Friday 29 March 2013

Ph.D. Entrance Test for Mumbai University


University of Mumbai has announced programme for PhD entrance tests for its departments.

Please visit http://www.mu.ac.in/phdentrancetest.html and the following:



Ph.D. Entrance Test-2013

Tuesday 26 March 2013

New, improved IRS hailed by industry


By Ritu Midha

 Source: http://www.mxmindia.com/2013/03/new-improved-irs-hailed-by-industry/

The Indian Readership Survey (IRS) has received industry applause for its new avatar, perhaps a first in the media industry. This, however, is after the curtain-raiser – and the real reactions may come when IRS 2013 is out in December this year. Having said that, the detailing that has gone into revamping and reinventing the IRS cannot be faulted – neither can the methodology and the scope it provides for in-depth analysis.
The sample size for IRS now will be 235,007 users across 95 cities with 5 lakh+ population; 92 districts will be reported individually. And there will be zonal reporting for Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Due diligence has been used in the entire process, right from the selection of the new research partner – Nielsen. Explains Lynn de Souza, Chairperson, RSCI, “The search for a partner began with an invitation for RFI (request for information) to research agencies on a global level – which, in itself, is a path-breaking initiative. We received seven responses, which ultimately led to Nielsen being selected based on various parameters.”
While putting together the methodology for the new IRS, six key priorities were kept under consideration: accuracy, targeting, comprehensiveness, user-friendliness, engagement and granularity.

Said Prashant Singh, Managing Director, Media, Nielsen India, “The focus is not only on accuracy of data, but also on its usage and analysis, and on how easily the users are able to get information.”


The Four Pillars:
IRS has now been planned on the four pillars of simplicity, openness, integration and quality – the objective of course is in-depth data that will help in better understanding of the consumer – his/her readership and consumption habits, and beyond. “Shorter interview duration and Double screen CAPI will definitely make life simpler for respondent and interviewer. Intuitive analysis, meanwhile, will definitely work well for all IRS users,” Mr Singh said.
Here is a closer look at each of the four pillars and the foundation on which these pillars are being built.

Simplicity:
Intuitive analytics with world class reporting platform
Better respondent engagement with 30 minute interviews
Superior speed and quality with Double Screen CAPI

Openness:
Transparent methodology: no black box
Collaborative steering group
Seamless incorporation of cross-platform data

Integration:
Augmented analytics through fusion
Access to largest pool of global n local experts
World class solutions by the world’s leading measurement organisations

Quality:
Real time tracking of interviewers for better quality
Independent audits by 25 dedicated quality control specialists
To make the process completely unbiased, data acquisition would be done through a rotation of staff every 18 months – completely avoiding the scenario where same people are interviewing same people over and over again.

The interview process:
Interviews would be conducted at individual and household level. While part one of the interview would be pertaining to print measurement. For the part two sample has been bifurcated in two parts: sample 2A would be asked questions on usage of TV and Internet in addition to product linkage, while 2B would asked questions on usage of radio and mobile in addition to product linkage.

Demographic and behaviour hooks would be used for data fusion. The two-pronged approach has been adopted to keep the sample size within the reasonable limits without compromising on research quality.

Mr Singh elucidated, “Key question on data profile are being asked to all respondents. As for category-specific data, whether it goes in personal interview or HH interview would depend on the product category – for instance a personal category like chocolates would go in personal interview and a category like detergents will go in household interviews.”

The householder will be selected based on respondents’ responses to the questions, and cannot be selected by the interviewer.

Publications, interestingly, will be shown on a random basis, and hence the scope of priority based on sequencing is gone.

The interview process, to put it simply, seeks to get accurate data – and a key factor here is a smooth interview process which is not taxing for interviewer and respondent. Paritosh Joshi, member of the board of governors, MRUC, explains, “Even a bigger concern than respondent fatigue was interviewer fatigue – each interview is a pretty punishing thing, and after a few interviews, the interviewer was almost answering the questions before the respondent.”

Another expectation from the new research methodology is that upmarket consumers, elusive till now, would be accessible now due to shorter duration interview and use of digital technology.

