IndianExpress.com launches Facebook’s Instant Articles for Android

Facebook has started rolling out Instant Articles to Android users in India along with IndianExpress.com and four others publishers. 

Facebook has started rolling out Instant Articles to Android users in India along with IndianExpress.com and four others publishers.

The 3.3 million followers of The Indian Express Facebook page will now see multimedia-rich posts which has been optimised for mobile users and open in an instant even on 2G networks. Instant Articles from indianexpress.com is live for iOS users as well.

India is the third region after US and Western Europe to get Instant Articles and the first where Android users will be able to access this content. So far, Instant Articles was limited to iOS users. Facebook executives said this showed their commitment to the region and also to the fact that given the inconsistent internet infrastructure and connectivity issues in India, Instant Articles is a natural fit here. While Instant Articles is initially available to about five per cent of the users a full rollout is expected by end of the year.

“We’re excited to be working with The Indian Express to bring their great and proven journalism to people in India with Instant Articles. Instant Articles is a great fit for Indian Express’ growing digital brand and its blend of great storytelling and young/intelligent audience. We look forward to working with them to scale the product on Android,” said Andy Mitchell, director, News and Global Media Partnerships.

“Whether it be Dadri or crucial facts in the Faridabad killing, almost every alternate day, the topic of debate on Indian news TV and on dining tables across the country comes from an Indian Express news break or an essay by one of our columnists including Pratap Bhanu Mehta, P Chidambaram, Tavleen Singh, Tunku Vardarajan, Lord Meghnad Desai, Surjit Bhalla or from an Express Blog penned by the likes of Nitish Kumar, Sushil Kumar Modi, Dinesh Trivedi or Raveena Tandon. Facebook’s Instant Articles has developed and refined as an excellent product and tool to have our award-winning reportage, columnists and bloggers reach even more readers, all in multimedia. We’re happy to be of the first line of partnerships Facebook has struck in India for the instant articles rollout and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Facebook,” said Anant Goenka, wholetime director & head (New Media) at The Indian Express Group.

Instant Articles leverage the technology used to display photos and videos quickly in the Facebook app, to load articles instantly, as much as 10 times faster than the standard mobile web. It is a powerful new creative tool that bring stories to life by letting users zoom into high-resolution photos and tilt to explore them in detail. Autoplay videos come alive as you scroll through the article and interactive maps show where the news happened.

The Express Group is one of India’s largest media conglomerates with a wide selection of publications and a network of offices spread across India.

Today, with 32 national editions, 13 publication centres and four language dailies that reach over 19 million people daily, the Express Group has stood for excellence in journalism for over 80 years. It has an illustrious line-up of publications like The Indian Express, The Financial Express, Loksatta, Lokprabha, Jansatta as well as various B2B magazines and events.

'Libraries have to ask what people want to read'

A freewheeling conversation with the director of Bibliotheque Nationale de France

The changing educational, social and recreational role of the library is a hotly debated subject among planners and readers alike. On a visit to Delhi, Bruno Racine, director of Bibliotheque Nationale de France (National Library of France), explains to The Hindu how public libraries need to become more interactive spaces. France and India have signed an MoU for digitisation of old manuscripts in the National Library of France. India is working on a National Virtual Library with French support, and France will be seeking India’s assistance to decipher its collection in Sanskrit and Tamil. There is a possibility that all these will be made a part of the joint digital collection.

Excerpts from the interview with Mr. Racine:

Excluding research scholars, far fewer people are visiting libraries today. What is the French experience?

I have to say, the trend is downwards. But we have to make a distinction between those who read online and the ones who come to the reading room. The libraries have not emptied out. Students do come here; I suppose they like to work from here. They may not borrow books, but libraries offer a quiet place and a friendly environment for the young. To address the young, public libraries have to offer services that correspond to their aspirations and give them rooms where they don’t have to whisper and can work together. We have five million items online, excluding copyright material, and our experience shows that people tend to use online resources and confine their visits to the library for a specific enquiry. So, the answer to your question is, the number of books being consulted and the number of physical readers has decreased slightly because more and more people have moved online. 

