The Driverless Car Revolution

A) Some of the world’s cleverest scientists and engineers are pioneering a new generation of driverless cars that will change our lives as much as the internet has already done. B) The idea of self-driving vehicles will sound like science-fiction to many, but the prototypes already work, using 360-degree sensors, lasers, learning algorithms and GPS to navigate streets in an astonishingly precise fashion. They are likely to go mainstream in 15 to 20 years’ time and are a genuinely exciting, game-changing breakthrough that refute the myth that our economy has ceased to spawn major technological innovations. Google’s vehicles have already driven more than 400,000 miles without an accident and are beginning to be legalised in US states.C) The technology could trigger a burst of economic growth, transform transport around the world, free vast amounts of time, increase productivity, make us a lot wealthier and unleash drastic, unpredictable economic and cultural change s. By allowing people to relax or work as they commute, they will deal a devastating blow to public transport in all but the densest, most congested areas.D) The biggest US think-tanks, universities, forecasters and corporations are busily trying to work out how, not if, the world will change as a result of driverless cars, and who the winners and losers will be.E) Driverless cars will have huge advantages. Commuting will become useful, productive time, saving many people two or more hours a day that are currently wasted. The number of accidents will fall by at least 90pc, scientists believe, preventing thousands of deaths, by controlling distances between vehicles, braking automatically and eliminating human errors and reckless driving. The superior safety of driverless cars means that it ought to be possible to reduce their weight, cutting back on fuel consumption, and to redesign car shapes, making them more like living rooms. Even car sickness could be reduced, with smoother dri ving.F) The dynamics of commuting will change as it will no longer be necessary to  find a parking space on arrival: the driverless car could either park itself at some distance from the workplace or even return home, before picking up the passenger in the evening. Fewer people may want to own cars, with rental becoming more attractive. This could allow residential parking areas to be put to other uses.G) The look and feel of roads and towns will drastically change. It will be possible to cram in far more cars into existing roads, driving at much faster speeds. Simulations of intelligently controlled intersections from the University of Texas suggest that they perform 200 to 300 times better than current traffic signals. Self-driving vehicles will have the ability to â€Å"platoon†, acting almost like train carriages on motorways, increasing lane capacity by up to 500pc, according to research from the US Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.H) Far more people w ill travel at night, sleeping at the same time, especially for longer trips such as holidays, reducing the demand for train and short-haul plane journeys. Driverless cars will once again boost the value of suburbs and country living, and their house prices: far more people will be willing to commute much longer distances to work or school. This will encourage cities to become even more sprawling, putting massive  pressure on existing planning rules. The premium on living centrally will be reduced, albeit not eliminated because of congestion, which means there will still be a need for some urban rail services.I) The transition process will inevitably be painful. Like all technological shifts, self-driving vehicles will threaten some existing jobs, including that of many professional drivers, though consumers will have more money to spend on other things, creating employment in those areas.Which paragraphs contain the following information? 1. It is predicted that many lives will be saved. 2. Prototypes have already been tested successfully. 3. Motorways will be used more efficiently. 4. The impact on transport by rail and plane. 5. Drawbacks for certain professions.

