Part Six Chapter III

III Andrew had refused a lift back to Hilltop House, so it was only Tessa and Fats in the car together, and Fats said, ‘I don't want to go home.' ‘All right,' Tessa replied, and she drove, while talking to Colin on the telephone. ‘I've got him †¦ Andy found him. We'll be back in a bit †¦ Yes †¦ Yes, I will †¦' Tears were spattering down Fats' face; his body was betraying him; it was exactly like the time when hot urine had spilt down his leg into his sock, when Simon Price had made him piss himself. The hot saltiness leaked over his chin and onto his chest, pattering like drops of rain. He kept imagining the funeral. A tiny little coffin. He had not wanted to do it with the boy so near. Would the weight of the dead child ever lift from him? ‘So you ran away,' said Tessa coldly, over his tears. She had prayed that she would find him alive, but her strongest emotion was disgust. His tears did not soften her. She was used to men's tears. Part of her was ashamed that he had not, after all, thrown himself into the river. ‘Krystal told the police that you and she were in the bushes. You just left him to his own devices, did you?' Fats was speechless. He could not believe her cruelty. Did she not understand the desolation roaring inside him, the horror, the sense of contagion? ‘Well, I hope you have got her pregnant,' said Tessa. ‘It'll give her something to live for.' Every time they turned a corner, he thought that she was taking him home. He had feared Cubby most, but now there was nothing to choose between his parents. He wanted to get out of the car, but she had locked all the doors. Without warning, she swerved and braked. Fats, clutching the sides of his seat, saw that they were in a lay-by on the Yarvil bypass. Frightened that she would order him out of the car, he turned his swollen face to her. ‘Your birth mother,' she said, looking at him as she had never done before, without pity or kindness, ‘was fourteen years old. We had the impression, from what we were told, that she was middle class, quite a bright girl. She absolutely refused to say who your father was. Nobody knew whether she was trying to protect an under-age boyfriend or something worse. We were told all of this, in case you had any mental or physical difficulties. In case,' she said clearly, like a teacher trying to emphasize a point sure to come up in a test, ‘you had been the result of incest.' He cowered away from her. He would have preferred to be shot. ‘I was desperate to adopt you,' she said. ‘Desperate. But Dad was very ill. He said to me, â€Å"I can't do it. I'm scared I'll hurt a baby. I need to get better before we do this, and I can't do that and cope with a new baby as well.† ‘But I was so determined to have you,' said Tessa, ‘that I pressured him into lying, and telling the social workers that he was fine, and pretending to be happy and normal. We brought you home, and you were tiny and premature, and on the fifth night we had you, Dad slipped out of bed and went to the garage, put a hosepipe on the exhaust of the car and tried to kill himself, because he was convinced he'd smothered you. And he almost died. ‘So you can blame me,' said Tessa, ‘for your and Dad's bad start, and maybe you can blame me for everything that's come since. But I'll tell you this, Stuart. Your father's spent his life facing up to things he never did. I don't expect you to understand his kind of courage. But,' her voice broke at last, and he heard the mother he knew, ‘he loves you, Stuart.' She added the lie because she could not help herself. Tonight, for the first time, Tessa was convinced that it was a lie, and also that everything she had done in her life, telling herself that it was for the best, had been no more than blind selfishness, generating confusion and mess all around. But who could bear to know which stars were already dead, she thought, blinking up at the night sky; could anybody stand to know that they all were? She turned the key in the ignition, crashed the gears and they pulled out again onto the bypass. ‘I don't want to go to the Fields,' said Fats in terror. ‘We're not going to the Fields,' she said. ‘I'm taking you home.'

