Over the last fifty years, Public Relations in India has evolved from a marginal practice into a strategic force in the digital age. Capturing this transformation is Mastering the Message, a new book by communications veteran Ganapathy Viswanathan that offers a detailed account of PR’s evolution, challenges, and future directions. With more than three decades of experience across Ogilvy, Lintas, Mudra and the Publicis Group, Ganapathy draws from his career in brand storytelling, strategic planning, and integrated communication to reflect on PR’s changing role. The book covers a wide range of topics, from crisis and reputation management to political, sports, and financial communications. “The book also examines pressing industry challenges, from the talent crunch to the evolving role of influencers and journalists. Through real-world insights and personal anecdotes, it serves as both a practical guide for young professionals and a thoughtful reflection for seasoned practitioner

Image source: Energy Intelligence, ABC News and The Daily Jagran; Edited by Dinesh Raj M As Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to Tianjin for his first visit to China in seven years, the moment is freighted with contradictions. On the one hand, U.S. tariffs have doubled on Indian goods, triggering the sharpest trade rift in decades. On the other, Modi is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping, a neighbour with whom India has endured a bruising five-year standoff after the Galwan clash. The SCO summit now offers a stage where border management, global trade turbulence and multipolar politics collide. Hot off the Press Rezaul H. Laskar for Hindustan Times reported that Modi and Xi will discuss steps to normalise ties, including border mechanisms, resumption of visas and people-to-people exchanges. With the LAC relatively quiet since 2020, both sides want to build on the fragile calm. Rajeev Jayaswal, also in HT, explained how the U.S. tariffs—now 50 per cent after Trump’s pu

Media communications professional Paul Wallbank has launched a new venture, Brilliant Communications, aimed at making brands shine.   “I'm looking to assist brands and organisations with their key executive communications,” Wallbank told Influencing.  “A lot of brands and agencies are doing great things in building their brands and messaging. So with Brilliant, I plan on helping add that little bit of polish to the executives and leadership teams, so that they're getting their messages across in clear, concise ways.  Wallbank said Brilliant Communications is also looking to offer media training, executive training, consulting on brand strategies, and crisis communications.  “The core thing is to sit down with clients or their agencies to identify where the gaps are that they want to address within their executive teams and leadership. So who do we have to work on? And where does the client want to go?  “I’ve done that in a voluntary way over the last two decade

News takes off A foiled plot to hijack a ­commercial jet at an Australian airport and demand the plane and its passengers be flown to a hostile Middle Eastern nation is the subject of an investigation by a counter-­terrorism task force, reports The Australian’s Melbourne Bureau Chief Damon Johnston this morning in a front page exclusive. To be fair details are a bit scant - The Oz isn’t naming the intended destination, for example. And it appears someone has been before the courts since July, but there’s no doubt it’s a powerful front page piece. Meanwhile on the same page there’s a picture of a smiling expelled Iranian Ambassador in a piece from Sarah Ison and Liam Mendes. You can’t get past the feeling News Corp sent a few of the troops to the airport to make sure he really does get on that plane back to Iran - the picture taken at Sydney Airport. “Smirk belies wickedness within” says the head, smirk sounding a whole lot more loaded than smile, of course

Image source: HT, The Guardian, Council on Foreign Relations and Business Today; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   Hours after the 50 per cent additional tariff on Indian exports to the US kicked in, both countries indicated that they are working towards resolving their differences on the issue with govt officials asserting that communication channels remain open. Hot off the Press “I think at the end of the day, we will come together,” US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said in a TV interview while stressing that India is the world’s largest democracy and the US is the world’s largest economy, according to a report in The Times of India. Bessent blamed India's continuing purchase of Russian crude for being the deal breaker, and also expressed dissatisfaction with the terms proposed by India by dubbing them performative. He said that European countries should also take US-type action against India and expressed frustration over them continuing to source petrol, diesel and

Goldmine Advertising Pvt. Ltd. has been chosen by Maharashtra Small Scale Industrial Development Corporation (MSSIDC) as the advertising and digital services partner for the RAMP programme.  The three-year term initiative supported by Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) and the World Bank, aims to focus on driving competitiveness and unlocking growth opportunities for MSMEs across Maharashtra.  

NDTV has rolled out its new primetime show, The Buck Stops Here, starting 25 August 2025. The programme is anchored by Padmaja Joshi, Managing Editor and Primetime Anchor on NDTV 24x7, and airs weeknights at 9 PM IST. Framed by the tagline “The End of Every Argument,” the show is positioned as a definitive space for national debates. Each episode aims to raise critical questions, dissect them through pointed discussions and arrive at clear conclusions. The Buck Stops Here will cover a wide range of topics—governance, economic decisions, societal shifts and India's global role—offering direct questions, detailed analysis and responses aimed at clarity rather than ambiguity. Speaking about the launch, NDTV called it “a defining step in the journey of a new NDTV for a new India,” and described the newsroom as “committed to reflecting the aspirations of a confident nation and the responsibilities of a vibrant democracy.” With Padmaja Joshi at the helm, the network say