Understand Child Development and Young Person Development

CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (QCF) Unit Ref: L/601/1693 CYP Core 3. 1: Understand Child Development and Young Person Development Rosanna King Learning Outcome 1: Understand the expected pattern of development for children and young people from birth – 19 years. Assessment Criteria 1. 1: Explain the sequence and rate of each aspect of development from birth – 19 years. Answer to 1. 1: Below I have explained the sequence and rate of each development from birth – 19 years old in great detail. 0-2 Years – Physical Development: The baby lies supine (1 month old) * The baby turns its head towards light and stares at bright and shiny objects (1 month old) * The baby can lift the head briefly from the prone position (1-4 months old) * Legs can kick vigorously both separately and together (1-4 months old) * The baby is beginning to use a palmer grasp and can transfer objects from hand to hand (4-6 months old) * The baby has good head control and is beginning to sit with support (4-6 months old) * The baby can roll from front to back (6-12 months old) The baby is very alert to people and objects (6-12 months old) * The baby will now be mobile, may be crawling, bear walking, bum shuffling and even walking (9-12 months old) * The baby may bounce is rhythm to the sound of music (9-12 months old) * The baby might be able to manage stairs and steps, but will need supervision (1-2 years old) * The baby can build afew bricks and arrange toys on the floor (1-2 years old) * The child can walk confidently and is able to walk without falling (1-2 years old) 0-2 Years – Communication Development: The baby responds to sounds, especially familiar voices (1 month old) * The baby makes eye contact (1 month old) The baby makes no-crying noises, such as cooing and gurgling (1-4 months old) * The baby cries with anger to show they are hungry, tired or need a nappy change (1-4 months old) * The baby begins to l augh and squeal with pleasure (4-6 months old) * The baby becomes more aware of others and start to communicate with them more and more (4-6 months old) * Babies begin to understand words like ‘up’ and ‘down’ raising their arms to be lifted up, using appropriate gestures (6-9 months old) * The baby can follow simple instructions e. . kiss teddy (9-12 months old) * The child begins to talk with words or sign language (1-2 years) * Child starts pointing and taking a real interest in books and enjoys looking at all the pictures and objects (1-2 Years) 0-2 Years – Intellectual and Cognitive: * The baby is sensitive to light (1 month old) The baby’s face, abdomen, hands and feet are very sensitive to touch (1 month old) * The baby recognises differing speech sounds (1-4 months old) * The baby can develop favourite tastes in food and recognise differences by five months (4-6 months old) * The baby prefers complicated things to look at from five to s ix months and enjoys bright lights (4-6 months) * The baby understands signs e. g. he bib means that the food is coming (6-9 months) * From 8 -9 months the baby shows that they know objects exist when they have gone out of sight (6-9 months) * The baby is beginning to develop images (9-12 months) * The baby gives some understanding of daily routine e. g. food, changing and then nap time (9-12 months old) * The child understands the names of objects and can follow a simple instruction (1-2 years old) * The child learns about things through trial and error (1-2 years) 0-2 Years – Social, Emotional and Behavioural: The baby often imitates certain facial expressions (1 month old) * The baby will smile is response to an adult (1-4 months old) * The baby stays awake for longer periods of time (1-4 months) * The baby shows trust and security (4-6 months old) * The baby has recognisable sleep patterns (4-6 months old) * The baby can manage to feed themselves using their fingers (6-9 months) * The baby is more aware of other people’s feelings, for example; they might cry and get sad if they see their brother or sister crying or sad. 6-9 months old) * The baby enjoys songs and action rhymes (9-12 months old) * The baby still likes to be near a familiar adult as appose to strangers (9-12 months old) * The child begins to have a longer memory (1-2 years old) * The child expresses their needs using words and gestures (1-2 years old) 0-2 Years – Moral: * Show joy by smiling, cooing and laughing when fed comfortable or safe. * No understanding of right or wrong starts to understand the word no. * Sensitive to adult approval and disapproval, despite tantrums and bursts of anger. -4 Years – Physical Development: * The child is very mobile and can run safely (2 years old) * The child can draw circles, lines and dots, using preferred hand (2 years old) * The child can jump from a low step (3 years old) * The child can build tall towers of bricks or bl ocks (3 years old) * The child has good spatial awareness (3 years old) 2-4 Years – Communication Development * Children are rapidly becoming competent speakers of the language they experience (2 years old) * The child can follow a simple instruction for example; â€Å"Could you bring me the spoon? ( 2 years old) * The child wants to share songs, dance and have conversations (2 years old) * The child might say â€Å"two times† instead of ‘twice’ and might say â€Å"I go there† instead of ‘I went there’ (3 years old) * The child loves to chat and ask alot of different questions (3 years old) 2-4 Years – Intellectual and Cognitive * The child can hold a crayon and move it up and down (2 years old) * The child talks about an absent object when reminded of it ( 2 years old) * The child pretend plays – often making up stories and characters ( 3 years ld) * The child represents events in drawings, models ect (3 years old) 2-4 Y ears – Social, Emotional and Behavioural: * The child begins to express how they are feeling (2 years old) * The child is learning how to dress themselves (2 years old) * The child is beginning to develop a gender role as they become aware of being male or female (3 years old) * The child makes friends and is interested in making new friends (3 years old) 2-4 Years – Moral: * Beginning to know right from wrong. Related article: Intervention When Development is Not Following the Expected PatternIs more self-controlled and less aggressive. Uses extreme verbal threats such as, â€Å"I'll kill you,† without understanding full implications, wants to be good, but is not yet mature enough to be able to carry out most promises. 