Media Industry

A REPORTSUBMITTED TOWARDS THE PARTIAL FULFILLMENTOF THE REQUIREMENTS OF TWO YEARS FULL-TIME POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN (BUSINESS) MANAGEMENT SUBMITTED BY: PUNIT GUPTA PROGRAMME: PGPM ROLLNO: 2K8/PGPM/B20 SESSION: 2007-09 ASIA PACIFIC INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES (NEW DELHI) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The feeling of acknowledging something and expressing it in words are two different things altogether. It is our weakness, but we honestly admit that when we truly wish to express our warm gratitude and indebt ness towards somebody concerned, we are always at a loss of words. We gratefully take this opportunity to express our gratitude and indebtedness to our most able guide Mrs. NIDDHI TANDON for his active interest, timely encouragement, valuable suggestions and unceasing assistance and creative criticism at every stage of this project. We would like to thank our institute HT MEDIA LTD. for providing us with this opportunity to undertake this project. KRATIKA SINGH Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction 1. Backgound 2. Title of the Project 3. Rationale of Study Chapter II. Objectives & Scope of Study Chapter III. Review of Literature/Theoretical Perspectives Chapter IV. Research Methodology Chapters V, VI, —- Observations, Data Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation Chapter Findings Suggestions Conclusions Annextures Bibliography INTRODUCTION Mint is the business daily launched by HT Media Ltd. With the collaboration of the Wall Street Journal which is the most authoritative business daily in the world of newspaper for over 100 year. It is the world’s largest and most respected business news platform. The purpose behind mint was the robust growth of the Indian economy as is evident in the growing stock market. This long-term segment growth opened up an opportunity for a high quality daily newspaper. Although the business newspaper market was mainly dominated by economic times however there was a huge untapped potential for a high quality daily. And this is where HT, in collaboration with the Wall Street Journal, came out with HT Mint. Media Industry Media Industry comprises of newspaper, television, outdoor, magazine, radio, internet and cinema. Indian Media and Entertainment Industry have out performed the Indian Economy & is one of the fastest growing sectors in India. It is rising on the back of economic growth and rising income levels. The current size of the industry is estimated at $7. 7 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19% for the next 5 years. |Industry |2006 ($ Bn) |% share |’05-10 CAGR |FDI Limit | |TELEVISION |3. 7 |42% |24% |49% | |FILMED ENTERTAINMENT |1. |20% |18% |100% | |RADIO |O. 1 |1% |32% |20% | |MUSIC |0. 2 |2% |1% |100% | |LIVE ENTERTAINMENT |0. 2 |2% |18% |100% | |PRINT MEDIA |2. |30% |12% |100% | |OUT-OF-HOME MEDIA |0. 2 |3% |14% |100% | |INTERNET ADVERTISING |0. 0 |0% |50% |100% | Total media advertising (ad-spend) in India in 2004 was estimated by TAM Adex India at Rs. 118 billion. Print advertising accounted for the largest share with 46. 0%, followed by television with 41. %, outdoor advertising with 7. 0%, radio with 2. 0%, cinema advertising with 3. 0% and internet with 1%. Although print media in India (newspapers, magazines and niche publications) dominates ad-spend, newspapers’ share of the ad -spend fell as television gained, rising from approximately 40% in 2001 to 41% in 2004 (source: TAM Adex India). In 2004, print media ad-spend grew by 15% and television ad-spend grew by 13%, respectively, compared with 2003 (Source: TAM Adex India). Print media’s share of the ad-spend in India vis-a-vis television may now have stabilized. The apprehension about the print media being adversely affected by the advent of the Internet as a medium of sharing information seems to have been settled. While newspapers and magazines may have experienced some cannibalization by their digital equivalents, ad-spend in the print media has stabilized over the past few years. Set forth below is a chart that shows the ad-spend by media category in Asia/Pacific in 2000 through 2003. [pic] Indian Print Media The Indian newspaper industry is intensely competitive, with multiple national and regional players vying for a larger share of the readership, circulation and advertising market. A strong national brand combined with multi-city operations and a high level of content and product quality are emerging as the key differentiators, because it gives an opportunity to larger non-retail advertisers to reach out to multiple markets and high quality audiences at a low cost, while local advertisers can concentrate on city-specific advertising. Given these inherent advantages associated with having multi-city, large scale operations, the industry has begun to witness a phase of consolidation. We expect this process of consolidation to continue. The domestic industry at this time does not have foreign or multinational players operating, although that could happen in the future if and when the Government of India changes its foreign investment regulations and restrictions applicable to the print media segment. In addition to intra-segment competition, the Indian newsprint industry is also faced with the competition posed by other forms of media including television broadcasters, magazines, radio broadcasters and websites. Trends indicate that unlike in the global markets, print-ad spend is growing faster than electronic in India. In the calendar year 2005, print media ad- spend grew by 15% against 12% television as per Industry estimates. Contrary to global trends, both readership and circulation of newspapers are also growing in India. This strong growth trend for the Indian newspaper industry appears sustainable from medium-term perspective. Continued economic growth and increasing literacy is expected to enable players such as HT Media to be bigger beneficiaries in the event of any reversal in newsprint price trends. Newspaper readership in 2005 was 190 million (Source: NRS 2005), up from 165 million in 2003 (Source: NRS 2003). We believe that daily newspapers are increasingly being bought for their analysis of the news and current affairs and in this context, newspapers are gradually taking on the role of a magazine, thereby adversely impacting the magazine segment. FORMAT OF NEWSPAPER Most modern newspapers are in one of three sizes: 1) Broadsheets: 600  mm by 380  mm (23? by 15 inches), generally associated with more intellectual newspapers, although a trend towards â€Å"compact† newspapers is changing this. ) Tabloids: half the size of broadsheets at 380  mm by 300  mm (15 by 11? inches) and often perceived as sensationalist in contrast to broadsheets. Examples: The Sun, The National Enquirer, The National Ledger, The Star Magazine, New York Post, The Globe. 3) Berliner or Midi : 470  mm by 315  mm (18? by 12? inches) used by European papers such as Le Monde in France, La Stampa in Italy, El Pais in Spain and, since 12 September 2005, The Guardian in the United Kingdom. Newspapers are usually printed on inexpensive, off-white paper known as newsprint. Since the 1980s, the newspaper industry has largely moved away from lower-quality letterpress printing to higher-quality, four-color process, offset printing. In addition, desktop computers, word processing software, graphics software, digital cameras and digital prepress and typesetting technologies have revolutionized the newspaper production process. These technologies have enabled newspapers to publish color photographs and graphics, as well as innovative layouts and better design. To help their titles stand out on newsstands, some newspapers are printed on colored newsprint. For example, the Financial Times is printed on a distinctive salmon pink paper, and the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport is printed on pink paper. Sheffield’s weekly sports publication derives its name, the â€Å"Green ’Un†, from the traditional colour of its paper, while L'Equipe (formerly L’Auto) is printed on yellow paper. Both the latter promoted major cycling races and their newsprint colours were reflected in the colours of the jerseys used to denote the race leader; thus, the leader in the Giro d'Italia wears a pink jersey. Introduction to Indian Newspaper Industry Newspaper is the oldest and the most conventional method of giving news on a wide array of topics to the people at their doorstep. The newspaper industry at the global arena has come a long way from presenting news in black and white to adopting the most innovative of methods, including colored background and text, unique paper materials, etc to depict all kinds of news for readers. The Indian newspaper industry has the record of giving the most number of newspapers to the readers, both at the national as well as at the regional levels. One of the oldest newspapers of India, The Statesman was founded in 1818. It has been almost two centuries now since the inception of the oldest newspaper in the country. During this period, the Indian newspaper industry has achieved tremendous ground of success for various newspapers that are circulated throughout the country. The most unique fact of the Indian newspaper industry is that newspapers in various regional languages, Hindi, and English are published and circulated throughout the country. The Indian English newspaper sector is the most published and circulated lot in the Indian newspaper industry. With the newspaper industry as a viable platform for the proliferation of advertising and marketing of public relations, there has been witnessed an impressive explosion of newspapers at all levels. A typical Indian English newspaper serves as an ideal banner for companies who would look forward to advertise their products or services keeping in mind the strength of the readers nationwide. Since a newspaper is the first thing that most of the citizens of the country go through early in the morning, it stands at an advantage of making its stand in full view of the massive number of readers. The more the readers or viewers of the advertisements, the more impact the advertisements have made in the minds of the people. An Indian English newspaper being the most read newspaper in the country, most of the companies highlighting their services and products for the citizens, targets these newspapers for the showcase . Newspapers act as the ideal method of public relations due to its strength as the best way of communication. About Ht Media Ltd Founded in 1924 when its flagship newspaper Hindustan Times was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, HT Media (BSE, NSE) has today become one of India's largest media companies. With a combined daily circulation of 2. 25 million copies and a readership base of 14. 49 million readers, Hindustan Times (English) and Hindustan (Hindi) enjoy strong brand recognition among readers and advertisers, and are produced by an editorial team known for its quality, innovation and integrity. HT Media operates 17 printing facilities across India with an installed capacity of 1. million copies per hour. HT's internet business, under the HindustanTimes. com portal, is primarily a news website with 2 million unique visitors and 100 million page views per month, with a significant share of the traffic coming from outside India. As part of its expansion into electronic media, HT Media, through its subsidiary HT Music and Entertainment Company Ltd. , has entered the FM radio market in key Ind ian cities through a consulting partnership with Virgin Radio. The channel, Fever 104, is one of the most vibrant on the airwaves and is currently available in Delhi and Mumbai. HT Media has also launched a national business newspaper, Mint, with an exclusive agreement with Wall Street Journal to publish Journal branded news and information in India. HT Media reported 2007 annual revenue of $245 million. For the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2007, the company reported a 13% increase in revenue to $82 million and a 10% increase of profit after tax (PAT) to $9 million from the year-ago quarter. History Hindustan Times was founded in 1924 by Master Sunder Singh Lyallpuri, founder-father of the Akali Movement and the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab. S Mangal Singh Gill (Tesildar) and S. Chanchal Singh (Jandiala, Jullundur) were made in charge of the newspaper. Pt Madan Mohan Malayia and Master Tara Singh were among the members of the Managing Committee. The Managing Chairman and Chief Patron was Master Sunder Singh Lyallpuri himself. K. M. Panikkar was its first Editor with Devdas Gandhi (son of Mahatma Gandhi) also on the editor's panel. The opening ceremony was performed by Mahatma Gandhi on September 15, 1924. The first issue was published from Naya Bazar, Delhi (now Swami Sharda Nand Marg). It contained writings and articles from C. F. Andrews, St. Nihal Singh, Maulana Mohammad Ali, C. R. Reddy (Dr. Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy), T. L. Vaswani, Ruchi Ram Sahni, Bernard Haton, Harinder Nath Chattopadhyaya, Dr Kichlu and Rubi Waston etc. It has its roots in the independence movement of the first half of the twentieth century. It was edited at times by many important people in India, including Devdas Gandhi (the son of Mahatma Gandhi) and Khushwant Singh. Ownership The Delhi-based English newspaper, Hindustan Times, is part of the KK Birla group and managed by Shobhana Bhartia, granddaughter of GD Birla. It is owned by HT Media Ltd. The KK Birla group at present owns 69 per cent stake in HT Media, currently valued at Rs 834 crore. When Bhartia joined Hindustan Times in 1986, she was the first woman chief executive of a national newspaper. [pic] [pic] [pic] Various brand working under HT media ltd. Hindustan Times: Hindustan Times, the flagship publication from the group, was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1924 and has established its presence as a newspaper with editorial excellence and integrity. Today, Hindustan Times has a circulation of over 1. million and is the fastest growing mainline English newspaper in terms of readership. Hindustan Times, Delhi, is India's largest single-edition daily. In July 2005, Hindustan Times made a successful entry into the commercial capital of India – Mumbai. Hindustan Times is printed in nine centres including Bhopal, Chandigarh, Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna and Ranchi. Hindustan Times believes in continuous improvement and providing greater value to its readers and advertisers. It has set many a standards for its competitors and will continue to do so in the years to come. It is the first smart-age newspaper in India to evolve into a new international size – sleeker and smarter – which ensures enhanced ease of reading and convenient handling. In its endeavour to provide its readers with greater value, Hindustan Times has revamped its existing supplements and added new ones to its portfolio, offering a daily supplement catering to specific target audience. Supplements like Brunch are the first of their kind. The enlarged operations and enhanced look have also paid off with a substantial increase in circulation across the country [pic] Hindustan: Started in 1936 and with a readership of over 10. million, HT Media Ltd. ‘s Hindi daily, Hindustan, ranks as the 3rd most-read Hindi newspaper all over India. Edited by Ms Mrinal Pande, a noted journalist, academician and writer, Hindustan is known for its fair, unbiased and secular news reporting and analyses. The width and depth of Hindustan's editorial, including the newspaper's acclaimed supplements, is quite unparalleled in the Hindi language newspaper market. Hindustan is also the first and only vernacular newspaper to go all-colour in Delhi and other key markets. This has given Hindustan an un-paralleled edge over competition. The newspaper has four editions namely Delhi, Lucknow, Patna and Ranchi and nine print locations namely, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, Muzzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Ranchi, Dhanbad and Jamshedpur , chandigarh catering to the reading habits of a cross- section of audiences in varying age groups. Hindustan is expanding rapidly in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which is the largest Hindi newspaper market, and where Hindustan was already the fastest growing Hindi daily. Three new editions have been launched (in Meerut, Agra, and Kanpur) in 2006, giving a further boost to its growth and reach within the state. Hindustan dominates in Bihar with an undisputed readership of over 6 million. Its reader base is twice the size of its nearest competitor in the Hindi daily market of Bihar and Jharkhand (NRS 2003 vs. 2005). With some very exciting expansion plans already underway, Hindustan is all set to become the leading Hindi newspaper in the country. Currently, the Delhi edition of Hindustan is also available online in epaper format. [pic] Consolidating presence in existing businesses Revenue growing regarding Hindustan is more than 30% every year Aggressive expansion of readership base Rapid expansion in UP, Punjab & bihar Successful new launches in UP †¦.. Meerut/Agra/Kanpur and chandigrah Encouraging consumer response to product Future plans Transferring Hindi business into a subsidiary Aggressive expansion strategy to market leader through UP, Uttranchal, MP and Punjab expansion HT NEXT: HT NEXT has everything that the youth ever wanted in a newspaper: sports news (great stories for English Premier League and Formula 1 nuts), nuggets on celebs (yes, even more colourful than Laloo Yadav), global and local news – in other words, Your world (which, incidentally, is Our version of the world too). There is even a political digest – Day In Politics- for those who want to go beyond the simpler, lighter matter, and seek to know which way the times are moving. Delhi, India and World are your dedicated pages for all the news that matters. Check out the daily science and nature section, Life, The Universe and Everything,or JLT for what's in these days. In case you are bitten by the writing bug, HT Next has the space and readership. Participate in daily debates if you like to lock horns on current affairs, post a message on Plug In if you wish to connect or simply dash off an original poem for My Space, if you have it in you. There are quizzes for those bent upon winning fabulous prizes, on e-mail or SMS! For the youth of India, this is Where It's At. Kadambini: With a long and celebrated history since its inception in 1960, this monthly Hindi magazine is a one-of-its-own-kind socio-cultural-literary journal. Kadambini is a monthly Hindi magazine published by HT Media Ltd. with a long and celebrated history of 44 years. It is a one-of-its-own-kind socio-cultural-literary magazine, which has survived the demise of many other Hindi magazines in the genre. Its first Editor was Late Shri Balkrishna Rao, a prominent Hindi writer. He was followed by Late Shri Ramanand Doshi, who was also a well-known literary figure, and during whose tenure Kadambini touched new heights. Its third Editor Shri Rajendra Awasthy was also a known literary figure. Mrs Mrinal Pande took charge as Editor in February 2003. Mrs Pande is a well-known and respected journalist and literary figure in Hindi, as well as English. Associate Editor Shri Vishnu Nagar is also a well-known figure in Hindi journalism and literature. Under Mrs Pande's able guidance and Associate Editor Shri Vishnu Nagar's leadership, Kadambini has scaled new heights of quality, readability and scientific approach. It is the only Hindi magazine which covers a wide range of subjects including literature, science, history, sociology, politics, films and sports with sincerity and popular appeal. Its every issue becomes a special issue as it focuses in-depth on one important and popular concern apart from its various regular features. It always prefers quality and readability over cheap, popular taste. Its new approach is widely appreciated by common readers as well as the enlightened sections of society. The magazine has created a new space for itself while retaining its old base. It is the only Hindi magazine, which guarantees that it will not compromise on family values. Kadambini is the only Hindi magazine which covers a wide range of subjects including literature, science, history, sociology, politics, films and sports with sincerity and popular appeal. Nandan: HT Media Ltd. ‘s children's magazine has a popular appeal both in India and abroad. Ever since its inception in 1964, Nandan has published more than ten thousand stories, three thousand poems, and thousands of other creative pieces during these 40 years. It has been very popular among children and their families in India and abroad. The magazine was started in November 1964 in the memory of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, with its first issue being dedicated to the late Prime Minister. Nandan triumphs over its contemporaries because its stories are a combination of the best in both our traditional and modern cultural ethos. Nandan believes in shaping the mind and behaviour of our children in a positive way, and to challenge their minds by exposing them to new ideas for the world of science and technology. From its very inception, Nandan has been privileged to publish the stories, memoirs, excerpts, biographies and poems of many of the greats from the fields of literature and politics, some of whom are Dr Rajendra Prasad, Indira Gandhi, Gyani Zail Singh, V P Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, A P J Abdul Kalam, Bhartendu Harishchandra, Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Bibhuti Bhushan Bandhopadhyaya, Mohan Rakesh, Kamleshwar, Amritlal Nagar, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Satyajit Ray, Bhishm Sahni, Ashapurna Devi, Vishnu Prabhakar, Harivansh Rai Bacchan, Shivani, Rajendra Yadav, Khushwant Singh, Krishna Sobti, Manohar Shyam Joshi, Mannu Bhandari, Mrinal pande, Mridula Garg, Taslima Nasrin, Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, Ramesh Dutt Sharma and Kuldeep Sharma. Nandan has published more than ten thousand stories, three thousand poems, and thousands of other creative pieces during these 40 years. It includes more than 400 world classics for children. Nandan has been conducting story-writing, painting, poetry and crossword contests regularly, which has encouraged lot of interest among children and helped to develop their creativity. Nandan gets more than 5000 responses monthly from all over India and abroad, which is in itself a record. Mint: A Business Daily From HT The purpose behind mint was the robust growth of the Indian economy as is evident in the growing stock market. This long-term segment growth opened up an opportunity for a high quality daily newspaper. Although the business newspaper market was mainly dominated by economic times however there was a huge untapped potential for a high quality daily. And this is where HT, in collaboration with the Wall Street Journal, came out with HT Mint. Our Promise International style Clarity : News to knowledge, knowledge to understanding Business of life Wall street Edge & world class editorial Exclusive column partners†¦Kellogg’s/Wharton/Jack Welch [pic] . ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF HT MEDIA LIMITED DELHI [pic] Product profile of mint Mint: A paper that delivers refreshing clarity in business news. a unique inviting and uncluttered layout ensures that you reach the right audience in right environment. Powerful Lineage Regarding Mint 1} The Wall Street Journal: In India Mint is the business daily launched by HT Media Ltd. With the collaboration of the Wall Street Journal which is the most authoritative business daily in the world of newspaper for over 100 year. It is the world’s largest and most respected business news platform Features of Mint 1} Available for six days a week gives you clear ,relevant and well analyzed Indian as well as international business news . 2} Quick Scan – Act as summary of the key stories of the day with the index of company and people 3} Leading the News – A detailed perspective on key news and policy decision affecting business. } Corporate News – Financial results mergers acquisitions and everything that buzzing around the corporate corridors. 5} Economy and Politics: Targeted at decision makers, policies and politics that impact business. 6} Market and Media: Best to know latest on consumer behaviors and trends, innovation in media space. 7} On Advertising: Must read for Advertising and market professionals 8} Commodities: Pictorially depicts impact of weather on 4 major commodities of the day. 9} Management: Carries a legal column by AZB and partners, advocates and solicitors, fortnightly column on career. 10} Venture Capital: Get to know the latest venture capital action also get latest on private equity deals with Thomson financial deal counter. 1} The Wall Street Journal: Global news from the largest business publication in the world. 12} Money Matters: Summary of Market & Financial news from India & world plus news and column explaining market movement. 13} 2 pages of views that gives us a complete perspective on issues that matter. Mint on Saturdays A} Last Week . Next Week : Update on what happened last week and what will make difference in the coming week. B} Lounge : Read exclusive columns by Vir Sanghvi and Shoba Narayan and all about book’s , trends , travel and technology , paintin g and health and every Saturday columns by Jared Sandberg . style pursuits , insider play ,business lounge ,cover ,travel ,books, flavors. C} Mint Market Watch : Pull out from Tuesday to Saturday with the largest listing of mutual fund in business daily. On Monday mint have campaign on strategy , marketing advertising and management and column by Jack and Suzy Welch. Articles from Kellog , Oxford and Wharton . Readership and Circulation Profile of Mint. Second largest business daily in Delhi and Mumbai on readership basis . On an average Mint have Circulation of 100000 copies per day in Delhi, Mumbai , Bangalore , Chandigarh and Pune. The Mint have exclusively its presence in all major airlines, airports and 5 star hotels in Mumbai , Delhi and all premium clubs, restaurants etc. Mint as an ideal platform for advertising : Benefits that an advertiser could derive from advertising there product in Mint are . A} Reaches the right target audience. B} The Berliner format and clean layout ensures that advertisement is get noticed in more better way. C} Innovative and flexible advertising options. Types of advertisement in Mint are. a. Corporate Advertisement. b. Lifestyle Brands . c. Airlines d. Mint is a great hit between consumer durables . e. A hit among the real estate and infrastructure advertisers. f. Hit in automobile industry. g. And also acts as a leading platform for financial announcements. TITLE OF THE PROJECT THE STUDY OF CHANGE IN COMSUMER PREFERENCE DUE TO PROMOTIONAL STRETAGIES FOR ENGLISH NEWS PAPER IN SOUTH DELHI WITH PREFERENCE TO HINDUSTAN TIMES RATIONALE OF STUDY ? To RESEARCH PLAN Source of Data : Primary data, Secondary data Research Approach: Survey Research Instrument: Questionnaire RESEARCH OBJECTIVE ? To know about the consumers of mint. ? To know about what influence a customer and what way they select a particular business newspaper. ? To study current market scenario of mint. ? To know there competitors and key challenges. ? To know about preferences of costumer. Research Design Research design is different from the method by which data are collected. Many research methods texts confuse research designs with methods. It is not uncommon to see research design treated as a mode of data collection rather than as a logical structure of the inquiry. But there is nothing intrinsic about any research design that requires a particular method of data collection. Although cross-sectional surveys are frequently equated with questionnaires and case studies are often equated with participant observation (e. g. Whyte's Street Corner Society, 1943), data for any design can be collected with any data collection method (Figure 1. 