Data Analysis:
While Dual CAPI and tracking of the interviewer make the process sturdier, a key factor is the myriad data analysis options it opens up for users. Rich user interface facilitates the analysis that would definitely help media and marketers if the demo presented at the IRS 2013 Curtain Raiser yesterday are anything to go by.

Transparency and credibility are two other factors that IRS 2013 has taken care of. Stated Mr Joshi, “A lot of flak that IRS received initially was because people were of the opinion that it was compromised. Security concerns to build an architecture that could not be compromised have been taken care of. Nasty surprises are in store for people who tried to compromise it earlier.”

Easy-to-use software enables a number of permutations and combinations, leading to multi-level and multi data point analysis. Merging of data, and granular analysis are the buzzwords for publishers as of now – who believe that these would definitely enable them to understand their users and markets better, leading to better revenues.

“All the non-sampling issues have been taken care of. The need for quasi-qualitative decisions we were taking earlier has been done away with. We are not losing anything that we had in previous IRS, in future if we want to add anymore thing, we can do it,” emphasised Mr Joshi.

Ms de Souza summed it up: “Capture, storage and dissemination of date would be different – it is a bit like TV measurement moving from diary to people meter.” The key focus, of course, is on providing accurate and granular data through software that will make a much more in-depth analysis possible than in the past.

Industry appreciation

Shantanu Bhanja, Vice President – Marketing at Hindustan Times Media Ltd
On the conceptual level, data fusion will make it really powerful. We will get a far better quality of data. It can also be analyzed along with data you get from other sources – which in turn will help in meeting your business needs better – instead of just one set of data.

Use of technology will now enable IRS to reach high quality audiences – whom we were not able to reach earlier. New dual CAPI and the size of the survey being brought down to 30 minutes will definitely help in getting people who were earlier elusive due to methodology.

Digital makes data administration easier – and there definitely is increased accountability as well as freedom from errors caused by surverys being conducted on papers.
It is an interactive data module. We will be able to dip into data, and analyze it on user apps as they keep coming.

As for what else is on my wish list, other formats of media and news consumption need to become part of the same integrated IRS. That, as is known, is already work in progress.

Himanka Das, Senior Vice President – West, Carat Media Services
It is a much-needed initiative – I am really excited and looking forward to the first set of data. It definitely looks interesting, to say the least, and promising if the curtain-raiser is anything to go by. I have witnessed many changes in industry – from INTAM to TAM, diary system to people meter-readership studies merger, and each change has proved to be for the better.

Nielsen has enough exposure and knowhow across the globe, and hence any doubts about the robustness of the system are ruled out. I am sure enough thinking would have gone into data fusion.

What I am keenly waiting to observe is how the new socio-economic classification will be handled, as it was not discussed at length in the session. New classification will go on in parallel with the old classification – and over a period of one year the old one would be phased out and rightly so. It will be interesting to watch how the new one will be used in IRS research, and its impact from the data fusion point of view.

As for software for data dissemination and analysis, it appears to be very user friendly. Another commendable thing is user feedback they are seeking to make the system more robust.

Monetizing it is a great idea, however, with a 2.5 to 3% commission structure, it remains to be seen if agencies can fund it.

Ambika Subramanian, OMD
The interface is definitely much better, and much easier to navigate. Data slicing too should be much better now. Unfortunately I missed the initial part of the curtain-raiser, and hence I would like to use the new IRs before I really comment on it.

Navin Singh, Manager – Marketing, Sakal Media Group
It is a step in the right direction. All the loopholes in the previous IRS have been plugged. We are really looking forward to using it. Data in the new IRS will be better obtained, and finer cut. It will enable us in exploiting our strength in specific markets.

The most impressive things of course are the much needed change in interview methodology, and the new vistas opened for data analysis at multiple levels.

Peter Suresh, Head – Strategy, Dainik Bhaskar Group
The entire process is automated, and that is incredible. Attempt to report individually on a far larger number of geographical units is also very heartening. District cut too has increased – hence the data can be analyzed at a far more granular level.

Bulk of action of late has been in rest of India, beyond six metros and hence granular cut is extremely important. Data slicing at a deeper level, and multiple ways of presenting it, make far more sense. Readership numbers are the cornerstones of most media marketing and sales strategies – and the finer they can be cut, the more robust they are. And, of course, these will help in delivering better stories to the marketers.