4-7 Years – Physical Development: * A sense of balance is developing – the child may be able to walk in a straight line (4 years old) * The child can thread small breads on a lace (4 years old) * The child can play ball games (5 years old) The child has increased agility, muscle coordination and balance (6 years old) * The child can catch a ball thrown from one metre with one hand (7 years old) 4-7 Years – Communication Development: * The child begins to ask alot of where, when, how and why questions (4 years old) * The child talks confidently and with more fluency (5 years old) * The child begins to understand book language and that books have ch aracters (6 years old) * The child begins to realise that different situations require different ways of talking (7 years old) 4-7 Years – Intellectual and Cognitive: At age four, the child usually knows how to count up to 20 (4 years old) * The child can usually write their own name down on a piece of paper (5 years old) * The child includes alot more detail in their drawings (6 years old) * The child begins to establish what is real and what is a fantasy (7 years old) 4-7 Years – Social, Emotional and Behavioural: The child likes to be independent and is strongly self-willed (4 years old) * The child can wash their hands and brush their own teeth unassisted (4 years old) * The child has developed a stable self-concept (5 years old) * The child can begin to hide their feelings, once they learn to control them (6 years old) * The child can take responsibility e. g. in helping younger children (7 years old) 4-7 Years – Moral: * Is interested in being good, but ma y tell lies or blame others for wrongdoings because of intense desire to please and do right.Is very concerned with personal behaviour, particularly as it affects family and friends. 7-12 Years – Physical Development: * The child can ride a bike easily (7 years old) * The child plays energetic sports and games (8 years old) * The child is usually writing with an established style using joined up letters (9 years old) * Children differ is physical maturity. Girls experience puberty earlier than boys do and sometimes girls can be two years ahead of the boys with puberty (10 years old) * The child’s body proportions are becoming more similar to adults (12 years old) 7-12 Years – Communication Development: The child uses and understands complex sentences (7 years old) * The child is increasingly verbal and enjoys making up stories and telling jokes (8 years old) * The child uses reference books with increasing skill (9 years old) * The child can write fairly lengthy essays (11 years old) * The child starts to write stories that show alot of imagination (12 years old) 7-12 Years – Intellectual and Cognitive: The child has an increased ability to remember and pay attention, speak and express different ideas (7 years old) * The child is learning to plan ahead and evaluate what they do (8 years old) * The child enjoys tasks that are task-orientated, such as sewing and woodwork (9 years old) * The child begins to notice and understand the motives behind the actions of another (10 years old) * The child begins to devise memory strategies (11 years old) * The child starts thinking about different possibilities (12 years old) 7-12 Years – Social, Emotional and Behavioural: The child may become discouraged easily (7 years old) * The child takes pride in their competence (8 years old) * The child can become argumentative and bossy at times (9 years old) * The child is beginning to see things from another child’s point of view (10 ye ars old) * The child may be experiencing sudden, dramatic and emotional changes associated with puberty (11 years old) * The child succumbs to peer pressure more readily and wants to talk, dress and act just like their friends (12 years old) 7-12 Years – Moral: May experience guilt and shame. Has difficulty admitting mistakes but is becoming more capable of accepting failures and mistakes and taking responsibility for them. Is aware of right and wrong; wants to do right. 12-19 Years – Physical Development: * Physical development during adolescence is known as puberty. Age of puberty varies but is often between the ages of 9-13 years old for girls and 10-15 years old for boys. * Girls will experience the following during puberty; breasts develop, body size and shape will change and menstruation. Boys will experience the following during puberty; voice breaking, body size and shape will change, chest hair, penile errections and sperm. * Both girls and boys will experienc e the following during puberty; public hair, excess sweating and oil-secreting glands. 12-19 Years – Communication Development: * Become more independent and rely less on parents or carers * The young person has fast, legible style of handwriting * The young person communicates very well in an adult manner, with increasing maturity * The young person understands abstract language, such as idioms, figurative language and metaphors. 2-19 Years – Intellectual and Cognitive: * Around this time young people experience a shift in thinking from concrete to abstract – an adult way of thinking * They approach a problem is a systematic fashion and also use their imagination when solving problems 12-19 Years – Social, Emotional and Behavioural: * The young person may become self-conscious about physical changes their body is going through (e. g. too short, too tall, too fat, too thin) * The young person often feels misunderstood * The young person can experience a w ide range of emotions and sometimes have mood swings (e. . happy one minute and very down the next minute) * The young person wants to become accepted and liked 12-19 Years – Moral: * Knows right and wrong; tries to weigh alternatives and arrive at decisions alone. Is concerned about fair treatment of others; is usually reasonably thoughtful; is unlikely to lie. Experiences feelings of frustration, anger, sorrow, and isolation. Is confused and disappointed, state values and actual behaviours of family and friends; May be interested in exploring physical-emotional urges.

