to face and eye contact with the interviewer

Ø Don’t try to see camera or walls or divert attention on something else

Ø Bring your thought into a small gist and deliver the answer briefly

Ø Anticipate possible tough questions and practice accordingly

Ø Please prepare to answer the questions in easy to understand language for common audience to grab it

Ø Don’t use many technical words which common audience can’t understand if it is mandatory try to explain what exactly it means

Ø Try to avoid speculative questions and tell the interview openly I can’t guess / speculate

Ø Interviewer may ask tricky questions / negative queries …answer them steadily and don’t repeat answers again once you are done. Try to add positive statement with negative answer

Ø Your outlook should be neat and fresh in the sense..Be neatly shaved,be like a professional,wear coat and tie,remove the name plate from your coat,Don’t wear chains,rings as they shine a lot in the light.Please put the microphone to tie and ensure it is not visible before camera

Ø Don’t ever wear shining / fancy clothes while going to TV Studio.Generally white, light sky blue clothes are suggested

Ø Please switch off the camera and don’t keep anything in your shirt pocket (i.e mobile, money etc)

Public Speaking Skill:

A good CEO can be a best speaker in public? Should we require gauging the performance of an MD basing on his public speaking skills? Can all CEOs / MDs / VPs are good Public Speakers? My answer is NO. As per some reports the big challenge and hidden fear of the senior management professionals is none other than speaking in public and larger crowds. But some Professionals are blessed by birth with the art of speaking in public and once they enter the arena and take up the tone, there won’t be no quavers, trills or shivers but volley of words that hit the hearts and touch the minds smoothly. They turn the entire crowds towards their speech with the words that entice all.

Why we are failing to deliver the right messages to the target audiences in public meetings or huge gatherings?

Some feel inferiority complex while others fears that audiences may scan their speech and catch hold on their gestures to make fun of the speakers. Few more have public speaking phobia because of their introvert attitude and having shrinked from social gatherings.

Tips to become good public speakers:

Group Discussions:

We need to be little social and extrovert and try to actively participate in group discussions, staff meetings, Q & A etc.which generally throws away the public fear and help you become good communicators and public speakers there after.

Public Speaking course:

Join and undergo public speaking courses training if any to wipe out public speaking phobia. Course trainers give tips and help you become good speakers.

Speak often in Public:

Try and participate in social gathering and speak before small crowds when ever there is a chance comes your way.

Rehearse:

Practice makes things better. Rehearse the speech as many times you feel you are a fit.

Don’t eat up words:

While delivering a speech / lecture / Presentation don’t ever quaver or shiver and eat up words at the end of each conversation. Speak loudly, clearly and pay attention to each individual.

Don’t be like super fast express:

Speak ….pause…relax then start again. Don’t look at sky / Walls/ outside hall while delivering the lecture. Please look at each individual in the meeting and make them actively / interestingly participate in your speech.

Don’t read the speech:

Reading the speech makes audiences feel bore and they try to get their attention divert.

Topic of interest:

Have a deep knowledge on the topic you want to deliver a lecture or speech. Involve the audience in your speech and use your sense humour if required.

Whom to send and inform about your event:

Each event / PC has its own importance. Some events are of local importance while the others are in business interest. Please make sure you are contacting the right person for your event.

Print Media:

If the event is of local importance: Contact the city desk in charge / City Editor / City Bureau Chief and keep the beat Journalist in the Loop. (Beats….i.e. life style, Realty, Education, Health etc.)

If the event is of Business importance: Contact Business Editor / COB and keep the beat Business Correspondent in loop.

TV Channels:

If the event is of local importance: For PC / Events news Coverage please be in touch with City Editor / City News Desk In charge/ News Coordinator / News / Events assignment editor / COB and keep the Beat Journalist in the loop

If the event is of Business importance: Contact Business Editor / COB and keep the beat Business Correspondent in loop.