5). How the data are collected is irrelevant to the logic of the design. Failing to distinguish between design and method leads to poor evaluation of designs. Equating cross-sectional designs with questionnaires, or case studies with participant observation, means that the designs are often evaluated against the strengths and weaknesses of the method rather than their ability to draw relatively unambiguous conclusions or to select between rival plausible hypotheses. Types Of Research Design Descriptive research Although some people dismiss descriptive research as `mere description', good description is fundamental to the research enterprise and it has added immeasurably to our knowledge of the shape and nature of our society. Descriptive research encompasses much government sponsored research including the population census, the collection of a wide range of social indicators and economic information such as household expenditure patterns, time use studies, employment and crime statistics and the like. Descriptions can be concrete or abstract. A relatively concrete description might describe the ethnic mix of a community, the changing age pro ®le of a population or the gender mix of a workplace. Alternatively the description might ask more abstract questions such as `Is the level of social inequality increasing or declining? ‘, `How secular is society? ‘ or `How much poverty is there in this community? ‘ Accurate descriptions of the level of unemployment or poverty have historically played a key role in social policy reforms (Marsh, 1982). By demonstrating the existence of social problems, competent description can challenge accepted assumptions about the way things are and can provoke action. Good description provokes the `why' questions of explanatory research. If we detect greater social polarization over the last 20 years (i. e. the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer) we are forced to ask `Why is this happening? ‘ But before asking `why? ‘ we must be sure about the fact and dimensions of the phenomenon of increasing polarization. It is all very well to develop elaborate theories as to why society might be more polarized now than in the recent past, but if the basic premise is wrong (i. e. ociety is not becoming more polarized) then attempts to explain a non-existent phenomenon are silly. Of course description can degenerate to mindless fact gathering or what C. W. Mills (1959) called `abstracted empiricism'. There are plenty of examples of unfocused surveys and case studies that rep ort trivial information and fail to provoke any `why' questions or provide any basis for generalization. However, this is a function of inconsequential descriptions rather than an indictment of descriptive research itself. Explanatory research Explanatory research focuses on why questions. For example, it is one thing to describe the crime rate in a country, to examine trends over time or to compare the rates in different countries. It is quite a different thing to develop explanations about why the crime rate is as high as it is, why some types of crime are increasing or why the rate is higher in some countries than in others. The way in which researchers develop research designs is fundamentally affected by whether the research question is descriptive or explanatory. It affects what information is collected. For example, if we want to explain why some people are more likely to be apprehended and convicted of crimes we need to have hunches about why this is so. We may have many possibly incompatible hunches and will need to collect information that enables us to see which hunches work best empirically. Answering the `why' questions involves developing causal explanations. Causal explanations argue that phenomenon Y (e. g. income level) is affected by factor X (e. g. gender). Some causal explanations will be simple while others will be more complex. For example, we might argue that there is a direct effect of gender on income (i. e. simple gender discrimination) (Figure 1. 1a). We might argue for a causal chain, such as that gender affects choice of eld of training which in turn affects. Causal People often confuse correlation with causation. Simply because one event follows another, or two factors co-vary, does not mean that one causes the other. The link between two events may be coincidental rather than causal. There is a correlation between the number of  ®re engines at a  ®re and the amount of damage caused by the  ®re (the more  ®re engines the more damage). Is it therefore reasonable to conclude that the number of  ®re engines causes the amount of damage? Clearly the number of  ®re engines and the amount of damage will both be due to some third factor  ± such as the seriousness of the  ®re. Similarly, as the divorce rate changed over the twentieth century the crime rate increased a few years later. But this does not mean that divorce causes crime. Rather than divorce causing crime, divorce and crime rates might both be due to other social processes such as secularization, greater individualism or poverty. Why to select Descriptive Research Design? Descriptive studies are also called observational, because you observe the subjects without otherwise intervening. The simplest descriptive study is a case, which reports data on only one subject; examples are studies of an outstanding athlete or of an athlete with an unusual injury. Descriptive studies of a few cases are called case series. In cross-sectional studies variables of interest in a sample of subjects are assayed once and analyzed. In prospective or cohort studies, some variables are assayed at the start of a study (e. g. dietary habits), then after a period of time the outcomes are determined (e. g. incidence of heart disease). Another label for this kind of study is longitudinal, although this term also applies to experiments. Case-control studies compare cases (subjects with a particular attribute, such as an injury or ability) with controls (subjects without the attribute); comparison is made of the exposure to something suspected of causing the cases, for example volume of high intensity training, or number of cigarettes smoked per day. Case-control studies are also called retrospective, because they focus on conditions in the past that might cause subjects to become cases rather than controls. A common case-control design in the exercise science literature is a comparison of the behavioral, psychological or anthropometric characteristics of elite and sub-elite athletes: you are interested in what the elite athletes have been exposed to that makes them better than the sub-elites. Another type of study compares athletes with sedentary people on some outcome such as an injury, disease, or disease risk factor. Here you know the difference in exposure (training vs no training), so these studies are really cohort or prospective, even though the exposure data are gathered retrospectively at only one time point. They are therefore known as historical cohort studies. We are working in a very wide area so we need to observe the facts in their actual condition, so we are using Descriptive Research. Sampling You almost always have to work with a sample of subjects rather than the full population. But people are interested in the population, not your sample. To generalize from the sample to the population, the sample has to be representative of the population. The safest way to ensure that it is representative is to use a random selection procedure. You can also use a stratified random sampling procedure, to make sure that you have proportional representation of population subgroups (e. g. sexes, races, regions). Selection bias occurs when the sample is not representative of the population. More accurately, a sample statistic is biased if the expected value of the statistic is not equal to the value of the population statistic. (The expected value is the average value from many samples drawn using the same sampling method. A typical source of bias in population studies is age or socioeconomic status: people with extreme values for these variables tend not to take part in the studies. Thus a high compliance (the proportion of people approached who end up as subjects) is important in avoiding bias. Journal editors are usually happy with co mpliance rates of at least 70%. Failure to randomize subjects to control and treatment groups in experiments can also produce bias: if you let people select themselves into the groups, or if you select the groups in any way that makes one group different from another, then any result you get might reflect the group difference rather than an effect of the treatment. For this reason, it's important to randomly assign subjects in a way that ensures the groups are balanced in terms of important variables that could modify the effect of the treatment (e. g. age, gender, physical performance). Randomize subjects to groups as follows: rank-order the subjects on the basis of the variable you most want to keep balanced (e. g. physical performance); split the list up into pairs (or triplets for three treatments, etc. ); assign subjects in each pair to the treatments by flipping a coin; check the mean values of your other variables in the two groups, and reassign randomly chosen pairs to balance up these mean values. Human subjects may not be happy about being randomized, so you need to state clearly that it is a condition of taking part. Types Of Sampling Random sampling Random, or probability sampling, gives each member of the target population a known and equal probability of selection. The two basic procedures are: 1 the lottery method, e. g. picking numbers out of a hat or bag 2 the use of a table of random numbers. Systematic sampling Systematic sampling is a modification of random sampling. To arrive at a systematic sample we simply calculate the desired sampling fraction, e. g. if there are 100 distributors of a particular product in which we are interested and our budget allows us to sample say 20 of them then we divide 100 by 20 and get the sampling fraction 5. Thereafter we go through our sampling frame selecting every 5th distributor. In the purest sense this does not give rise to a true random sample since some systematic arrangement is used in listing and not every distributor has a chance of being selected once the sampling fraction is calculated. However, because there is no conscious control of precisely which distributors are selected, all but the most pedantic of practitioners would treat a systematic sample as though it were a true random sample. Systematic sampling as applied to a survey of retailers |Systematic sampling | |Population = 100 Food Stores | |Sample desired = 20 Food Stores | |a. Draw a random number 1-5. | |b. Sample every Xth store. | |Sample |Numbered Stores | |1 |1, |6, |11, |16, |21†¦ |96 | |2 |2 |7, |12 |17, |22†¦ |97 | 3 |3, |8, |13 |18, |23†¦ |98 | |4 |4, |9, |14 |19, |24†¦ |99 | |5 |5, |10, |15, |20, |25†¦ |100 | Stratified samples Stratification increases precision without increasing sample size. Stratification does not imply any departure from the principle s of randomness it merely denotes that before any selection takes place, the population is divided into a number of strata, then random samples taken within each stratum. It is only possible to do this if the distribution of the population with respect to a particular factor is known, and if it is also known to which stratum each member of the population belongs. Examples of characteristics which could be used in marketing to stratify a population include: income, age, sex, race, geographical region, possession of a particular commodity. Stratification can occur after selection of individuals, e. g. if one wanted to stratify a sample of individuals in a town by age, one could easily get figures of the age distribution, but if there is no general population list showing the age distribution, prior stratification would not be possible. What might have to be done in this case at the analysis stage is to correct proportional representation. Weighting can easily destroy the assumptions one is able to make when interpreting data gathered from a random sample and so stratification prior to selection is advisable. Random stratified sampling is more precise and more convenient than simple random sampling. When stratified sampling designs are to be employed, there are 3 key questions which have to be immediately addressed: 1 The bases of stratification, i. e. what characteristics should be used to subdivide the universe/population into strata? 2 The number of strata, i. e. how many strata should be constructed and what stratum boundaries should be used? 3 Sample sizes within strata, i. e. how many observations should be taken in each stratum? Bases of stratification Intuitively, it seems clear that the best basis would be the frequency distribution of the principal variable being studied. For example, in a study of coffee consumption we may believe that behavioural patterns will vary according to whether a particular respondent drinks a lot of coffee, only a moderate amount of coffee or drinks coffee very occasionally. Thus we may consider that to stratify according to â€Å"heavy users†, â€Å"moderate users† and â€Å"light users† would provide an optimum stratification. However, two difficulties may arise in attempting to proceed in this way. First, there is usually interest in many variables, not just one, and stratification on the basis of one may not provide the best stratification for the others. Secondly, even if one survey variable is of primary importance, current data on its frequency is unlikely to be available. However, the latter complaint can be attended to since it is possible to stratify after the data has been completed and before the analysis is undertaken. The only approach is to create strata on the basis of variables, for which information is, or can be made available, that are believed to be highly correlated with the principal survey characteristics of interest, e. g. age, socio-economic group, sex, farm size, firm size, etc. In general, it is desirable to make up strata in such a way that the sampling units within strata are as similar as possible. In this way a relatively limited sample within each stratum will provide a generally precise estimate of the mean of that stratum. Similarly it is important to maximise differences in stratum means for the key survey variables of interest. This is desirable since stratification has the effect of removing differences between stratum means from the sampling error. Total variance within a population has two types of natural variation: between-strata variance and within-strata variance. Stratification removes the second type of variance from the calculation of the standard error. Suppose, for example, we stratified students in a particular university by subject speciality – marketing, engineering, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, history, geography etc. and questioned them about the distinctions between training and education. The theory goes that without stratification we would expect variation in the views expressed by students from say within the marketing speciality and between the views of marketing students, as a whole, and engineering students as a whole. Stratification ensures that variation between strata does not enter into the standard error by taking account of this source in drawing the sample. Number of strata The next question is that of the number of strata and the construction of stratum boundaries. As regards number of strata, as many as possible should be used. If each stratum could be made as homogeneous as possible, its mean could be estimated with high reliability and, in turn, the population mean could be estimated with high precision. However, some practical problems limit the desirability of a large number of strata: 1 No stratification scheme will completely â€Å"explain† the variability among a set of observations. Past a certain point, the â€Å"residual† or â€Å"unexplained† variation will dominate, and little improvement will be effected by creating more strata. 