What is the role of a public library as a public space today?

In France, public libraries are city libraries. There are two state-funded public libraries, one at the Centre Georges Pompidou, and the other which I head. I don’t have recent figures, but I think globally the trend is of fewer people coming to libraries. A lot depends on local factors prevailing in a city. If a city opens a new modern library with reading services, it can become popular. If you go to an opera, it is not cheap. Museums are not free. In France, the policy has been to orient the library to the public. The traditional librarian thinks that if the books are good for the public, they will come. This is not the way it happens now. Libraries have become more interactive now. Libraries have to understand what the public wants. Librarians have to ask people what they want to read. 

How does the public funding of libraries work in France?

The library is completely funded by the government. We had to raise money on our own for heritage acquisition, where the access to the public is not free. Ninety five per cent of the budget of the National Library is funded by the Ministry of Culture. This has always been the case, which is quite different from museums in France, which have millions of visitors and can rest a little less on government money. We have about one million visitors each year to the library. The digital library gets 15 million visitors and is growing very fast. The library in France is a very old institution whose origins can be traced back to the 14th century, the time around which kings built their library of books, which became a permanent institution at the beginning of the 18th century. The practice of acquiring books was established in the 16th century, structured in a very systematic way at the beginning of the 19th century. Whenever a book is printed, it could be audiovisual records too, it has to be deposited at the library as well. Until a few years ago, the publisher had to deposit four books with the library. Now we have simplified the process, as we don’t have the space. We ask for only one copy by the publisher. There is a law since 2006 that gives us the mission of archiving books. The paradox is, when they are online they are free; once they are in our collection, you require authorisation to access them. 

What kinds of readers visit your library?

We have two kinds of readers. We have a public library which youngsters, young students and college students visit, for which the fee is very nominal. I have proposed to the government to make it free. On the other hand, for the digital library, we get an annual grant for digitisation of printed material and journals, which allows us to digitise 10 million pages every year. We get six million euros a year which is quite significant. 

What brings you to India? What are your plans?

Digitisation knows no boundaries. We are interested in countries that are looking at digitisation, and we are trying to understand their priorities. We have an Indian collection which we can share. If we want to have a single digital portal, for instance, for France and India, which is what I would like to discuss, our formats have to be compatible. Exchange of information is always useful, in particular in the area of long-term preservation, which is a big issue for digitised heritage. Another area I am looking forward to is cultural cooperation, because in France, we are interested in Indian collections because of our shared history. Since we know that India is working on a national digital library, we have some material which could be of some interest, which would require expertise from India for cataloguing it. We have 2,500 miniature paintings, and paintings which are not the most beautiful in the world but interesting, and over 1,800 manuscripts in Sanskrit and Prakrit in our collection and over 1,000 manuscripts, in diverse Indian languages, which we refer to as the Indian collection. 

How should the state go about funding public libraries? What should be the terms of engagement?

There are over 2,500 public libraries in France. The majority of them are run by professional librarians. Every few years, a contract is drawn between the government and the libraries, which defines goals and measures performance. Libraries are cultural institutions and they have to conduct their policy within a clearly established framework drawn between the government and the libraries. 

Source | The Hindu | 8 November 2015

Social Media Yet to Replace Emails Among Teenagers, Says Survey

Despite the emergence of new social media tools and various online ways to connect with people, members of the young generation are still hooked to emails and keep checking it round-the-clock no matter where they are or what they are doing, a new survey has revealed.

According to the campaign team at global software company Adobe, millennials (those born after 1980) are more frequent users of email than any other age group.

"Millennials are more likely to check work email outside of normal work hours. One-third are comfortable using emojis to communicate with a direct manager or senior executive," wrote Kristin Naragon, director of email solutions at Adobe in a blog post on Wednesday.

The Adobe team surveyed more than 400 US-based workers, 18 and older, about their use of email.

The findings challenge conventional views of email as a tired, over-saturated medium for engaging consumers.

The team found that people are practically addicted to email. "In fact, more than half of millennials check email from the bathroom," the survey revealed.

On average, survey respondents report using email six hours a day, or over 30 hours a week.