Case Of Location Choice For Existing Organisation Business Essay

Case Of Location Choice For Existing Organisation Business Essay for an organisation. One of the key features of a conversion process manufacturing system is the efficiency with which the products services are transferred to the customers.This fact will include the determination of where to place the plant or facility.The selection of location is a key-decision as large investment is made in building plant and machinery. It is not advisable or not possible to change the location very often. So an improper location of plant may lead to waste of all the investments made in building and machinery, equipment. Before a location for a plant is selected, long range forecasts should be made anticipating future needs of the company. The plant location should be based on the company’s expansion plan and policy, diversification plan for the products, changing market conditions, the changing sources of raw materials and many other factors that influence the choice of the location decision. The purpose of the location study is to find an optimum locati on one that will result in the greatest advantage to the organization. The need for selecting a suitable location arises because of three situations. When starting a new organisation, i.e., location choice for the first time. In case of existing organisation. In case of Global Location. In Case of Location Choice for the First Time or New Organisations Cost economies are always important while selecting a location for the first time, but should keep in mind the cost of long-term business/organisational objectives. The following are the factors to be considered while selecting the location for the new organisations: Identification of region: The organisational objectives along with the various long-term considerations about marketing, technology, internal organisational strengths and weaknesses, region specific resources and business environment, legal-governmental environment, social environment and geographical environment suggest a suitable region for locating the operations facil ity. Choice of a site within a region: Once the suitable region is identified, the next step is choosing the best site from an available set. Choice of a site is less dependent on the organisation’s long-term strategies. Evaluation of alternative sites for their tangible and intangible costs will resolve facilities-location problem. The problem of location of a site within the region can be approached with the following cost-oriented non-interactive model, i.e., dimensional analysis. Dimensional analysis: If all the costs were tangible and quantifiable, the comparison and selection of a site is easy. The location with the least cost is selected. In most of the cases intangible costs which are expressed in relative terms than in absolute terms. Their relative merits and demerits of sites can also be compared easily. Since both tangible and intangible costs need to be considered for a selection of a site, dimensional analysis is used. In Case of Location Choice for Existing Org anisation In this case a manufacturing plant has to fit into a multi-plant operations strategy. That is, additional plant location in the same premises and elsewhere under following circumstances: Plant manufacturing distinct products. Manufacturing plant supplying to specific market area.

Marketing Principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing Principles - Essay Example relationships with customers and other stakeholders, at a profit, so that the objectives of the partners involved are met; and this is achieved by a mutual exchange and fulfilment of promises (Brodie 1997, 384).† Organizations have long been conducting their marketing activities according to five marketing concepts or philosophies: the production concept, the product concept, the selling concept, the marketing concept, and the societal marketing concept. Although all these concepts refer to how organizations maintain their relationships with consumers in order to make a profit, these concepts differ in terms of where to put the emphasis in terms of making decisions in relation to its marketing activities. The oldest of these philosophies is the production concept. When the industrial revolution has started, businesses during those times decide on their marketing activities on the basis of the production abilities of the company. The central decision of a production-oriented company is on its operations: given the resources that the company has access to, what products can it produce (Bliemel 1979)? This has been the case of Pillsbury company from its formation in the 1800s until the 1930s. Charles A. Pillsbury has started Pillsbury by taking advantage of two abundant raw materials during his days—the abundance of wheat, and the water power (Keith 1960). Water power, during those days has been used to provide power to milling machineries (Keith 1960). The decision to manufacture flour has been driven by these two factors—major inputs of production. Without any regard to the demand side of the business, the focus of has been on the companys capability to manufacture, in this case, Pillsbury has exhibited the production concept (Ke ith 1960). If the production concept focuses on the companys ability to manufacture a product, the product concept is about a companys focus on its products and improving them, perfecting them in order to have the highest quality

Critically examine British government policies directed towards Essay

Critically examine British government policies directed towards prostitution - Essay Example The problem of prostitution in the UK is often more than just the expansion of the sex industry; it is integrally related to the increase of trade on the street and the crimes associated with it. In February 2003, 31 policemen in Glasgow arrested women in an anti-prostitution clampdown ranged over 48 hours as a result of their provocation by the angry residents. In this operation, no men were arrested. A vast majority of the women engaged in the act of street prostitution are either crack cocaine addicts or are on heroin or both. Most of the prostitution in the UK happens in the outdoors city and the indoor scene is small. Women that are engaged in the street prostitution are exposed to sexual or physical violence in the disproportionate levels. Prostitution is one of the leading causes of suspicious deaths and assassination of women in the UK. Acceptance of the lap dancing among the celebrities and the businesses as well as broadcasting of the lap dancing in the television programs provides evidence for its relative success. Normalization has placed emphasis upon the aspects that were more acceptable like small brothels and escort agencies. Regulation can be understood as a half-way house arrangement that constitutes different approaches and regimes, that include but are not limited to a reactive nuisance response with the resident clampdowns upon customers and especially women, and a blind eye approach in which reigns informal tolerance. â€Å"The legal regulation of prostitution in the UK was set out in the Sexual Offences Act 1956, which reflected the findings of the Wolfenden Committee investigation into prostitution and homosexuality that took place around that time† (politics.co.uk, 2012). Prostitution in the Wolfenden Committee was treated as a moral issue as was evident from the Act’s text. This became the basis of the popular debates between Herbert Hart and Lord Devlin. By the end of the year 2003, the Home Office declared its plans to revise

National Science Teacher Association Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

National Science Teacher Association - Essay Example NSTA Journal Articles contain peer-reviewed journals that can be easily searchable by science professionals. These online resources are very useful for the teachers as they effectively fit the needs and learning style of every science teacher. The teachers are able to access these online resources whenever required. It also provides membership to the science professionals, which include teachers, administrators, scientists, and all those people who are related to the field of science. NSTA has some guiding principles, which make this association the largest organization committed to the progress of science professionals. Some of those guidelines include valuing scientific excellence, facilitating researchers to enhance their learning and teaching, promoting the concepts of diversity and respects, and making NSTA a dynamic and professional organization. NSTA is a dynamic organization, which constantly provides extraordinary services to science teachers and professionals. Summing it up , NSTA not only facilitates the teachers to evaluate and improve their teaching skills but also enables them to receive a certificate upon completion of training and learning style of every science teacher.

Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 9

Interview - Essay Example Jan Fitters is one of the managers of Philips Lighting. In this interview he has discussed his managerial styles, motivational ways, ethical problems etc. All of these things will be highlighted in this essay. The manager, Jan Fitter uses participative management style for managing his subordinates effectively. This is also known as democratic style which helps the manager in establishing consensuses and commitment among the employees. A large number of employees work under Jan Fitters. He is responsible for managing, encouraging and motivating the employees. For this reason the manager has created a good relationship with the employees for understanding them properly. He takes input from his subordinates for developing any business plans and decisions. He always encourages employees for participating in decision making processes. All of the subordinates of Jan Fitters work in teams. Therefore the participative management style used by this manager help the employees in doing their teamwork efficiently. This management style also increases employee involvement and participation in different functions and processes of the company. Jan Fitters improves the communication and co-ordination am ong the employees by using participative management style. These processes facilitate him in developing innovating and creative ideas which help the company in increasing its revenues and sales. While developing strategies the manager takes consent from the employees. By this way he makes the employees feel that they hold important positions in the company and the growth and development of the company cannot take place without their participation. The manager, Jan Fitters of Philips is very efficient in managing and using team projects. He first determines the objectives and the purposes of the team project for making the teamwork effective. He

Marketing Ethics and Regulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing Ethics and Regulation - Essay Example The code of ethics is one which would really help marketers make the correct choices in many aspects of running a business from determining the price, the promotional materials one makes available to public, accuracy in the representation of the product, support claims made about the product, to the kind of message those advertisements would effect to, and a lot more (Marketing Code of Ethics, n.d.). Aside from these internal factors needed to be considered, a marketer would also have to think about giving the best and what is best to not only their customers but at the same time their employees which is more known as Corporate Social Responsibility. With all these responsibilities that one would be facing as a marketer, the code of ethics would be of utmost help. What is the basic idea of being able to align your business to what is ethical? Well, it is said that the simplest basis of doing so would be making sure you act according to the law. The code of ethics is this law plus all the other specifications that a marketer could possibly encounter that the law would no longer be able to provide for. It reminds any marketer to be responsible for anything they do especially in those situations where there is a grey area wherein it is so easy to succumb to a deceptive marketing. One example of which would be perhaps undergoing cost cutting by choosing a more harmful packaging which is cheaper but could harm your consumers while you justify the act that it is for the common good as you would not have to fire any employee and at the same time cutting cost for your consumers. Indeed, the code of ethics really come into play in pushing a marketer to make the right decision not just according to one point of view but in looking at all the angles of a certain decision (Marketing Tutorials, News, How-to and More, n.d). With

The problem of the huge gap between the rich and poor in China and the Essay

The problem of the huge gap between the rich and poor in China and the solutions - Essay Example In contrast to them the poorest 10 per cent of China’s population’s income increased by no more than 12-fold. This sustained trend ranging over a period of almost 2.5 decades has distanced the rich and the poor so much that they almost find themselves at opposite poles today. The Gini coefficient suggests that the yawning gap between the two populations in China has become so wide that it is now disturbing the limits of social stability. The hukou system in China The growing inequality between the rich and the poor in China is integrally linked with the hukou system of the permits of residency according to which the internal migration of the poor is restrained to the towns. Economic gap between the rich and the poor in China has increased with the growing scarcity of the rural labor. The hukou system has limited the poor to the access of public services only where they are registered which are mostly the very places where they are born. â€Å"[M]aking individualsâ€⠄¢ hukou status salient and public significantly reduces the performance of rural migrant students on an incentivized cognitive task by 10 percent, which leads to a significant leftward shift of their earnings distribution† (Afridi, Li, and Ren). The rules applying limits to migration in China that limit the poor in the countryside are blatantly unfair. The concept of Guanxi The growth of business in general and the small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in China has recently grabbed the attention of the whole world. One factor that has played a prime role in the growth of business and the consequential strengthening of economy in China is the concept of Guanxi, that encourages people to build social connections and networks and seek benefits from them. â€Å"The concept of Guanxi or a network of connections is a well known and central aspect of life in China, both in business and social life. It's no different from the 'old boys network' in the UK† (Walker). This sys tem has not only increased the economic divide between the rich and the poor in China, but has also helped the cultivation of corruption and injustice in the systems. Chinese politicians today recognize and appreciate the Old Etonian bonds among the City Hall and the Downing Street. China’s upcoming leaders are linked through families. Economist Mao Yushi has described the problem in these words, â€Å"The wealth in China is not only allocated by the market, but also by power. The people with power have money. The marriage between power and money allows people to make money by using illegal methods. It increases further the income gap between the rich and the poor beyond the market itself† (Yushi cited in Taylor). The system is unfair and the poor do not stand any chance even in the long run. Solutions Decreasing disparity of income between the rich and the poor Since it is one of the most important contributing factors in the widening economic gap between people of