2 Depending on the costs of stratification, a point may be reached quickly where creation of additional strata is economically unproductive. If a single overall estimate is to be made (e. g. the average per capita consumption of coffee) we would normally use no more than about 6 strata. If estimates are required for population subgroups (e. g. by region and/or age group), then more strata may be justified. Sample sizes within strata Proportional allocation: Once strata have been established, the question becomes, â€Å"How big a sample must be drawn from each? † Consider a situation where a survey of a two-stratum population is to be carried out: |Stratum |Number of Items in Stratum | |A |10,000 | |B |90,000 | If the budget is fixed at $3000 and we know the cost per observation is $6 in each stratum, so the available total sample size is 500. The most common approach would be to sample the same proportion of items in each stratum. This is termed proportional allocation. In this example, the overall sampling fraction is: [pic] Thus, this method of allocation would result in: Stratum A (10,000 ? 0. 5%) = 50 Stratum B (90,000 ? 0. 5%) = 450 The major practical advantage of proportional allocation is that it leads to estimates which are computationally simple. Where proportional sampling has been employed we do not need to weight the means of the individual stratum when calculating the overall mean. So: [pic]sr = W1[pic]1 + W2 [pic]2 + W3 [pic]3+ – – – Wk [pic]k Optimum allocation: Proportional allocation is advisable when all we know of the strata is their sizes. In situations where the standard deviations of the strata are known it may be advantageous to make a disproportionate allocation. Suppose that, once again, we had stratum A and stratum B, but we know that the individuals assigned to stratum A were more varied with respect to their opinions than those assigned to stratum B. Optimum allocation minimises the standard error of the estimated mean by ensuring that more respondents are assigned to the stratum within which there is greatest variation. Quota sampling Quota sampling is a method of stratified sampling in which the selection within strata is non-random. Selection is normally left to the discretion of the interviewer and it is this characteristic which destroys any pretensions towards randomness. Quota v random sampling The advantages and disadvantages of quota versus probability samples has been a subject of controversy for many years. Some practitioners hold the quota sample method to be so unreliable and prone to bias as to be almost worthless. Others think that although it is clearly less sound theoretically than probability sampling, it can be used safely in certain circumstances. Still others believe that with adequate safeguards quota sampling can be made highly reliable and that the extra cost of probability sampling is not worthwhile. Generally, statisticians criticise the method for its theoretical weakness while market researchers defend it for its cheapness and administrative convenience. Main arguments against: Quota sampling It is not possible to estimate sampling errors with quota sampling because of the absence of randomness. Some people argue that sampling errors are so small compared with all the other errors and biases that enter into a survey that not being able to estimate is no great disadvantage. One does not have the security, though, of being able to measure and control these errors. 2 The interviewer may fail to secure a representative sample of respondents in quota sampling. For example, are those in the over 65 age group spread over all the age range or clustered around 65 and 66? 3 Social class controls leave a lot to the interviewer's judgement. 4 Strict control of fieldwork is more difficult, i. e. id interviewers place respondents in groups where cases are needed rather than in those to which they belong. Main arguments for: quota sampling 1 Quota sampling is less costly. A quota interview on average costs only half or a third as much as a random interview, but we must remember that precision is lost. 2 It is easy administratively. The labour of random selection is avoided, and so are the headaches of non-contact and callbacks. 3 If fieldwork has to be done quickly, perhaps to reduce memory errors, quota sampling may be the only possibility, e. g. to obtain immediate public reaction to some event. 4. Quota sampling is independent of the existence of sampling frames. Cluster and multistage sampling Cluster sampling: The process of sampling complete groups or units is called cluster sampling, situations where there is any sub-sampling within the clusters chosen at the first stage are covered by the term multistage sampling. For example, suppose that a survey is to be done in a large town and that the unit of inquiry (i. e. the unit from which data are to be gathered) is the individual household. Suppose further that the town contains 20,000 households, all of them listed on convenient records, and that a sample of 200 households is to be selected. One approach would be to pick the 200 by some random method. However, this would spread the sample over the whole town, with consequent high fieldwork costs and much inconvenience. (All the more so if the survey were to be conducted in rural areas, especially in developing countries where rural areas are sparsely populated and access difficult). One might decide therefore to concentrate the sample in a few parts of the town and it may be assumed for simplicity that the town is divided into 400 areas with 50 households in each. A simple course would be to select say 4 areas at random (i. e. 1 in 100) and include all the households within these areas in our sample. The overall probability of selection is unchanged, but by selecting clusters of households, one has materially simplified and made cheaper the fieldwork. A large number of small clusters is better, all other things being equal, than a small number of large clusters. Whether single stage cluster sampling proves to be as statistically efficient as a simple random sampling depends upon the degree of homogeneity within clusters. If respondents within clusters are homogeneous with respect to such things as income, socio-economic class etc. , they do not fully represent the population and will, therefore, provide larger standard errors. On the other hand, the lower cost of cluster sampling often outweighs the disadvantages of statistical inefficiency. In short, cluster sampling tends to offer greater reliability for a given cost rather than greater reliability for a given sample size. Multistage sampling The population is regarded as being composed of a number of first stage or primary sampling units (PSU's) each of them being made up of a number of second stage units in each selected PSU and so the procedure continues down to the final sampling unit, with the sampling ideally being random at each stage. The necessity of multistage sampling is easily established. PSU's for national surveys are often administrative districts, urban districts or parliamentary constituencies. Within the selected PSU one may go direct to the final sampling units, such as individuals, households or addresses, in which case we have a two-stage sample. It would be more usual to introduce intermediate sampling stages, i. e. administrative districts are sub-divided into wards, then polling districts. Area sampling Area sampling is basically multistage sampling in which maps, rather than lists or registers, serve as the sampling frame. This is the main method of sampling in developing countries where adequate population lists are rare. The area to be covered is divided into a number of smaller sub-areas from which a sample is selected at random within these areas; either a complete enumeration is taken or a further sub-sample. Aerial sampling [pic] A grid, such as that shown above, is drawn and superimposed on a map of the area of concern. Sampling points are selected on the basis of numbers drawn at random that equate to the numbered columns and rows of the grid. If the area is large, it can be subdivided into sub-areas and a grid overlayed on these. Figure 7. 4 depicts the procedures involved. As in figure 7. 3 the columns and rows are given numbers. Then, each square in the grid is allocated numbers to define grid lines. Using random numbers, sampling points are chosen within each square. Figure 7. 4 gives an impression of the pattern of sampling which emerges. Why to select Area Sampling? Since it is generally impossible to study an entire population (every individual in a country, all college students, every geographic area, etc. ), researchers typically rely on sampling to acquire a section of the population to perform an experiment or observational study. It is important that the group selected be representative of the population, and not biased in a systematic manner. For this reason, randomization is typically employed to achieve an unbiased sample. There may often be factors which divide up the population into sub-populations (groups / strata) and we may expect the measurement of interest to vary among the different sub-populations. This has to be accounted for when we select a sample from the population in order that we obtain a sample that is representative of the population. This is achieved by stratified sampling. A stratified sample is obtained by taking samples from each stratum or sub-group of a population. When we sample a population with several strata, we generally require that the proportion of each stratum in the sample should be the same as in the population. Stratified sampling techniques are generally used when the population is heterogeneous, or dissimilar, where certain homogeneous, or similar, sub-populations can be isolated (strata). Simple random sampling is most appropriate when the entire population from which the sample is taken is homogeneous. Some reasons for using stratified sampling over simple random sampling are: a) the cost per observation in the survey may be reduced; b) estimates of the population parameters may be wanted for each sub-population; c) increased accuracy at given cost. . Research Findings Q. 1. Do you read Newspaper? a) Yes (b) No Number of people reading news paper. [pic] Q. 2. Which newspaper do you read? (a) Yes (b)No [pic] APPENDICES Questionnaire 1) Do you read Newspaper? (a) Yes (b) No 2) Which newspaper do you read? (a) Yes (b)No 3) Which bu siness newspaper do you read? (a) MINT (b) ET (c) Business Express (d) Others i. Specify†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4) Please rate the Mint, ET and other on the basis of 1 to 5 scale a. MINT ET Other (specify)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ b. Quality†¦.. 9, a) Quality†¦.. 9, a) Quality†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ c. Price †¦.. , b) Price †¦.. 9, b) Price †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. d. Service †¦. 8, c) Service†¦. 8, c) Service†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ e. Offer †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9, d) Offer †¦.. 7, d) Offer †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 5) Which type of news do you like most in the newspaper? (a) Political News (b) Business News (c) Page 3 (d) Others 6) Do you like the Promotional programs? (a)Yes (b)No 7) Which promotional program attracts you more? a) Related to monetary terms b) Giving more attention for changing quality of news according to you 8) Do you ever taken any newspaper by promotional offers? (a)Yes (b)No 9) Which promotional offer do you like most? a)Short term (b)Long term 10) Have you ever trie d a new newspaper due to promotional offer? (a)Yes (b)No 11) Does offer giving newspapers satisfies your news needs? (a)Yes (b)No 12) Would you like to continue the newspaper without offer? (a)Yes (b)No (c)Looking for further offers ———————– RESIDENT EDITOR BHAGALPUR RESIDENT EDITOR VARANASI RESIDENT EDITOR RANCHI RESIDENT EDITOR PATNA RESIDENT EDITOR LUCKNOW EXECUTIVE EDITOR KADAMBINI EXECUTIVE EDITOR NANDAN RESIDENT EDITOR HINDUSTAN DELHI V. P. -LEGAL, TAX & CO. SECRETARY BUSINESS HEAD -SOUTH AND WESST CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER BUSINESS HEAD-NORTH & STRATEGIC MARKETING BUSINESS HEAD, BUSINESS PAPER HEAD BUSINESS EXCELENCE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CHIEF EDITOR BUSINESS PAPER HEAD RADIO HEAD-KEY MARKETING SOLUTION & EVENT HEAD INTERNET BUSINESS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OPERATION & HUMAN RESOURCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEDIA MARKETING & CIRCULATION GROUP EDITOR HINDUSTAN ADVISORY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR, HINDUSTAN TIMES CEO HT MEDIA LTD. VICE CHAIRPERSON & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR 125 Metro now JV with BCCL Delhi Mumbai Bangalore Kolkata Leadership Luxury Others Delhi Mumbai Bangalore Bihar Jharkhand UP Delhi Punjab Uttranchal Mumbai Chandigarh Bhopal Jalandar Varanasi Mujafarpur Bhagalpur Kanpur Dehradoon Noida Banglore Lucknow Patna Ranchi Kolkata Hindustanimes. com Hindustan. com HTCricket. com Livemint. com Shine. com Radio (Virgin) Events Mint (WSJ) Hindustan Hindustan Times Internet Print HT Media SR. EXECUTIVE (CENTER WISE) SR. EXECUTIVE (CENTER WISE) SR. EXECUTIVE (CENTER WISE) SR. EXECUTIVE (CENTER WISE) ASSISTANT MANAGER ASSISTANT MANAGER DEPUTY MANAGER AREA WISE CATEGORY WISE REPORTERS SUB- EDITOR CHIEF-EDITOR LOGISTICS WORKERS ASSISTANT MANAGER CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT MANAGER SALES SUBSCRIPTION DEPARTMENT PRODUCTION MANAGER EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT MEDIA MARKETING D G M SALES BUSINESS HEAD NORTH