Nine of 10 respondents say they check personal email at work and work email from home.

More than one-third report having multiple personal accounts.

"Thirty-five percent say they prefer communicating with colleagues via email, putting it on par with face-to-face collaboration," Naragon noted.

Outside of work, Americans most commonly check their email while watching TV (70 percent), from bed (52 percent), on vacation (50 percent), while on the phone (43 percent), from the bathroom (42 percent) and even - most dangerously - while driving (18 percent).

Although people are using email more than ever, many also experience email fatigue.

Twenty-four percent of respondents believe they check email "way too much".

Thirty-four percent report having had to create a new email address due to an overwhelming amount of spam.

 

"Most tellingly, four out of 10 report going on self-imposed 'email detox' programmes, avoiding their inboxes for an average of five days," the findings showed.

The results suggest that marketers should re-invest in email as part of a coordinated cross-channel strategy.

"With the right planning, the right tools and the right understanding of their customers, marketers can overcome the love-hate relationship and make email the most powerful part of their campaign," the blog suggested.

 

Source | http://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/social-media-yet-to-replace-e-mails-among-teenagers-survey-1211592

 

The paper tiger roars :Print and Digital

Notebooks are in vogue. And no, we are not talking about the digital computing device here.

Did someone say notebooks, the ones that are crafted from paper, would die a slow, but sure death? That their fate would be similar to audio tapes, camera-film rolls and other such categories that had suffered a similar fate in the past? As even schools began to use digital devices to educate children, many had said that it was only a matter of time that the sword of Damocles hanging over the category fell.

In India, well before tablets and smartphones began to rule, the general expectation was that the stationery market, and specifically notebooks, did not offer much to write home about. Traditionally the stationery market in the country was an unorganised one. From small retailers to independent sellers, many depended on Chinese imports. But if recent market reports are to be believed, paper has found a new status in the digital age and market experts believe stationery is a segment of promise. What has changed and how did notebooks make themselves relevant in the digital age?

Writing on the wall

The growth of notebooks over the last few years, from a humble Rs. 6 for a book to a premium product that can cost as much as Rs. 1,000, demonstrates that along with challenges there are also several opportunities.

In the notebook category, brands such as Navneet, Bluebird and ITC have had a significant say in how the market has moved over the last decade. Last year Japanese stationery major Shachihata Inc announced a large investment in India.

A few years before that, the Kokuyo Group entered this market after purchasing majority shares in Camlin, a well known stationery manufacturer in India.

ITC’s Classmate notebooks, which target the educational segment, have had several sales highs over the years. The notebooks business of the tobacco-to-hotels conglomerate is now ten years old. One of ITC’s advantages was that its notebooks business could rely on its existing value chains of production – the company has a large paper business division-- to “create a new engine for growth”.

Chand Das, Chief Executive, Education and Stationery Products, ITC says, “The branded component of the market in India when we kicked off was about 6-7 per cent. Today it’s about 35 per cent.” ITC claims to have a 20 per cent share of the organised market.

“Notebooks, especially of the Classmate kind, are a seasonal category. That back-to-school period of May and June are good for us. In about six months, we manage about 75 per cent of our total sales across the country, with the rest of the year catering for top-up demand,” explains ITC’s Chand Das.

Taking notes online

Even online players like Flipkart and Amazon have a significant interest in the category. Flipkart, for instance, claims to stock 10,000 SKUs of notebooks.

An Amazon India spokesperson says that notebooks and diaries account for substantial sales in the stationery category. Online purchasing behaviour in notebooks is more prevalent in premium notebooks like BILT and Paperkraft than in the mass range of notebooks which account for approximately 50 per cent of the market. For Flipkart too, diaries and notebooks are “key traffic drivers which contribute to about 15 per cent of the total stationary segment.” Ankit Nagori, Chief Business Officer, Flipkart, says, “Fuelled by a growing economy, a burgeoning middle-class, and higher literacy levels, the notebook market in India is expanding at a fast rate. With capital being invested in the book and education industries, this sector is going to be the ground for experimentation and innovation in the coming years.”