Sanjay Verma, West Head, Sandesh Ltd
“It is a step in the right direction. So many options have been provided as far as data analysis is concerned. We now have an option to look at different TGs and SECs. What is more, one can merge data segments as required. Right data slicing is much needed. It definitely helps everyone to get more data permutations and combinations”.


Monday 25 March 2013

Vacancies in Journalism and Mass Communication in Tripura University


 Prof Deepak Upadhyaya has sent the following announcement for positions in Journalism & Mass Communication, Tripura University.
TRIPURA UNIVERSITY
(A Central University)
Suryamaninagar – 799022
Tripura West, INDIA

Advertisement No.‐F.TU/02/2013                                                                                         Date: 20.03.2013 
Applications in prescribed form are invited from the Indian Nationals for filling‐up the following  vacant teaching posts : 
Department
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Journalism and Mass Communication
Journalism  &  Mass 
Communication– Number of posts=1(one) 
(A16–Un Reserved), Specialization open
Journalism & Mass Communication–1 (B6–UR) Number of posts=1(one)  (A16–Un Reserved),
Specialization open
Nil

Date of Advertisement: 20.03.13                                                    Last Date for Application: 19.04.2013
Further details visit: www.tripurauniv.in .  Application  form  along with  detailed  instructions  can  be  downloaded  from  the  university  website: www.tripurauniv.in  The duly filled in application forms complete in all respects alongwith a draft of Rs.  300/‐  (SC/ST/PD  candidate  exempted)  drawn  in  favour  of  the  Registrar,  Tripura  University, Suryamaninagar‐799022, Tripura, India payable at SBI, Tripura University campus Branch (Code:10495) may be sent so as to reach the office of the Registrar on or before 19 April, 2013.  
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Friday 22 March 2013

Call of papers from AMIC Conference

Following from http://amic.org.sg/conference/AMIC2013/home.htm



ASIAN MEDIA INFORMATION and COMMUNICATION CENTRE (AMIC)
2013 INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Transformational Communication and the New Asia
in partnership with the
Department of Communication, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences
Universitas Gadjah Mada
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
July 4-7, 2013
CALL FOR PAPERS
Papers will be selected on a competitive basis and an expert panel will be appointed for screening all the submissions. To be submitted via email <conference@amic.org.sg>
Abstracts due:         April 15, 2013
Full papers due:     June 01, 2013
The theme of this year’s annual AMIC conference seeks to highlight the role of communication and the media in bringing about a ‘New Asia’, that is, an Asia that is slowly transforming into a ‘soft power’ as Europe and North America seem to continue their decline. 
A recent study by the Asian Development Bank noted that, “Asia is in the midst of a truly historic transformation. It holds the promise of making some 3 billion additional Asians, hitherto commonly associated with poverty and deprivation, affluent by today’s standards,”
With this economic growth comes ‘soft power’, seen in the growing global influence of Asian culture, symbolized by, for example, the rising Bollywood and Hong Kong genre in films, Japanese anime and Korean pop music. It is also seen in the Asian presence in various communication channels. Most Asian nations have their own radio and television networks and have reduced their reliance on Western-oriented international news agencies for their world news content. And their social and mobile media presence is overwhelming. To illustrate, the Internet Worldstats.com reports that Chinese is the second most used language on the Internet (after English). Japanese rated fourth, and Korean was tenth. 
Conference sub-streams
  • new media, old media ethics
  • media and revolution
  • new media literacies
    ethnicity, race and religion in communication
  • communication and youth
  • leadership and the media
  • new paradigms in development communication
  • cross-cultural networking
  • health, policy and communication
  • gender and communication
  • government and the media
  • broadcasting, past and present
  • print communication, past and present
  • media history and evolution
  • freedom of expression in transition societies
  • socio-political development and the media
  • media empowerment
  • communication and social change

Faculty positions in Media Studies in Nanded

I have received the following from Prof Ajit Gagare. 