Human Resource Management at Nokia Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Human Resource Management at Nokia - Case Study Example Same was the case with Nokia, it had to determine a particular line of business to choose and divest the rest. He declared the strategic intent of Nokia as "focused, grouped, telecom-oriented and value-added." One of the key reasons for the success was the remarkable team work of five main figures of the organization, under the dynamic leadership of Ollila. As the time passed and the group progressed, a number of other strategic changes also took place; such as, the injection of US capital in the organization, the global expansion, the product-specific strategies. Setting own standards (WAP), Nokia Venture Organization, fact-based management etc. Happiness comes never alone; it does bring some undesirable consequences as well, either in the long run or in the short run. Same is the case with Nokia; there are a number of facts which are influencing the current problems. Some of the problems faced by the Nokia group, along with their background facts are as follows. Currently, the growth rate for Nokia is 25-35 percent. Nokia was looking as a prospect of one hundred thousand employees round the world. This desire was deeply rooted in the history of the performance of Nokia. Nokia wanted to be the market leader at worldwide level. It was not possible by limiting its operations only in the Finland only. As a result, implementing the word global of the strategic intent, it started to expand beyond the borders of Finland. At that time, this strategy had a positive impact. It was so, on the basis of the fact that this expansion brought the presence of Nokia in new markets, thus it resulted in increase in sales and consequently, increase in the market share. This increase in market share was well reflected in the performance of Nokia in the initial years of 1990's. However, now further expansion would have proved to be costly in many regards. It would have been costly not only in monetary terms, but in terms of other aspects as well. The main cost in that regard would be the diseconomies of scale in terms of management resources. The more the company was expanding; it was loosing the central values, which were the reason of success in the past. Moreover, the unity of organizational culture was being lost. Lowering Prices Another challenge faced by the Nokia group now was the pressure of market forces to lower the prices. Initially, when the technology was new, the competitors were few, the prices for the mobile phones were high. Thus, it was possible to have high margins. But now all the mobile phone companies were being squeezed from the two sides. On one hand, the global price war is being in the process forcing the mobile phone companies to lower the prices. On the other hand, the more fierce competition is to attract the fresh talent. All the companies, especially the mobile phone companies require the talented young blood to work for their company and make strategies to respond to the dynamic environment. Thus, all the companies are offering the higher salaries and other financial incentives to attract those dynamic managers. As a result of this tug of war, the companies are on one hand pressurized to lower the prices, while on the other hand, they are bound to offer high salaries to retain thei r knowledge asset (human resource), this has become a real challenge for Nokia as well in current

