The new format of Yuva, the youth-centric magazine from E-sense Entertainment Pvt Ltd, is set to be officially launched on April 15. The fortnightly magazine is targeted at the youth in the 18-30 age group. The magazine will have a pan-India presence and would be priced at around Rs 25-30.

Niche magazines are adopting various initiatives to stand out in newsstands, which include innovative ad concepts. Be it Femina carrying a comb in a new ad campaign for Dove or Pioneer Book Company introducing an audio chip that plays ad jingles in an ad for their magazine ‘Meri Saheli’, the idea is to stand out.

FICCI Frames 2009 has a lot going for it this year. First of all, Frames is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Secondly, being held as it is amid an economic downturn, the media and entertainment industry is looking at the three-day convention for some reassurance and to set a positive tone. exchange4media spoke to various industry people to find out what they expect from FICCI Frames this year.

Mid-Day’s decision to discontinue its morning edition recently to focus on its afternoon edition in Mumbai and its YUMPI readership has got mixed reactions from media planners. While Mid-Day officials said that the advertisers clearly understood their pitch, media planners also felt that this would result in further negotiation on the rates.

The Indian Readership Survey (IRS) methodology has come under the scanner yet again. Mid-Day wrote a letter to MRUC on January 29, 2009, stating that the IRS research methodology did not do justice to a brand like Mid-Day. Meanwhile, MRUC has responded to Mid-Day on all the concerns and issues raised by them.

Speaker after speaker at the two-day Global Youth Marketing Forum, held in Mumbai on February 3-4, gave their views on marketing to today’s youth. The Forum sought to demystify what today’s Gen Y thought, felt and acted on, the issues that they reacted to the environment that they lived in. A major chunk of the discussions was also devoted to the Internet medium, where most youths are to be found today.

Lokmat Group has set out to combat all things grim through their campaign, christened ‘Lokmat MyIndiaMyWay’. The concept is presented by Idea, while exchange4media is the online partner. The campaign will culminate with an on-ground event in February, where Home Minister P Chidambaram would field questions from a panel on democracy.

Khalid Mohammad, National Culture Editor with Hindustan Times, has put in his papers to go back to directing, script and book writing, including an authorised biography of artist MF Husain. His last date with Hindustan Times was January 28.

Tarun Mehra, who was Business Head of Zee TV since January 2006, has been shifted to its new division. Currently, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd COO Nitin Vaidya and Programming Head Ajay Bhalwankar are looking after Zee TV. Vaidya has confirmed the development, but refused to divulge any other information about the new division.

While a lot has been written about how the slowdown is adversely impacting different sectors, the situation is not without some positive developments taking place along side. Print players, too, have had to bear the burden of the slowdown coupled with hike in newsprint costs. But the focus of this report is on bringing out some of the strongest positive aspects of this slowdown for the print industry.

Shivkumar Menon has put in his papers as Marketing Head at Zoom to set up his own brand consulting agency, called ‘Speech Blurb - the voice of your brand’. He has partnered with Razia Kunj and Vinod Kunj for this venture. Menon is currently serving his notice period at Zoom and would be released on January 31, 2009.

NDTV Imagine is celebrating completion of its first year of operations with a slew of new programmes. Starting with the recently announced show ‘Ghar Ki Baat Hai’, produced by SRK’s Red Chillies Idiot Box, NDTV Imagine is planning to launch more shows in the next two months.

Like news channels, Hindi and Marathi GECs, too, have geared up to celebrate Republic Day with great gusto. Most of the GECs have arranged special episodes of existing shows for viewers and have also planned special programmes to observe R-Day. A quick preview.

The 60th Republic Day has special connotations for every India, coming after the Mumbai terror attacks and heightened Indo-Pak tensions. Various TV channels are gearing up with special offerings to commemorate the occasion. exchange4media takes a look at what’s on offer on various news channels in the country this Republic Day.

The 60th Republic Day has special connotations for every India, coming after the Mumbai terror attacks and heightened Indo-Pak tensions. Various TV channels are gearing up with special offerings to commemorate the occasion. exchange4media takes a look at what’s on offer on various news channels in the country this Republic Day.