(The details could also be retrieved on
http://www.srtmun.ac.in/Recruitments/Advertisement%20for%20Teaching%20Posts.pdf

Earlier, date of submitting filled application was 15th of march but now it is extended up to 5th of April 2013)
Sr. No.
Name of the Department
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
1
Media Studies              (Electronic Media)
01-Unreserved
01-Unreserved
01-VJ(A) - (2nd time)
Specialization:
Electronic Media / Communication Studies/ Television Production/Media Studies/ Media and Cultural Studies/Broadcast Journalism Advertising and Media Planning /Media Research/Video Production
Electronic Media / Television &Video Production
Electronic Media / Television & Video Production





SWAMI RAMANAND TEERTH MARATHWADA UNIVERSITY,
NANDED-431 606 (Maharashtra), INDIA


ADVERTISEMENT NO. SRTMUN/TP/01/2013, DATED 11-02-2013

Applications are invited for the following Teaching positions in the University Campus, Nanded on Regular basis.

 As per Advt. No. SRTMUN/TP/01/2013 dated 11-02-2013 the last date for submission of application form is 15-03-2013. Now the date for submission of application has been extended up to 5th April, 2013. The probable dates of interviews are 15th to 25th May, 2013

(A) Details of Advertisement for the Teaching Post
Pay Scale:
Professor – Rs. 37400-67000 with AGP of Rs. 10000
Associate Professor – Rs. 37400-67000 with AGP of Rs. 9000
Assistant Professor – Rs. 15600-39100 with AGP of Rs. 6000


General / Minimum Qualifications: PROFESSOR
A.
1)      An eminent scholar with Ph.D. qualification(s) in the concerned/allied/relevant discipline and published work of high quality actively engaged in research with evidence of published work with a minimum of 10 publications as books and/or research / policy papers.
2)      A minimum of ten years of teaching experience in university/college, and/or experience in research at the University/National Level institutions/industries, including experience of guiding candidates for research at doctoral level;
3)      Contribution to educational innovation, design of new curricula and courses, and technology  mediated teaching learning process.
4)      A minimum score as stipulated in the Academic Performance Indicator (API) based Performance Based Appraisal System (PBAS), set out as per UGC Regulation vide Appendix III, given in the Application Form.
OR
B.
An outstanding professional, with established reputation in the relevant field who has made significant contributions to knowledge in the concerned/allied/relevant discipline, to be substantiated by credentials.
General / Minimum Qualifications: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

1)      Good academic record with a Ph.D. Degree in the concerned / allied / relevant disciplines.
2)      A Master’s Degree with at least 55% marks (or an equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed).
3)      A minimum of eight years of experience of teaching and/or research in an academic/research position equivalent to that of Assistant Professor in a University, College or Accredited Research Institution/industry excluding the period of Ph.D. research with evidence of published work and a minimum of 5 publications as books and/or research/policy papers.
4)      Contribution to educational innovation, design of new curricula and courses, and technology mediated teaching learning process with evidence of having guided doctoral candidates and research students.
5)      A minimum score (from Category-III – 300 score) as stipulated in the Academic Performance Indicator (API) based Performance Based Appraisal System (PBAS), set out in this Regulation in Appendix III, given in the Application Form.

Thursday 21 March 2013

Call for papers for Seminar at Solapur on “ Media and Society”

Dr. Ravindra Chincholkar has sent in the following announcement:


             Department of Mass Communication, School of Social Sciences, Solapur University, Solapur (Maharashtra) is organizing a National Seminar on the theme      
Media and Society’ on 25th and 26th April 2013.

The seminar is sponsored by ICSSR.

About the Seminar
India has been facing many problems in 21st century. Social Exclusion, Economic, developmental, environmental, educational issues and communal tensions inequality, discrimination, deprivation etc have adversely affected the progress of our country. During last few years India has faced many communal tensions, social exclusion, economic problems, natural calamities etc. The responsibility of media in such situation becomes very important.
 Media plays an important role in the dissemination of information and knowledge to the society and guides them regarding how to solve these social issues. Media shapes views, beliefs and attitudes of people about everything from soap to politics People trust on media and therefore most of their decisions are based on information given by media.
Today the number of mainstream media as well as new media has been increased but the main role of media to educate the people is forgotten. Now a day’s media does not playing its role as watchdog of the society in the form of fourth estate.  The coverage of media concentrated only on cricket, cinema and celebrities. The media has forgotten its basic social responsibilities. Media professionals are worried only for TRP, advertisements, circulation and profits. A large number of newspapers and news channels in the country are played an irresponsible role while covering social issues.
 The present day situation demands vibrant and more responsible media. This seminar aims to discuss all important social issues before us and to discuss the view of media covering these issues. This seminar will discuss on what should be the role of print, electronic and new media in present scenario and will try to give some suggestions.
Sub-themes:


1.     Social Exclusion and Media

2.     Economic Issues and Media

3.     Developmental Issues and Media

4.     Environmental Issues and Media

5.     Gender Issues and Media

6.     Communal Issues and Media

7.     Tourism Development and Media



Important Dates
Abstract Submission: (In 500 words)
05 th April, 2013
Announcement of results:
08th April, 2013
Full paper submission:
15th April, 2013
E-mail Adress for sending Abstracts/full papers
sssms2013solapur@gmail.com

Registration Fee:
The registration fee is Rs.1, 000 for faculty members, Rs.500 for Media persons and Rs.250 for students.  The registration fee covers seminar kit for faculty and media persons. Accommodation facility is available in the University Guest House. Those who prefer to stay outside can contact us to book rooms in hotels.
 
For More Details contact:
 Dr.G.s.Kamble                                                   Dr. Ravindra Chincholkar (09850248094)                                                            (09860091855)

Wednesday 20 March 2013

Call for papers for international Conference at Tirupahi on Changing Landscape in Communication with New Media Technologies


Prof P  Vijaya Lakshmi has sent in the following announcement on  international conference that address key questions concerning the Changing Landscape in Communication with New Media Technologies

The conference will focus on some critical themes concerning the fast-changing landscape in new media communication technologies; participants are expected to present and debate the opportunities and challenges of this important topic, probing how the new media phenomenon can facilitate social mobility, curb ignorance, address critical issues of this era such as poverty, public health, governance, ethical issues, political instability, among other issues.
Authors can submit completed articles or article abstracts. Other academic projects like educational documentaries pertaining to the themes of the conference and multimedia productions are also welcome.

Important Dates

Abstract Submission:
30th April, 2013
Announcement of results:
30th June, 2013
Full paper submission:
31st August, 2013


We welcome abstracts to this international conference that address key questions concerning the Changing Landscape in Communication with New Media Technologies. A panel of Western and Eastern scholars will blind-review all proposed presentations or abstracts to the conference.

Why is this Important?
New media Technology has brought a new dimension to the learning paradigm and newer methods of imparting information. New media technology is rapidly impacting the function, methodology, and delivery of education, health, governance, communications, and social engagement.
Various governments across the world use new media technologies in various known or covert ways to provide e-government services, to improve education, healthcare, and to foster economic development. The potential of new media technologies to facilitate social movements, political participation, and a space for public engagement is visible across the world.
The advances in new media technology deserve scholarly debates and this convention promises to deliver that between academics, media practitioners, government workers, and students. The gathering will present and debate the opportunities and challenges of this important topic.
In what ways can societies employ this new media technology to further social mobility, curb ignorance, address critical issues of this era such as poverty, political instability, public health, governance, ethical issues, among other issues?
Again, we invite to you join us by submitting your abstract to be considered for presentation at this important conference, which will take place November 20 to 22nd, 2013 in the scenic, hospitable, and sacred town of Tirupathi, India. We welcome research papers on four major themes:
  • New Media Technology and Social Engagement
  • New Media Technology Education and Public Health
  • Mobile Media and Communications
  • New Media and Political Discourse
The deadline for submitting your abstract is April 30, 2013. We will announce the results of whose paper has been either accepted or not accepted on May 20, 2013.
Submit your abstracts at the following email address: IIJIndia2013@gmail.com
If you have any further questions, please contact the following committee members regarding your abstract submission:

Dr. Jatin Srivastava at srivastj@ohio.edu or
Dr. Yusuf Kalyango at Kalyango@ohio.edu

Visit website 

American Journalism Suffers As Cash Crunch Impacts News Gathering


31 per cent Americans have stopped tuning to news outlets 
because they longer provide them with the news 
they were accustomed to getting


Source: 
http://www.mxmindia.com/2013/03/journalism-suffers-as-cash-crunch-impacts-newsgathering/

By mxmindia.com Correspondent

Every year, for the last decade-odd, the Pew Research Center, a non-partisan source of data and analysis, presents a report on the health and status of American journalism. So what’s it got to do with us in India?