Gilgamesh

The epic of Gilgamesh is about the ruler of uruk Gilgamesh and his quest to receive everlasting life. Gilgamesh wanted to receive everlasting life because he saw his best friend enkidu die of a slow agonizing death witch lead Gilgamesh to put his own mortality to question.. Enkidu died this death as punishment for the thing he and Gilgamesh did like kill the bull of heaven and chop down all the trees in the cedar forest after killing the demon humbaba. So Gilgamesh goes to the end of the earth to find utnapishtims to grant him everlasting life. Utnapishtims tells him he can have everlasting life if he can stay awake for 7 days Gilgamesh fails immediately and ends up going back to uruk but before he goes back utnapishtims tells Gilgamesh about a flower that restores youth , so Gilgamesh gets the flower but it gets stolen so he leaves with nothing but knowledge witch he shares with his people. The main character is Gilgamesh he is a hero, fiercest of warriors he is two thirds god one third human and has super natural abilities.. fter seeing his friend enkidu die he goes off on a quest to get him out of the house of dust and gain everlasting life. Gilgamesh had to prove himself many times in the story by defeating challenges that faced him , killing the bull of heaven, when utnapishtim told him to sleep for seven days, getting the flower that restores youth and fighting offa pack of lions that the gods sent after him. The was an abundant presence of mythical beings the sun god, enlil the god of earth ,wind and air, and anu the god of the sky. His journey takes him to supernatural places such as the underworld the twin peaked mountain called mashu and on a boat journey through the waters of death. The story reaches a low point when Gilgamesh’s’ friend enkidu dies also when he failed utnapishtims challenge to stay awake for a week. The resurrection of the story was when Gilgamesh was told about the flower that restores everlasting life. He returns to uruk after the flower was stolen by a snake with much wisdom that he shares with his people. Gilgamesh’s characteristics define him as a quest hero. He is two thirds god and one third mortal and he is the strongest of men, he is ruler of uruk , the greatest of warriors and ambitious builder Gilgamesh surrounded his city with magnificent walls and glorious ziggurats, he was physically beautiful, immensely strong, and very wise. Gilgamesh’s flaws and virtues are very oversized. He goes on an epic quest after his best friend dies. He visits places that are supernatural and cannot be visited by humans. he was faced with many challenges that he over came to complete his quest. Sumer was one of the earliest civilizations of the near ancient east, located in the southern part of Mesopotamia. The term sumerian refers to the people who speak the Sumerian language. Sumer ancient Egypt and indusvalley civilization were considered the first settled society in the world to have all the features needed to have a civilization. The history of Sumeria dates back to the beginning of writing and law which the Sumerians were accredited for inventing. And was essential for maintaining order within city-states. For centuries city states used Sumerian law, which established penalties for certain offenses. This represents recognition that society can’t function without respect for life, property and shared values. The Sumerians were non Semitic people and were at one time believed to have been invader, as a number of linguists believed they could possibly detect a substrate language beneath Sumerian. However, archeological record shows clear uninterrupted cultural continuity from the time of the early unbaid period settlements in southern Mesopotamia. The Sumerian peoples farm land was mad fertile by slit deposited by the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. By the late fourth millennium B. C. E. , sumer was divided into about a dozen independent city states, whose limits were defined by canals and boundary stones. Each was centered on a temple dedicated to the particular patron deity of the city and ruled over by a priest and or king, who was tied to the city’s religious rites. The principle Sumerian sites were the cities of mari, agade, kish, borsippa, nippur , isin, adab, shuruppak, girsu lagash, ur and eridu . he minor cities wear sippar , kutha, dilbat, marad, kisurra , zabala, umma , kisiga, awan, hamazi, eshnunna akshak, and zimbir. The Sumerian city-states rose to power during the prehistorical ubad and uruk periods. The historical record opens with early dynastic period from ca. the twenty ninth century B. C. E. , but remains scarce until the lagash period begins in the twenty sixith century. Classical sumer ends with akkadian empire in the twenty fourth century. Followed by the gutian period, there is a short â€Å"Sumerian renaissance† in the twenty second, cut short in ca. 000 B. C. E. by Amorite invasions. The Amorite â€Å"dynasty of isin† persists until ca. 1730 B. C. E. when Mesopotamia is united under Babylonian rule. Recapping my essay Gilgamesh is an epic about the ruler of uruk who went on a quest to find everlasting life but in the end Gilgamesh did not find everlasting life. His characteristics match that of an epic hero and the sumer civilization was one of the first civilizations to have all the essentials to be a civilization and the Sumerians were credited for inventing writing and law and wear a great civilization.

Research Project Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research Project Reflection Paper - Essay Example If one was suspected of having been an associate of witchcraft, torments were started until the victim gave up and confessed of having participated in the witch-hunts. Secondly, we learn of the staged s of witchcraft decline: the accusatory and convictions decrease stage and the conclusion of the matter. The impact of political, intellectual, social and economic factors are also looked and expounded holistically, and the way they did contribute to witchcraft decline. Therefore, the witchcraft decline is looked like a process cultivated by many factors, all brought together and brewing up the declining heat (Bever, pg. 276). On conducting the research, I faced several research limitations, especially with reference to the availability of scholarly materials. Some of the materials that I grasped to conduct were sometimes not so reliable. Reliable resources were quite limited, and it did call for me to conduct a thorough search on the primary sources in the university databases. Additionally, very few scholars have conducted research on the same topic. It was quite hard to find a consistent and reliable relationship between the research I conducted and the one that conducted by previous researchers. The research did call for analyzing primary resources on works done around 15th to 17th century. Sometimes the different scholarly articles could communicate different information at a similar topic. The bias prevalence was hence was quite a concern. Another bias is the language used in the primary sources. Having been written around 15th to 17th century, the language used was quite hard and did call for one t o take quite a lot of time analyzing the content. Many interesting topics emerged during the process of my research conduction. I would like to conduct further research on them, should a chance erupt. First, I would conduct a thorough research on Matthew Hopkins, a witch hunter in England. His career did flourish in an environment

The principle of non-refoulement at sea and the effectiveness of the Essay

The principle of non-refoulement at sea and the effectiveness of the asylum protection - Essay Example ations to grant asylum to any person in modern history is evidenced by he numerous treaties and conventions attempting to compel states to extend such acts of grace. The international law regarding human right such as protection and life envisages the probability of reluctance of states to admit persons into their territories on various grounds such as national security, particularly during this period when terrorism is on the increase1. Intricate issues of crises in the human society such as wars and mass displacement raise humanitarian conditions that urgently need attention due to the direct and weighty matter of life threatening challenges forcing asylum seeking. The international community identifies the need for cooperation among countries for non-conventional immigration and admission of civilians facing life-threatening challenges from their home country. Despite the fact that the requirements of registration of mass asylum seekers appears to follow certain immigration formal ities, the risks faced by such asylum seekers form the basis of admission as a matter of urgency. The precipitating factors that caused widespread displacement of persons across the world included the world wars, and the United Nations General Assembly made the recognition of the humanitarian nature of this problem in 1946. Among the major resolutions to the effect of resolution of the refugee condition was Resolution 8 (I) that barred forceful return of displaced persons to their countries of origin after the war. The formation of the International Refugee Organization in 1946 is testament to the resolve and commitment of the world leadership at the UN2. Its ambitious establishment brought important success in the recognition of refugee status as well as protection against hostility of various forms. However, its future faced the threats of the Cold War that ensued after the laying of the foundation of the United Nations. Its reinforcement came by way of stronger organs, agencies and

Excel Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Excel Project - Essay Example Software prepared by the most prominent software company Microsoft are: Microsoft Dynamics GP Microsoft FRx for financial reporting and analytics Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting 2007 Microsoft Small Business Financials SAP manufactures: SAP ERP Financial Solution SAP Intuit Company prepares: Quickbooks, Quicken TurboTax Industries All these software are used by organizations which have huge database and it is not easy to manage it without appropriate software, for instance multinational companies, banking systems and airport terminals etc. Apart from these industries, all these software are marketed also marketed to renowned websites like Finance.yahoo.com, Reuters and Bloomberg. Wall Street & Firms Generally Wall Street views all the firms with the ability to provide good returns. In the given 120 trading activity, only Microsoft was the only company which could not end up with positive results, apart from that, the rest of the companies reported the positive returns in t he given time frame. Results One basis of the results computed on the Microsoft Excel sheet along with the graphs, the analysis of 120 trading days’ activity clearly reflects that SAP performed remarkably well earning a gain of around $90,000, whereas Microsoft turned out to be the worst among all five participants reporting a net loss of around $55,000. The other three software designing firms produced mediocre results, presenting net gains $15,000, $9,000 and ?12,000 by oracle, Intuit and Sage respectively. Source Yahoo! Finance was used as the data source from the stock price data was retrieved. The reason for choosing this financial database is the element of ease and convenience that Yahoo! Finance provides to its users. The other important aspect of choosing Yahoo! Finance was ability to convert all the data into excel sheets which provides users the ultimate ease of working on that data. Analysis Since the SAP performed the best among all five participants and Microsof t performed the worst, therefore whatever is the amount of investment can be made equally on these five stocks, the end output will be same in which SAP would be leading ahead from the rest of participants. In scenario 1, 3 and 4 SAP is involved, and it can be observed that SAP is performing much better. Opposite view goes for Microsoft as Microsoft is included only in Scenario 1 due to its sluggish performance in the reported 120 trading days. Microsoft even could not qualify to be part of other 3 scenarios. If every scenario is discussed on individual basis it can be observed that SAP is the top leader and Microsoft is the top loser in scenario 1 in which all five companies were given an equal share of $500,000 to be invested in. Scenario 2 comprised of the two stocks from largest cap market companies in which SAP and Oracles were included. Here SAP remained well above from Oracle. Scenario 3 comprises of two best performing companies from medium sized markets in which Intuit and Sage were included. Here Sage performed marginally well from Intuit. The last scenario contains two stocks, each selected as the best performing from large and medium sized markets. SAP and Sage are the constituents of this scenario and clearly SAP beat Sage by a huge amount of $155,000. Fifth Scenario On the basis of the results obtained under scenario 1, the fifth best possible scenario that can be the most worthwhile among all five companies is the scenario in which SAP and

The Philosophy of Kitsch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Philosophy of Kitsch - Essay Example Kitsch philosophy states that fine art or art is a sole concept. This philosophy does not support the use of fine art or art in physical manifestation. In 18th century, Immanuel Kant, the German philosopher, highlighted the concept of the using fine art for doing physical manifestation. During 1998, the philosophy of Kitsch became very popular and the Kitsch painter gave huge effort in separating art from craft . The art theorists Hermann Broch, Clement Greenberg and Theodor Adorno popularized the word Kitsch from 1930s. These theorists were against the philosophy of Kitsch. The huge popularity of Kitsch philosophy became a threat for the art world. The culture of the art world was getting changed by the philosophy. Various people contradict the philosophy of Kitsch and place their views against the philosophy. The philosophy of Kitsch emphasizes on the antithesis of modern art . The philosophy of Kitsch is related to human nature, senses etc. In the book â€Å"On Kitsch† the philosophy of the author was highlighted by paintings.The philosophy of Kitsch is closely associated with the idea of art in the modern times. Earlier in Greece, the word â€Å"art† means beauty and skill. In the modern era, art became a form of expression thoughts . Kant was considered as most influential person who developed the modern and post modern philosophy of art. The philosopher, Hegel supported the theory of Kant. Earlier it was thought that art must be developed by true man who does not have skills.

Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Management - Assignment Example The success of business in the 21st century depends on the ability of the organization to integrate technology in the business operation. In the advent of information technology, organizations have endeavored to inject business efficiency by using technology to run their data analysis and management and computer systems to enhance business management. The web, internet and computer technology helps the organization to streamline their business functions and to develop strategies for management decision making. Microsoft and Procter & Gamble are among the organizations that have embraced the use of technology within their business operations. A close evaluation of the two companies will help reveal the value of technology within the business environment. Information and its management is an important factor in the business environment. All the management decisions are driven by the data that the management team collects during the previous fiscal years. The managers analyze data and interpret to know their business performance and determine their next course of action. As Wolfgang (3) points out, the efficiency of the management in the data-analysis stage determines the nature of the direction that they opt to follow in their future business. Technology has provided new ways of analyzing information, hence providing the managers with a new approach to business decision making. In Procter and Gamble, the management shifted their focus on data analysis systems to shape their business using effective decision-making tools.