For talk Shows / Debates / Discussion: Please be in touch with Show’s Producer / Input / out put Editor.

Beat Journalists: Please don’t forget to keep in loop the beat Journalist who writes for Supplements ….i.e Realty, Health, Education, Personal Finance etc. if your event falls in those categories.

Mutually Beneficial joint Publicity Plans:

A plan that enhances the brand image of both the organizations.Generally combined publicity plans happens with mutual understanding and tie-ups with Media organizations. Media plays publicity role while the organization works as a advisor / Guide / Counsellor to their readers / Target audiences.
Eg.Education fairs: Where in media amasses students to the fair and its partner organization takes the role of advisor / Guide / Counsellor to their readers / Target audiences.
More Examples:
Media Organization – Hospital: can take up many awareness’ programmes combinely i.e. No Smoking, Cardiac problems, Obesity,
Ø Mock drills on Emergency services
Ø World Aids day
Ø World No Smoking day etc.
Ø Health awareness Camps
Media Organization – Educational Institute:
Ø Education Fairs
Ø Campus Programmes
Ø Student orientation / Work shops on various topics
Ø Celebrities / VIPs old students meets
Ø Career Counseling
Ø Award functions / Quiz / Elocution / Creativity programmes
More Examples:
Ø Tourism show
Ø Auto Show
Ø Real Estate Show
Ø Charity Show
Ø Food Festivals
Ø Jewellery Show
Ø Trade Shows

Create a photo opportunity:
Invite a celebrity / VVIP to your facility. Media will rush to the place to take a click.
Conduct a Programme / debate / Seminar on Current Issue: Debates / Seminars / Programmes on current topics generally draw the attention of media.
Ø Eg. Global Warming --- A debate / Seminar can be worked out for good media publicity. It can also be a part of CSR activity.
Ø Eg.Swineflu Pandemic: Awareness Programmes can be a good idea. Reach out railway stations, Bus Stations, Airports, arterial roads offer them hand outs of swineflu.It can be a good media Photo Opportunity. Media will pick up the news immediately.
Ø In the same way we can do various other programmes i.e World No Smoking day etc.
Ø Eg. Keep your city clean & Green: Elocution / Essay Writing / Painting Competitions fetch maximum mileage out of it. Don’t forget to rope in kids, College going girls in the event for good media Photo Opportunity.

Tips to identify the news peg:

A perfect PR person is the one who does clever promotions with the ideas that work out best to draw media attention. It is not a rocket science as all the ideas coming his way simply going unnoticeable. If he / She pays little attention on their clients / companies key messages….it won’t be a big deal to find one.

News pegs are generated through:

Ø Sharing ideas with media
Ø Current topics / Issues
Ø Breaking news
Ø Features / Media stories
Ø Events
Ø Incidents
Ø Important Days of the year
Ø Global trends on Local markets
Ø Regular TV / Print / Online News Watch
Ø Programmes that media show interest
Ø Series / Regular events / incidents
Ø Government announcements / Policy Decisions
Ø Industry issues
Ø Old stories generates new ideas
Ø In depth study / research on previous / old stories
Ø Community programmes / Festivals
Ø National / International issues with Local angle

Press Conference Arrangements

Arrangements at the Press Conference Venue are very important to catch the attention of media personnel as they may asses the professionalism of the Corporate Communication Team / PR Professionals of the company and gauge their attitude towards media. Corporate Communication Team / PR Professionals must ensure Journos feel comfortable and meet their Professional requirements.

About the Venue:

Selection of Venue is equally important to draw the attention of the Journalists to get good media turnout. Venue should be ideally suitable and convenient for journos to meet their transportation requirements as many media personnel miss out the PC on the pretext of remote venue or traffic hurdles, hectic schedules, out number of events etc.Venue selection must be done with in a radius of 8-10km distance from media offices.