After all if there’s something that we haven’t blindly copied from the US of A is American news media practices. Some practices like paid content are homegrown and are flourishing.

But as the Indian news media suffers from a liquidity crunch, it’s interesting to look at the impact that cash-starved news outlets have on the American public. Here’s a look at the major findings which we have taken from the Pew Research Center communique: In the news media, a continued erosion of reporting resources has converged with growing opportunities for newsmakers, such as political figures, government agencies, companies and others, to take their messages directly to the public. The public, for its part, is not very aware of the financial struggles that have led to the news industry’s cutbacks in reporting, but nearly one-in-three (31%) say they have stopped turning to a particular news outlet because it no longer provides the news they were accustomed to getting.

The report pinpoints multiple signs of shrinking reporting power. For newspapers, estimates for newsroom cutbacks in 2012 put industry employment down 30% since its peak in 2000 and below 40,000 employees for the first time since 1978. On local television, where audiences were down across every key time slot in 2012, news stories have shrunk in length, and, compared with 2005, coverage of government has been cut in half and sports, weather and traffic now account for 40% of the content. On cable, coverage of live events during the day, which often requires a crew and correspondent, fell 30% from 2007 to 2012, while interview segments were up 31%. And among news magazines, the end of Newsweek’s print edition coincided with another round of staff cuts, and Time, the only general news print magazine left, announced cuts of roughly 5% in early 2013 as a part of broader company layoffs.
This adds up to a news industry that is more understaffed and unprepared to uncover stories, dig deep into emerging ones or to question information put into its hands.

“There are all sorts of contributors in the evolving landscape of news and, in many ways, more opportunities for citizens to access information,” says Amy Mitchell, acting director of the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. “But there are more signs than ever that the reduced reporting power in the news industry is having an effect and may weaken both the industry’s capacity to produce in-depth journalism and its credibility with the public at the same time that others are gaining more voice.”

A video summary of lessons from the presidential election, documents this trend. Campaign reporters acted more as megaphones, rather than as investigators of the assertions put forward by the campaigns. In the 2012 race, only 27% of statements in the media about the character and records of the presidential candidates originated with journalists, while roughly twice that many came from political partisans. That is a reversal from a dozen years earlier when half came from journalists and a little more than one-third came from the campaigns. At the same time, the campaigns also found more ways than ever to connect directly with citizens.

Now, we may not necessarily see this happening, as our news media will continue to deploy heavy resources on the 2014 elections. Ratings and readership typically see a new high around every election and no news media organization can really afford to lose out. However, it would be interesting to see if the bigger papers and channels and magazines cut back next year due to pressures of monies.

Here are the key findings from the Pew Center report (the notings in italics at the end are our comments):
:: Limited Public Awareness of News Industry Challenges: Fully 60% of Americans say they have heard little or nothing at all about the financial problems besetting news organizations. Even so, 31% have stopped turning to a news outlet because it no longer provided them with the news they were accustomed to getting. Men have left at somewhat higher rates than women, as have the more highly educated and higher-income earners-demographic groups that past Pew Research studies have shown to be heavier news consumers.
The alternatives to traditional media are few in India, but there is a growing class of people who don’t like the nightly studio fights and corrupt practices in some the newspapers

:: On CNN, Fewer Produced Packages; On MSNBC, Opinion Dominates. CNN-which has branded itself around reporting resources and reach-cut its prime time story packages in half and daytime live event coverage nearly in half between 2007 and 2012. Even so, in an analysis of coverage across the entire day, CNN was the only one of the three big cable news channels to produce more straight reporting than commentary. At the other end of that spectrum lies MSNBC, where opinion filled a full 85% for the days studied. On Fox News, opinion accounted for 55% of the newshole. The report also finds a changing cable news landscape: Daytime programming now resembles primetime, with interviews and opinion replacing coverage of live events and breaking news.
Our prime time news is already full of studio discussions and hardly any news reportage. That’s a format we’ve had for some years now.