Compare and contrast Shakespeare's portrayal of women in Hamlet and A Essay

Compare and contrast Shakespeare's portrayal of women in Hamlet and A Midsummer's Night Dream - Essay Example She seems powerless and innocent and this can be compared to real life chauvinist society in which women are seen to be dependent on the males. Other characters use her as a tool to reach their goals and this can be witnessed in Act II when Polonius uses Ophelia as a spy to find out the reasons behind Hamlet’s peculiar and curious behavior. Ophelia is loved by her father, Polonius and her brother, Laertes to an extent that keeps her unaware of the bitter realities of life. Her innocence is justified by her unawareness about the state matters and childlike desires of gathering flowers. This innocence can again be compared to the real life women who are considered to be innocent in comparison to the male counterparts. She is loyal and is ready to return the love she receives by any means. Her loyalty and obedience to her father can be witnessed in the scene when her father stops her from seeing Hamlet. At this particular scene she replies â€Å"I shall obey my Lord† (1.4. 10). Ophelia portrays the picture of an impeccable and frail woman of that era. "Her whole character is that of simple unselfish affection" (Bradley 130). On the other hand, Hippolyta, one of the leading characters of ‘A Midsummer’s night dream’ depicts a rather strong, determined and powerful character. She contradicts the situations and character traits of Ophelia. Hippolyta exposes the characteristics of a fighting leader and portrays a completely different picture about a woman. Her different sense of judgment is observed with her decision to marry Theseus who has defeated her in a battle. Unlike Ophelia, she chooses to marry a person who was against her. Ophelia chose to follow her father and brother owing to their compassion and affection towards her. Theseus explains Hippolyta’s choice of marrying him in the following lines: Hippolyta, I woo?d thee with my sword, And won thy love doing thee injuries (Act I, scene I 16-17) Hippolyta’s characte r appears in the starting of the play with Theseus discussing ther wedding. Hippolyta is less expressive in the play and appears only with Theseus throughout the course of the story (Bloom & Marson 2008, p. 18). Love plays a major role in Shakespeare’s novels. His female characters portray their love towards their counterparts in one way or the other. Ophelia is one of the Shakespeare’s characters who are true, genuine and devoted to their feelings of love. She is weak, dependent and obedient to her father and brother’s will. Yet, her feelings towards Hamlet were honest, true and strong but she still stopped seeing him after she was ordered so. Hippolyta on the other hand was a bold character who would have acted in a different way in a situation which Ophelia went through. Like the women of that era, Ophelia however was forced and obliged to obey her family. She, thus, disregards any further relationship or communication with Hamlet (Jameson 1967, p. 161). Hipp olyta and Theseus have contradictory nature and views as seen in the opening scene when they are discussing about the imaginations and lovers’ story. Hippolyta appears quite, calm and passive throughout the play. Her calm nature in the play rejects the misconceptions about the Amazonian women, which in the Elizabethan age were known as strong opponents against men. Theseus’s love towards Hippolyta is much obvious by his speeches than Hippolyta’s expressionism. She reserves her comments and feelings yet her acceptance of

The 2004 Elections in USA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The 2004 Elections in USA - Essay Example Many issues were raised at this time including alleged obstacles in voter registration, voter suppression, and reliability of the voting machines in question along with racial discrimination. Minor issues like registration offices rejecting forms because they were not printed on a certain type of paper and other major issues like voter eligibility issues, voter suppression - a lot of voters were turned away in trepidation of voting for the opponent etc. In A Note on the Presidential Election in Ohio, Dennis Kucinich said. "Dirty tricks occurred across the state, including phony letters from Boards of Elections telling people that their registration through some Democratic activist groups were invalid and that Kerry voters were to report on Wednesday because of massive voter turnout. Phone calls to voters giving them erroneous polling information were also common" clearly depicting the nefarious activities brimming during the elections. There were other instances like endless lines at voting stations bringing about general discomfort for people trying to get their votes in as the whole time balance went wrong for them. Moreover, road blocks put in place by the police were an enormous hold back for people trying to access certain polling places.

Irish Urban Land Development Essay Example for Free

Irish Urban Land Development Essay Currently, Ireland is classified as a First World Economy and it has experienced exceptional economic development at an average rate of eight per cent per year between 1994 and 2001, with a humble growth rate of four per cent per year as from 2001 to date (Stewart 2005). With this rate of growth, Ireland has become more urbanized with increased population, changing agricultural practices, and reformation of local authorities to hold increased public participation and boost lucidity. In addition, there has been a change in the household development, an escalating number and forms of homes with a changing tenure system accompanied by population changes. These elements together with the exceptional economic development and low interest rates have changed the economic, environmental and social outlook of Ireland. The changes have presented numerous challenges such as traffic clogging, environmental squalor, urban sprawl, and lack of affordable housing. This has led to a broken nexus between economic development and human welfare (Drudy 1982). Ireland has had several mechanisms aimed at effecting efficient land use planning within the urban environment towards achieving sustainable development. These mechanisms include an abundance of policies and strategies. These policies and strategies include sustainable development, a strategy for Ireland 1997, National spatial strategy for Ireland 2002, and National development plan 2002-2006 among others. However, even with these initiatives, numerous challenges still persist for urban and regional policy-making in the search of an effective and efficient sustainable development (Stewart 2005). It can be debated that some political, social, and economic elements do repel policy impact from policies intentions considering the extent to which current challenges continue to exist (EU Commission 2001). Much of research related to urbanization of population is colored with powerful anti-urbanism and a desire after the values and simple life styles of traditional upcountry areas. In Ireland some research on urbanization too stresses the goodness of upcountry and the cons of urban trends. These biases are more apparent in the research and policies related to urban land and urban advancement onto agricultural land (Drudy 1982). In fact, the preservation and defense of agricultural land and rural facilities has been the force behind the ratification of physical planning laws (Bengston et al 2004). During the late 17th and 18th centuries the existing urban model was increased by establishment of great number of new towns and villages together with re-development and extension of the existing settlements. It is argued that most of the Irish town begun as a village and outgrew into modest origins by the end of 18th century. These growths were as a result of network of roads and new canal system linking the rural and the major towns and this served as a reinforcement of the dominance of Dublin which was by then the best peopled town (Drudy 1982). The escalating growth of Irish urban regions particularly Dublin presented severe land, energy and social impacts. Growth was limited to a ring of suburban prompting rapid population increase with extreme demand for school, shopping centre, transport systems and local employment. This demand called for more land thus increasing pressures on agricultural land for urban development. Irish dedication to sustainable development can be measured by looking at its housing and land-use policies. The development of one off housing in the rural areas is the significant sign of urban sprawl. In a nation marked with a growing ratio of low density space, the prevalence of one off housing suggestion is a wholesome system failure (Bengston et al 2004). Irish land use is mostly governed by local government development plans but implementation of policies are not uniform. Viewing the one-off housing policy under the economies of scale, the houses are more expensive in service provision but a lot of burden to the developer, house purchaser and even Irish community at large. This is echoed by EPA which state that single housing homes in the upcountry leads to greater car usage therefore increasing energy demands and greater usage of small waste water treatment facilities which have the tendency to pollute underground water (Bengston et al 2004). The opposition of one off housing focuses on the economic burdens for its occupants and on the exchequer. However, when placed on a national framework, there are unquestionably broader economic challenges at stake. For example the impact of sustained site sales on Irish agricultural commodities. The sale of some areas has benign effects on agricultural activities. The fact is that site sale shackle Ireland farming over medium and long-term. Smart Growth an Option for Ireland Smart growth model was born in US in the 90s and this concept entails identifying a common platform where developers, the public and public officials together with environmentalists among other stakeholders finds acceptable means of accommodating growth. The smart growth approach emphasizes on integrating economic, social, and environmental elements of planning and development. It is not an anti-development approach as many may argue but equivalent of the bigger picture of sustainable development as defined by Bruntland as development that provides the requirements of the current generation without jeopardizing the capacity of the same resources to provide the needs of the future generations (Bruntland 1987). The concept imply to offer an answers towards managing growth through public policies instruments for example regulatory instruments and fiscal policies such as incentives and disincentives aiming at accommodating growth in ways that are economically feasible, environmentally friendly and enhancing quality of life. Some of the concerns that the approach targets to address is traffic congestion, urban sprawl, overcrowding and pollution (Stewart 2005). Conclusion The global essential towards achievement of sustainable growth implies that it is important to seek means to accommodate development in ways that is economically feasible, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible. One of the major critics of traditional urban planning is that the concept, method and technique engaged lean towards re-enforcing the present. This makes it challenging for town and city to reflect, plan and establish future alternative ideas suiting to all stakeholders’ true requirements. There is a dire necessity of replacing the conventional short term quick fix model to long term integrating and holistic model in the planning and development strategies. There is need for collaboration on finding solutions and powerful political leadership for Ireland to progress from rhetoric to reality in delivering it land use policies that will lead to positive, efficient and sustainable communities. Smart growth is not a solution to development concerns but an alternative approach to the present development model and a feasible way of mitigating current and probable future social economic and environmental concerns (Stewart 2005).