Das of ITC says, “Our premium products are stocked first with our e-commerce partners. Those strong partnerships help our overall business in notebooks.”

“Industry growth is driven by increasing literacy and enhanced scale of initiatives in the education sector. But there’s also the shift from inexpensive products to quality products.” Flipkart’s Nagori says, “Among the technology-savvy generation, a small percentage of our users have shifted to digital mediums like laptops, smartphones and tablets. Despite this, a majority of customers prefer a notebook. We have close to 10,000 products under this category. With customised diaries seeing takers across age groups too, we believe that product innovation in this category can further add to the ‘collectible’ value of notebooks.”

ITC too has over 200 premium products. While the average price of a Classmate is Rs. 30, its premium notebooks cost a lot more.

Write is might

Even for the brick-and-mortar bookstores that take the burden of heavy rentals in urban centres across India, notebooks make serious business sense. Competition among bookstore brands means the clear demand for notebooks and related stationery products has to be met.

“Stationery is the second-best selling category across all our retail stores. It makes up about 30 per cent of our total revenue. “About 10 per cent of our revenue is generated from notebooks alone. We sell notebooks from as low asRs. 6 and it can go up to Rs. 1,000 or more. The organised notebook market in India is about Rs. 5,000 crore, which is about 20 per cent of the entire stationery business in our country,” says Darshit Shah, Vice President – Product, Sapna Book House.

Store 67 is a premium stationery brand from Sapna Book House. Shah says, “We have seen an increase of 15-20 per cent year on year in our notebook business. In India from 2009 till 2012 stationery business has grown at over 30 per year every year.

In the coming months to a couple of years, there’s likely to be added interest from foreign brands for a share of the notebook and stationery pie. Already, Relay, a book press and traveller convenience brand, is making inroads in India. Airport lounges across India may prove to be an added point of traction for premium notebook brands. Going by the scale of demand and the range of offerings here, the notebook is nowhere near extinction.

To allay fears that notebooks are not good for the environment or that they play havoc with corporate sustainability missions, ITC has spotted an opportunity. It sees the notebooks business as an opportunity to showcase sustainability across the chain of production. The company’s R & D reportedly helps it consume fewer trees and water in its production of Classmate.

A simplistic interpretation means there may be enough resources for a longer period of time and therefore notebooks and paper-based businesses will endure for years to come.

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Paper has found a new status in the digital age and stationery is a segment of promise.

Source | Business Line | 10 July 2015

Social media, if used rightly, can create opportunities for a global-playing field

The concept of learning and acquiring degrees invariably throws up images of classrooms, blackboards, buildings, books, etc. Physical classrooms and books still exist, but it’s becoming tough to point out if technology is a learning aid or rightly the new and a more effective way to learn. The reach and ease of using technology is changing the way learners want to learn—virtual classes, forum for peer learning and even learning on-the-go through smartphones.

One of the biggest contributions of technology to this field is its ability to make high-quality education accessible to anyone with internet connectivity. The internet has facilitated education to such a great extent that distance learning or online degrees are accessible for students across multiple disciplines—right from art history to clinical psychology—enabling students to learn at their pace and plan schedules based on what works for each.

Most successful online programmes offer students a complete package of video lessons, assignments and assessments that take away the stress of rigid schedules and offer the freedom of flexible learning and the convenience of going through one module multiple times with the video lessons playback. Most of these programmes also offer forums for posting questions, exchanging notes and learning through peers, making for effective learning and engagement. Combine this with live doubt-clearing sessions wherein the faculty is available online to answer students’ queries and you have everything that a classroom offers with unimaginable freedom and possibilities. With smartphones available at a pocket-friendly price, education is literally in your pocket.

Towrads this end, global campuses have opened opportunities for students who check out universities through virtual tours, video-conferencing with faculty or admissions directors interacting with senior students through LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, etc. They can even follow their favourite professors or alumni on Twitter.

With the changing pace of technology, it seems that shifting gears from computer screens to mobile screens is here to stay. Customised education by educational institutions and ready adaptability by students is changing the paradigm of learning. From recording attendance to assisting with course work, today there is an app for everything. The impact isn’t limited to educational apps. Crowdsourcing is another interesting way of finding solutions to academic queries.