Seating Style:

Generally media people prefer Theatre style seating arrangements.Theatre style is convenient for both Print / Electronic Media. Round table / “U” Style arrangements can be done in some cases where electronic media presence is not required. Round table / “U” Style seating arrangements are a bit inconvenient to electronic media in particular as hardly they find space to take the shots of speakers / Guests on the stage.

Number of Seats:

Depending upon the importance of PC, number may go up from 10 - 15 to 30 – 40.Please do adequate media seating arrangements depending on the confirmations you received from the media during the follow up process.

Ideal Day & Time for a PC / Event:

Monday:

Some what ok but media follow up is a bit difficult.i.e Saturday media naturally will be in party mood as it is a weekend. Sunday of course majority media people will be on weekly off. So we have chance to do media follow up on Friday which 2days before the PC.There are chances that media people may forget about our PC with hectic schedule.

Tuesday:

More ok .We will have a day’s time to do little follow up with media to get good turn out.

Wednesday:

Absolutely ok.It is the more preferable day for media events i.e PC / Events. We will have ample time for media follow ups.

Thursday:

Absolutely ok.It is one more preferable day for media events i.e PC / Events. We will have ample time for media follow ups.

Friday:

More ok .We will have a enough time to do little follow up with media to get good turn out.

Saturday:

Absolutely not O.K . No media person shows much importance to attend a P.C / event as they will be in party mood.Media coverage will be a tough task as it has to be published on Sunday issue and Sunday issues are flooded with ads and hardly find space for news articles. Ultimately we are losing a good media opportunity

Sunday:

Absolutely not O.K. Majority media people will be on weekly off. Media turnout will be a problem.

Ideal Time:

Ideal time for conducting a PC would be 11am till 3pm any day. Media will have ample time to go to their office to file the news. Time is an excuse for those events which have to happen in the evening / Night time for sure.

Stage:

Generally there should be a raised platform / Stage for media briefing which gives media a chance to have a look at the speakers / guests and click the photographs for publication.

Stage backdrop:

Prefer a good stage backdrop rather keeping standees. Backdrop flexi must be covered with company logo which gives a good photo opportunity for media publication.

Media Photo opportunities.

A single picture talks more than thousand words. When an announcement is being made and the same is not much newsworthy, Photo opportunity is the best option to convey the right message to your target audience. For example your organization has decided to offer its recourse to the flood / cyclone victims, let your senior management including CEO,Chairman etc come out donning jacket / shirt with your company logo and Flood relief being written on it. Media has little to write about the event but enough scope for Photo publication of the event. Electronic media may also have pick the news and air it.

In fact photo journalists are always in search of catchy images to attract its readers. They love to click the images of celebrities, and their emotions, gestures.At the same time the like to flash the images of beautiful nature, animals,kids,School going children, college going attractive girls, rare pictures, unusual images, natural calamities and relief and rescue operations etc.

Name Plates:

We do excellent arrangements on the stage but remain oblivious to display name plates on the stage Table. It may be a minute thing but crucial one for media to write down the names of the guests on the stage and can’t be ignored. Media may not know all the guests who sit on the stage. Name plates with their designation help media write and cover the same in their news.

Start Media Briefing on time:

With out number of events in hand media people are a bit busy to attend the all the PCs.They are in hurry to move out. So don’t keep them in waiting and ensure the PC start on time. Being behave like professional and sticking to time will fetch you honour from Journalist community.

Podium /Audio / Visual arrangements:

Check electrical outlets in the Press Conference hall and ensure enough outlets are available to plug in audiovisual equipment and media cameras. Test check the wireless mike and podium mike are working properly.

Invitation to media:
PC information should reach media offices well in advance and prevent instant messaging the media personnel. Media Invitation should reach all media offices a week before or at least 2-3 days well in advance. Media invite must brief the gist of the Press Conference. Venue, day, time and guests of the PC must be mentioned without fail. Do media follow up a day before to get the confirmations which enable you assess the total media turn out. Calling the media people will enhance the chances of getting good turn out which ultimately increase the interest in the event also.