Lanzones Peelings as Mosquito Coil Essay Example for Free

Lanzones Peelings as Mosquito Coil Essay 1. SUMMARY Education for Sustainable Development allows every human being to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable future. Education for Sustainable Development means including key sustainable development issues into teaching and learning; for example, climate change, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, poverty reduction, and sustainable consumption. It also requires participatory teaching and learning methods that motivate and empower learners to change their behavior and take action for sustainable development. Education for Sustainable Development consequently promotes competencies like critical thinking, imagining future scenarios and making decisions in a collaborative way. Education for Sustainable Development requires far-reaching changes in the way education is often practiced today. UNESCO is the lead agency for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) Sustainable development is a difficult concept to define; it is also continually evolving, which makes it doubly difficult to define. One of the original descriptions of sustainable development is credited to the Brundtland Commission: Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, p 43). Sustainable development is generally thought to have three components: environment, society, and economy. The well-being of these three areas is intertwined, not separate. For example, a healthy, prosperous society relies on a healthy environment to provide food and resources, safe drinking water, and clean air for its citizens. The sustainability paradigm rejects the contention that casualties in the environmental and social realms are inevitable and acceptable consequences of economic development. Thus, the authors consider sustainability to be a paradigm for thinking about a future in which environmental, societal, and economic considerations are balanced in the pursuit of development and improved quality of life A widely accepted definition is â€Å"development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs†. Currently we are not even meeting the needs of the present let alone considering the needs of future generations. The United Nations have declared 2005 – 2014 as the decade for Sustainable development, in an effort to reverse Sustainability is now recognize to be a key area of development for the education sector. In particular, the policy and practice context points to the need to consider how best to embed it into higher education learning and teaching strategies and curricula. The Higher Education Academy is currently undertaking a program of development activity and capacity building so as to better assist institutions and subject communities in their development of curricula and pedagogy to equip students with the skills and knowledge to live and work sustainably. This recognize the importance of increasing sustainability literacy among students and the growing demand for sustainability skills among employers. Current work includes a baseline research study to identify existing good practice in the sector. The impacts of global warming and climate change is said to be â€Å"the greatest injustice of our time†. The world’s poorest people have contributed least to its cause but they are the ones who suffer most from its devastating effects. Poor and developing countries are the most that are at risk due to long term flawed natural resource management practices and policies, increased population density and settlements in fragile eco-systems, increased demand on environment and natural resources, poor governance and prevalence of corruption. The acceleration of changing weather patterns due to global climate change aggravate further the underlying risk that many poor and developing countries are facing. Poverty incidence is higher in areas where natural disasters occur. The poor are mostly located in the rural areas and are dependent on agriculture, fishery and livestock that are inherently climate sensitive. Farmers and indigenous peoples in upland communities live in landslide prone areas and the poor in the urban areas live in hazardous areas like along riverbanks. â€Å"Poor households and poor nations throughout much of the world face two disadvantages: the inability to generate income and the vulnerability to physical social and economic downturns. Drought, flood, conflict, inflation, disease and recession hit these groups and countries hardest. Furthermore, repeated exposure to these downturns reinforces the conditions of poverty.† Whatever progress we make from our poverty reduction and community development initiatives; these are shattered the day after a disaster. These clearly states that disasters do not only worsen poverty in poor and developing countries but by the same token undermine past, current and future efforts to tackle poverty. DRR, Literacy and Education Over the past years, we saw the transformation of many disaster responses from emergency and relief response during or immediately after a disaster, towards a Mn ore comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) approach. Likewise, Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction Programs using participatory approaches are being conducted in many countries by government and non-government organizations. Since the adoption by 186 UN member states of the Hyogo Framework for Action, promotion of DRR in education had been taken, specifically in the formal education sector. Policy guidelines, tools and methodologies had been developed to guide policy makers, implementers and practitioners in integrating DRR in education. This includes not only integrating and mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in education but as well as developing guidelines in school building construction. The Philippines is one country where this initiative was pilot tested. Several materials related to this had been developed by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and other agencies and organizations. A wealth of DRR education materials had also been developed – the Asia-Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO (ACCU) Planet 4 module on disaster preparedness is one very good example. Literacy and education is crucial to Disaster Risk Reduction. Reducing risks and enhancing people’s resilient capacities to deal with disasters requires them to understand how they could best protect themselves. Literacy and education is a necessity in raising awareness on the nature and presence of natural hazards as well as the vulnerabilities and threats faced by the community. It plays a central role in building life skills that could make a difference in life threatening situations during disasters. DRR and ESD Since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, disaster reduction has been recognized as an integral component of sustainable development (Chapter 3 of Agenda 21) and the cross-sectoral nature of disaster risk reduction was again emphasized in 2002 during the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The linkage between disaster risk reduction education and sustainable development had been visible on other international agendas. Disaster Risk Reduction encompasses economic, political, cultural, social and environmental dimensions and that formal and non-formal education initiative under this theme is consistent with the frameworks of ESD in three important ways: 1. Education for disaster risk reduction is interdisciplinary. Therefore, important consideration is given to the impacts on, and relationship between, society, the environment, economy and culture. 2. Education for disaster risk reduction promotes critical thinking and problem solving and other social and emotional life skills that are essential to the empowerment of stakeholder groups threatened or affected by disasters. 3. Education for disaster risk reduction supports the Millennium Development Goals. Without considering Disaster Risk Reduction in development planning, all efforts including, decades of development initiatives could be destroyed in seconds. ESD in a Climate Changed World The nature of disasters in our climate changed world placed us to come into terms with our past and current behaviors, lifestyle practices and our views of society, the economy, the world, the environment and humanity in general. It bared the flaws of our past and current development models and paradigms that gave birth to our current environmental and climate predicament. It exposed who are vulnerable and who are accountable and revealed the cause and effect relationship between disaster and development from a global to local perspective. The risk posed by the threats of climate change to humanity is a strong urgent call for us to rethink the dominant views that influence the social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions of our lives. No problem can be solved by the same consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew. Our current challenges in the face climate changed induced disasters opens up an avenue to question the current dominant for m of development and education that brought us these problems. It gave us the reality of our current context to reflect on our current education frameworks and a platform to create the kind of education that will save us. Despite many International Agreements and Declarations on the Right to Education, millions of children and youth are still out of school and millions of adults are still unable to read and write. Without education, these children, youth and adults face a very bleak future and are denied of their ability to develop their full potential – a massive loss of human potential that could aid in eradicating poverty and in achieving sustainable development. Understanding the Right to Education As well as being a right in itself, the right to education is also an enabling right. Education ‘creates the â€Å"voice† through which rights can be claimed and protected’, and without education people lack the capacity to ‘to achieve valuable functionings as part of the living’. If people have access to education they can develop the skills, capacity and confidence to secure other rights. Education gives people the ability to access information detailing the range of rights that they hold, and government’s obligations. It supports people to develop the communication skills to demand these rights, the confidence to speak in a variety of forums, and the ability to negotiate with a wide range of government officials and power holders. Our Constitutions Bill of Rights provides that No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws. Lack of education incapacitates an individual to assert and protect his own rights. The Right of Suffrage provides that no literacy requirements shall be imposed on the exercise of the right to vote. However, lack of education compromises a voter’s position to exercise his right to vote wisely for his and his countrys benefit. Education is a powerful tool that can provide people, especially the poor and vulnerable groups with the necessary knowledge, awareness, skills and competencies to transform their conditions. It is a primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalized adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty and obtain the means to participate fully in their communities. It has a vital role in empowering women, safeguarding children from exploitative and hazardous labor and sexual exploitation, promoting human rights and democracy, protecting the environment, and controlling population growth. It is a tool for empowerment – a powerful means to beat poverty. Unfortunately, these ideas however explicit remain poorly understood and internalized by our â€Å"educated† policy and decision makers in government. Twisted priorities and distorted values even outright corruption have crept in such that construction of buildings, purchase of school facilities, task forces and even feeding programs have become the milking cow of those in certain higher echelons of government. Learning interventions, alternative education programs and other support services to address shortcomings of the educational system will remain as that – stop-gap, isolated and spotty no matter how heroic, noble and outstanding the efforts of certain public servants and civil society sectors are – because a makeshift solution can be sustainable only to a certain extent and can never take the place of a mandate and a policy on education bolstered by a Constitutional guarantee which is s till to be fully implemented. Neither the call for Charter Change nor the lip service of those in the business of education can bring about substantial change in the education system. Enlightened sectors in public and civil society need support and encouragement to enable them to show the way and serve as models for the process of education. Various issues affecting local populace can be opportunities for people’s organizations, community and area groups to galvanize and demand for their education needs and other rights. There has to be a consistent lobby for the state to deliver on its obligation on the right to education. For so long as structural and material projects are given precedence in public investments by government to the detriment of education and other social development projects, the quality of education and, consequently, even our overall economy will remain poor and stunted. 2. REACTION It is not unusual to encounter a study expounding that there is something terribly wrong with the country. But we dont know exactly what it is that were doing wrong. Thus the appeal of events like this launch. I must admit that in reading the Report, I cant help but feel alarmed. It is particularly stressing to read that the state of education continues to deteriorate. One of the most striking observations in the Report is made in its companion paper. It points out that the issues we confronted in the colonial times persist today. This strikes me deeply. Education has always been one of my core advocacies. So I found it personally illuminating that the Report used the education sector as the model for analysis. The significance of education is highlighted best during times of crisis. A well-educated citizenry is our best bet in taking advantage of the eventual rebound of world economies. When the upswing starts, our people must be there to compete. And the key here, as the Report points out, is to break the stasis in education. What drew my attention in the report was the presence of success stories. It is wonderful that out of all the issues, we do have successful endeavors to share. The Third Elementary Education Project (TEEP) and Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) are welcome developments. But beyond this, we should take note of the Reports more insightful points. For one, it is enlightening to read that contrary to traditional thinking, funding, may not be the biggest obstacle to educational reforms. This is a good point. Greater changes can happen if we address organizational culture, and improve professional managerial expertise. By saying this, the Report gives us the chance to effect reforms that are not heavily dependent on funding. Yes, the report is quite distressing. But I cant help but agree with its main points. If we are to do some good, we must change institutions. Piecemeal reforms produce piecemeal results. The same philosophy pushed me to spearhead the creation of COMSTE, which works through a Technical Advisory Council of which Doctor Balisacan is a prominent member. Its job is to undertake a national review and assessment of the science, technology and engineering research and development system of the country. The intention is to make reforms that will boost competitiveness in key areas: science, math and engineering education, health services, energy and environment, food and agriculture, IT and IT-enabled services, and semiconductors and electronics. COMSTE operates on certain key assumptions. There have been technological, socio-political and economic trends that have changed the nature and practice in the targeted sectors. However, the laws and rules governing the regulation and practice of professions have not kept up. Indeed, these laws have not been updated for decades. In addition, our laws and structures governing the development of educational curricula and the hiring of experts have become too rigid. In a way that mirrors the theme of the Report, our curricula ended up being so tied down with formal rules, they suffocated. This gave rise to a culture of instruction that is unbending and incapable of adapting to rapid development. 3. RELATED TO THE LESSON From the time sustainable development was first endorsed at the UN General Assembly in 1987, the parallel concept of education to support sustainable development has also been explored. From 1987 to 1992, the concept of sustainable development matured as committees discussed, negotiated, and wrote the 40 chapters of Agenda 21. Initial thoughts concerning ESD were captured in Chapter 36 of Agenda 21, Promoting Education, Public Awareness, and Training. Unlike most education movements, ESD was initiated by people outside of the education community. In fact, one major push for ESD came from international political and economic forums (e.g., United Nations, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Organization of American States). As the concept of sustainable development was discussed and formulated, it became apparent that education is key to sustainability. In many countries, ESD is still being shaped by those outside the education community. The concepts and content of ESD in these cases are developed by ministries, such as those of environment and health, and then given to educators to deliver. Conceptual development independent of educator input is a problem recognized by international bodies as well as educators.