:: Despite Political Ad Windfall, Local TV Newly Vulnerable. Viewership of local TV was down in every key time slot in 2012, with an average loss of more than 6% for local affiliates of the four major broadcast networks. Local TV remains a top news source for Americans, but the percentage who say they watched it yesterday is dropping-and dropping sharply among younger people. Advertising revenues were up for the year, but were largely a result of the record $2.9 billion in political advertising. And a content analysis of local television finds that the growing areas of the newscast-sports, weather and traffic-are also those that are becoming increasingly available on-demand from a wide variety of digital sources.
Not very relevant in India. Local cable news is patchy in India, with content integrity suspect. However, there are a few bright sparks. Few and, regrettably, far between!

:: Two New Areas of Digital Ad Revenue Already Moving Out of the Reach of News. In the rapidly growing market for mobile display advertising, six companies already draw 72% of the market share-none of which produce news. Facebook is one of the six, and though its first mobile ad product came in mid-2012, the company says mobile display already accounted for 23% of its fourth quarter ad revenue. Local digital advertising, a critical ad segment for news as the majority of outlets cater to a local audience, is also growing-up 22% in 2012. But improved geo-targeting is allowing many national advertisers to turn to Google, Facebook and other large networks to buy ads that once might have gone to local news media. At the same time, Google and Facebook are also moving directly into local ad sales. Google is now the ad leader in search, display and mobile.
In India, digital news media were never really as hot as the matrimonial, job and travel sites. And even if the general portals are popular, it’s because of the girlie pix upfront.

:: Sponsored Advertising Increases Nearly 40%-And Is An Area Where News Organizations Have Taken Early Steps To Move In. Though it remains small in dollars, this ad category grew 39%, to $1.56 billion; that followed a jump of 56% in 2011. Promoted tweets on Twitter account for some of the growth, along with the rise of native ads-the digital term for advertorials containing advertiser-produced stories-which often run alongside a site’s own editorial content. This may come with some risk, though, as certain news outlets have found this type of advertising can cause confusion among readers who cannot differentiate between advertising and news content.
In the US of A, they are at least tagging them sponsored/ native/ whatever. Out here there’s a general ‘advertorial/promotional feature’ label put somewhere. Paid content rules, not just on news media, but also in the form of informercials… like the paid-for Radio Jockey mentions on FM radio!

:: Paid Digital Content Experiments on the Rise. Some 450 of the nation’s 1,380 dailies (33%) have started or announced plans for some kind of paid content subscription or paywall plan, in many cases opting for the metered model that allows a certain level of free access before requiring users to pay. This is already helping rebalance the print industry’s heavy reliance on advertising over subscription revenue. Indeed, digital advertising for newspapers grew only at an anemic 3% rate in 2012. At the New York Times, circulation now accounts for more than advertising revenue – attributed in large part to its two year-old digital subscription program. Small and midsize papers, while not near an even split are seeing success as well.
Note: paid digital content not to be confused with the paid content we have here. Paid-for online content hasn’t really worked very well, though it’ll be interesting to know how some specialized websites are doing.

:: Friends and Family Spur News Consumption. Two-thirds of Americans at least somewhat often seek out a full news story after hearing about an event or issue from friends and family. Fully 72% get most news from friends and family via word of mouth. But social media is a growing component: 15% of U.S. adults get most of their news from friends and family through social media; that number rises to nearly a quarter of 18- to 29-year-olds.
This number isn’t as large here, but suffice to say that social media and Twitter are increasing in importance and a fair number of regulars depend on social media for their news updates.

The 2013 State of the News Media  includes an infographic of the major trends of the year, an essay on digital news developments over the last year and detailed chapters on seven major media sectors – newspapers, cable news, network TV, local TV news, audio, magazines and for ethnic media this year, African-American news outlets. There are also four special reports: a content analysis examining changes in television news in the last five years; two new national surveys examining news consumers’ attitudes and behaviors; and a video revealing five major lessons from the 2012 election. Please visit:http://stateofthemedia.org/
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