It is important to note that, by moving education out of a classroom and into the virtual world, the one-size-fits-all phenomenon is being replaced by individualised outcomes. The teacher moves from the role of a lecturer to that of a guide. Learning becomes a shared responsibility and students have a say about the way they wish to learn.

Social media becomes the mainstay throughout a student’s and a professional’s life. How does one search for jobs? Let’s start with networking sites such as Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook. Job portals such as Monster, Naukri and Shine give access to employment opportunities beyond one’s physical reach. There are multiple options; for example web albums, blogs to video resumes that add a three-dimensional effect and reach a global audience.

Let us not forget that the internet is a relatively new development. In 15 years, we’ve progressed from emails to social media platforms. The potential is tremendous. It can open newer vistas and create more opportunities for a global-playing field.

The author is senior vice-president, Marketing, TalentSprint

Source | Financial Express | 6 July 2015

CORPORATE TIPS - SOCIAL MEDIA ETIQUETTE

 

The power of social media is indisputable; what you say on line creates a lasting impact.

In today's time, social media has become an integral aspect of various businesses too. However, this networking tool, if misused, has major pitfalls which can range from tarnishing company reputations to harassment and breach of privacy. Hence, while it is vital for company leaders to embrace this technology, laying down rules that dissuade employees from using the tool against an organisation or in a way that breaches the organisation's interest is a must.

“Social media has overrun workstations. Employer concerns about employees spending too much official time on their personal social media accounts have underscored the need for rules about social networking. It definitely calls for policy formation that will encourage employees to follow a code of conduct when using social media,“ says Piyush Khemka, director, Times Minerals.

Here are some social networking related policies that organisations can adopt to help employees better manage their online social lives. 

TEXT AND PICTURES 

Establish guidelines for online etiquette and establish rules on where to draw the line when sharing text and photos online. “Although social media interactions rely on photos, text posts, comments and tweets, they reflect your thought and opinion and have the potential to create or destroy your career,“ warns Manuel D'Souza, Director HR, Serco Global Services. 

OPINION MATTERS 

If you are in a profession where you have a lot to lose if your on line reputation takes a beating, it makes sense to stay away from controversial posts on social media. With the advent of online networking platforms, it has become very easy for individuals to share their opinions and thoughts on a matter of public importance.However, do remember that your opinion can be at odds with the organisation's ethos or may offend the sentiments of your co-workers, which can lead to inter-personal conflict. When posting online, ensure to water down your radical views, so that your words do not offend your colleagues.

Opines Sanjay Verma, group chief people officer and global HR head, Uniparts India Limited, “HR departments need to sensitise employees on basic social media etiquette and educate them on respecting religious values so that they can uphold the cultural fabric of the workplace.“ 

MAINTAIN A BALANCE 

The exposure social media can give is not restricted to employees alone.Organisations too can leverage an employee's online presence and indirectly engage with a bigger audience be it by posting pictures of an office celebration, or the announcement of a promotion. However, as advantageous as their social media involvement may be, employees must refrain from giving away information vital to the organisation.Do not promote or popularise strategies or information that can be deemed important to the organisation. According to Verma, organisations should discourage employees from conducting official communication on such public platforms. He adds, “HR departments should encourage the use of an intra-organisational networking platforms to allow employees to discuss official work. This can help in enhancing an employee's knowledge about the company and create a culture that encourages learning. It will also improve camaraderie between employees.“ 

BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK 

The impact of social media for an organisation often works best when used as a means of gaining feedback. “Internally, we use the social channel for the betterment of the institution. We have an open blog where employees can offer their suggestions on improving our processes and business. An employee's opinion is vital in overcoming various organisational roadblocks,“ says Thampy Kurian, head, human resource, Federal Bank.

Although organisations lay down rules regarding inter-personnel communication, an agreement on virtual conduct is not yet a given. Solidifying what is acceptable and what is not in our virtual lives has yet a long way to go. 

Source | Mumbai Mirror | 2 February 2015