eSummit – 28-30 June 2021 – Wan-Ifra Indian Media Leaders

New afternoon format focuses on digital transformation

179
eSummit – 28-30 June 2021 – Wan-Ifra Indian Media Leaders
The Wan-Ifra eSummit on the cultural and somewhat digital transformation of media Screenshot of the program

In the Indian Media leaders eSummit next week, on the afternoons of 28, 29 and 30 June many of the current topics confronting the industry will be addressed by the Indian owners and professionals. Global Wan-Ifra members and leaderships will also share their view and experience at the event which runs from 3pm to 530 pm on each of the three days.

The topics of presentation and discussion reflect current concerns which I am summarizing in my own words. These could broadly come under – assessing the damage of the Covid-19 pandemic and how to emerge from it, the continued and residual decline in print circulations and how to monetize the digital traffic that seems to have picked up during the pandemic, women in the media, the future newsroom and a presentation of the World News Trends Report and outlook.

The actual session topic headings include, Future proofing the news media business; Deep dive: Subscription learnings from around the world; Digital transformation, the strategies required to put audience needs first; The Audience First Newsroom; Transforming news and newsroom culture in the digital era; Impact of pandemic on women in the newsroom – how did they manage it? The BBC 50:50 project; How to thrive in the post-cookie world by harnessing your own data; Strategic challenges facing news media business and ideas for post pandemic future; Product thinking in newspaper; and, The future of digital advertising – preparing for a cookieless future and innovations at work.

An almost painless event – could be fun!

There are only three sessions each afternoon within two and a half hours –generally including a keynote and hence the webinar event should not be too painful. As to what one can learn there is quite a bit if one is interested but from the past experience of the last few years it seems that for Indian news media the learning has been relatively slow. Even the pandemic has not driven home the possibility of extinction of news media relying on undifferentiated content leavened by sycophantic behavior.

Nevertheless for the incorrigible who need another dose of pep talks and useful information that they could actually apply if they took it a bit more seriously, this is another opportunity for hindsight and to get the juices of rectification going.

More details about the programme and speakers can be seen here.http://events.wan-ifra.org/events/indian-media-leaders-esummit-2021/programme

Registration – Wan-Ifra members can get a complimentary seat. Non-members can get a 50% discount on the total fee of Rs.7500/- + taxes, for this program. Use of this opportunity and register here in this link. Use code IMLES50 for the discount.

For any help please contact – Suresh Babu sureshbabu.kr@wan-ifra.org
or, Viyahalaskhmi Murali vijayalakshmi.murali@wan-ifra.org

2023 promises an interesting ride for print in India

Indian Printer and Publisher founded in 1979 is the oldest B2B trade publication in the multi-platform and multi-channel IPPGroup. While the print and packaging industries have been resilient in the past 33 months since the pandemic lockdown of 25 March 2020, the commercial printing and newspaper industries have yet to recover their pre-Covid trajectory.

The fragmented commercial printing industry faces substantial challenges as does the newspaper industry. While digital short-run printing and the signage industry seem to be recovering a bit faster, ultimately their growth will also be moderated by the progress of the overall economy. On the other hand book printing exports are doing well but they too face several supply-chain and logistics challenges.

The price of publication papers including newsprint has been high in the past year while availability is diminished by several mills shutting down their publication paper and newsprint machines in the past four years. Indian paper mills are also exporting many types of paper and have raised prices for Indian printers. To some extent, this has helped in the recovery of the digital printing industry with its on-demand short-run and low-wastage paradigm.

Ultimately digital print and other digital channels will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future. For instance, there is no alternative to a rise in textbook consumption but this segment will only reach normality in the next financial year beginning on 1 April 2023.

Thus while the new normal is a moving target and many commercial printers look to diversification, we believe that our target audiences may shift and change. Like them, we will also have to adapt with agility to keep up with their business and technical information needs.

Our 2023 media kit is ready, and it is the right time to take stock and reconnect with your potential markets and customers. Print is the glue for the growth of liberal education, new industry, and an emerging economy. We seek your participation in what promises to be an interesting ride.

– Naresh Khanna

Subscribe Now

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here