College and the Workforce Essay Example for Free

College and the Workforce Essay Most people dream about the opportunity to be able to attend college. They dream about what their college campus is going to look like, who their roommate is going to be, what kind of parties they are going to go to, and what they are going to major in. However, when the time comes to begin the college process, there are many people who give up on their dream about going to college for reasons such as; they think they do not need it or because it is too expensive. Even though college is expensive, it prepares you for your future because many careers require a college education and college offers many different opportunities outside of the classroom. The main thing college prepares you for is your future. It helps you be able to choose a career path you want to pursue. Currently, many careers require some sort of higher education. This is why college is so important. Another reason college is important is because choosing a major is a big decision. Moore and Shulock (2011), along with California State University, believe that students will be more successful if they â€Å"require students to declare a major program of study after a certain amount of time or accumulation of credits, and assign students faculty advisors in their declared major programs† (p.18). Countless students change their majors over and over again before they find the right one for them. A student has the opportunity to discover various types of classes to get a feel for what might be the right career path for them before committing himself or herself to a major. However, if a student changes their major frequently throughout their college career, more time and money is added onto their schooling. They do not want to go out into the workforce and jump around from job to job, because they may be looked down upon. In the work environment, they may be  seen as unstable, unreliable, and unable to commit, even if that may not be the case. Another benefit of going to college is that they learn numerous things, even outside of the classroom. They learn how to make new friends, how to get along with people, learn how to socialize in the proper settings, and also learn how to relax, have fun, and enjoy themselves. These are important skills not only to have in their personal lives, but also to have in the workforce. They will always have to meet new people and learn to get along with all types of people in different environments, even if they may not be people they like or agree with. Students have to learn to set aside their personal differences so that they can show their professionalism. It is also important to know how to socialize properly. There are certain situations where using casual conversation in a professional setting could be appropriate, but there are other times they would want to maintain their professionalism. For example, they would not want to greet a new client by saying, â€Å"Hey! What’s up bro?† They need to learn how to differentiate the social situation from the people who are in that social situation. It is also important to relax, have fun, and enjoy yourself. This can be key in the workforce because they want to enjoy the work they are doing, but they do not want it to completely over power your life. They should be able to find the balance of discipline and fun in doing your job. Committing to College Once a person decides to commit to attending college, they need to come up with a personal plan that fits their style of learning. There are many different skills that help them become a master student. Some of these skills include; time-management, organization, communication, and having a positive attitude. Time-management is one of the most effective strategies a person can have. It is important because in order to be a successful student they need to stay on top of their schoolwork, and not procrastinate. Managing their time can also help them in the real world because they are learning to balance out everything that needs to get done. Organization is additionally another central aspect to being successful. They should keep their workspace neat and clean, whether it is a laptop, desk, or just a  notebook. Having a clean space can help a student be more successful. Communication is also a key factor when becoming a master student. It is important to communicate with their peers and their professors. They need to ask questions, speak up if they have concerns, and always take the initiative. It will show that they care about their grades and their success. Finally, it is important to have a positive attitude. It is very easy for things to go wrong, or not the way they want. What they need to remember is that they should keep a positive attitude. Someone who sees the glass as half full is going to enjoy life a lot more then the person who sees the glass as half empty. Cox (2012) said, â€Å"motivated people are happy people† (p.142). Once they set their mind to accomplish something, such as a college degree, they become a happier person because they have goals they are working toward. Conclusion College can be a fun, yet scary step in a person’s life. Even though it may be expensive, college offers the student a chance to explore who they are and who they want to be. College also offers them opportunities and skills that they are able to apply in the professional world. Once a person decides that college is the right decision for them, there are many skills that they are able to develop to help them become a master student. References Cox, B. (2012). College Students, Motivation, and Success. International Journal of Learning Development. 2(3), 139-143. doi:10.5296/ijld.v2i3.1818. Moore, C., Shulock, N., California State University, S. (2011). Sense of Direction: The Importance of Helping Community College Students Select and Enter a Program of Study. Institute For Higher Education Leadership Policy. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=14sid=81a06a850563430ba39210e85133be18%40sessionmgr112hid=109bdata=JnNpd GU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d##db=ericAN=ED524216.

