Word-Power play

Each time I think that The TOI has conquered all possible market segments, but of course after self-fragmenting the market, this oligopolistic firm surprises me in the most grotesque manner.

Received an email the other day-most official emails (read junk) are deleted unread, but this one caught my eye and you bet, I wasn’t sleepy anymore. TSM and TSJ are creating the buzz (guess only as spam mails). Times School of Marketing (TSM) and Times School of Journalism (TSJ) are here to create a new breed of space sellers and quote-unquote journalists. And guess where the lectures will be held- at our beloved football field sized canteen, where a room is allocated to teach tricks of the trade. How cool is that, they wouldn’t have to spend a rupee on faculty- you see all the resources are right here. And Voila! Future TOI staff at your service sir….

Ravi Deshpande, CCO, Contract Advertising, recently wrote this amazing copy (ad copy) for DNA titled – For Sale. Headlines, Editorial, and your Trust. No points for guessing- the copy is a direct hit at its competitor TOI. Not that DNA has truth its DNA but I shall not get into that right now. So yeah space is sold and so is news…now thanks to TSM & TSJ a student will learn this art- a unique art where you sell quotes, full stops, commas, and well the byline too might be sold. Pseudo journalism boss with a blend of advertising techniques- absolutely new wave I say. Sigh, another marketing gimmick, another money making strategy, another section of society fooled.

Awright Hindustan Times, DNA and Mid-Day…wakey wakey, new arena has opened up, more competition, more madness, whoa world is a busy place…oh so busy...thanks to the white elephant.