Govern safeguarding adults work Essay Example for Free

Govern safeguarding adults work Essay Legislations The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 aims to prevent unsuitable people from working (either paid or unpaid) with children or vulnerable adult. Employers who work with these people have to be registered according to the act and The Independent Safeguarding Authority decides if people should be barred from working with any vulnerable person. Everyone gets checked before they are able to work with all vulnerable people for instance, a DBS check will be carried out to see if the person has carried out any criminal offences. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 supports the rehabilitation into employment of reformed offenders who have stayed on the right side of the law. All employers require full disclosure of pervious offences. The Police Act 1997 A CRB check is done under a Part V of the Police Act 1997, this protects vulnerable people from harm because employers will then know of any criminal convictions that have been done by particular people. http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/gmgr-annexe-c29 The Sexual Offenders Act 1976 The Sexual Offences Act 1976 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It made provision in relation to rape and related offences. This Act put the Sex Offenders Register in action for identification and tracking  purposes. This Act protects vulnerable people from danger, by tracking sex offenders. Care Standards Act 2000 This Act set the national minimum standards to protect the vulnerable, the standards include accommodation, services and good working practice. This Act established the Protection Of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) scheme, this scheme helps protect vulnerable adults from abuse. People who are working with vulnerable adults have to go through POVA training, I have done so myself through volunteering. The training makes you more aware of different types of abuse, people that are abused and the abuser, and how this is identified. Care Homes for Older People- National Minimum Standards and Care Homes Regulations 2003 This regulation identifies the levels of care that vulnerable adults need in care homes. There are points in this regulation that all older people in care homes should always receive the standards that are set for example, having a choice of what they would like to eat for dinner. Mental Health Act 1983 This Act is to protect those vulnerable people who suffer with a mental illness and others that are caring for them. There are procedures to ensure that there rights are protected and not being abused. The Act also allows compulsory treatment for those with a mental illness. Mental Capacity Act 2005 This Act allows to help vulnerable people who cant make decisions for themselves because they lack the mental capacity, this is done by them having an advocate. It is established by The Independent Mental Capacity Advocates Service. Disability Discrimination Act 1995 People who have a disability are treated equally to those without, this should be done in any work place. This act not only covers physical disabilities but mental as well. The Act has an aim which is, ending discrimination that individuals face with a disability. People who have a disability now have the rights to many things including, employment, education access to goods, facilities and services and buying or renting land or property. http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/the-disability-discrimination-act-dda Race Relations Act 1976 The Race Relations Act is to protect people from discrimination, this includes a persons race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin. People should be treated equally and fairly no matter what race or colour they are. Human Rights Act 1998 Vulnerable people have the right to be treated correctly and cared for effectively due to the Human Rights Act 1998. This act gives every person the power to challenge perceived discrimination by any public body. Data Protection Act 1998 The Data protection Act is essential to follow in a health and social care setting, all personal details from an individual are to be kept safe and only seen by the people who care for them. Information will only be disclosed if there is a potential that a person is in danger. It is very important that every health care setting for vulnerable adults has strategies and procedures that reduce the risk of abuse, if this was not done effectively then individuals may be in danger. Recruitment of staff- The health care system is always recruiting new staff due to more and more people using the system every day, more elderly are getting ill and leaving their homes to go into a residential care home. Every person who employs a new member of staff has to make sure that they are save to work with the elderly as they are very vulnerable. The adults who are barred from working with the vulnerable are identified on the Adults Barred List. The list subdivides these people into two different categories which are, people who are automatically barred because they are a ‘risk of threat’ and people who offer a ‘very probable risk of harm’. The process of the Adults Barred list gathers information for many places including, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) , Health and Social services and employers. A CRB check is done before someone is employed, personal information is written down about a person and  then it is sent off to be checked by the police to see if they have any criminal convictions. Staff who work with the vulnerable have to register under the Vetting and Barring Scheme since July 2010. Sector guidance- Guidance is given to employers to reduce the risk of abuse in the environment they are working in. Two acts are included in this guidance and they are Dignity in Care Initiative 2006 and Human Rights in Healthcare. The Human Rights has a framework which assists local NHS Trusts to apply human rights approaches for the people using the services. FREDA values are focused on, Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity and Autonomy. Dignity and Care Initiative campaigns to end toleration of indignity in health care. Organisational policies- Every organisation must have policies and guidelines on expected behaviour from staff, this is done when an organisation develops there own policies from the guidelines that they have been provided with. Policies enable people who are using the services to know what is acceptable and unacceptable with their own care. Codes of practice- Codes of practice enables professionals to work effectively at high standards, respect and minimise risk to people that are in their care. Many care systems produce codes of conduct including The Nursing and Midwifery Council, nurses and midwives have to abide by these codes and put them into their practice to be able to care after individuals at the right standard. Multi-agency working and Closer working between professionals within organisations Multi-agency working is when all different teams come together to care and meet needs for a person as a whole, an example of professional bodies working together would be, doctors, care workers, nurses, social workers etc. The support planning and single assessment has encouraged greater inter-agency cooperation. Working like this encourages sharing of an individuals information and together they can all look after that person very effectively. This has not been put into place with some agencies and in this situation an individual would not be taking care of  properly because of this, this could lead to harm with elderly people. The government has guidance on multi-agency working and this is a paper called ‘No Secrets’. Beryl Strecth (2010). Health and Social Care . Essex: Pearson Education. Close working between professionals and organisations enables better communication about the people involved. This could be done in staff meetings, team meetings etc. In care homes they have daily logs about individuals who they care for, this ensures that when a new member of staff is working they know for instance what they have ate that day and what sort of care they have provided for them. This can also detect a residents behaviour for example, if they act differently when certain members of staff are on shift. Working in partnership with adults using services- When agencies work in partnership with the adults, families or informal carers it makes them more confident about the situation, when confident they will be more likely to talk about there worries and people can then help them build their self-esteem back up. Decision-making processes and forums- Decision making is essential when looking after a vulnerable adult, when it is kept transparent and clear then everyone knows what is happening. Monthly meeting of residents in a care home encourages ideas that can be shared between one another, this will make people more confident at speaking out. Organisational policies and staff training- The role of the Care Quality Commission- Whistle blowing- Whistle blowing is when someone who is working in a care setting reports suspected wrongdoing in the work place. This is called ‘making a disclosure in the public interest’. Some things that may be reported include, someone’s health and safety is in danger, damage to the environment, a criminal offence, the company isn’t obeying the law (like not having the right insurance) and covering up wrongdoing. https://www.gov.uk/whistleblowing/overview There is a chance that any individual will have to ‘whistle blow’ while working in a care setting, if the person thinks that what they have witnessed is ‘wrong’. A form has to be filled out by the person who has allegedly seen wrong doing and then it is sent off to get assessed and monitored for rooms of improvement. Complaint procedures- Complaint procedures will be in every care setting, this is important to protect vulnerable adults from harm or abuse and for them to have the best care possible. People are encouraged to use complaint procedures. Complaint services are there to improve the quality and life of the individuals in there care, but it is important that elderly people feel safe if there are going to complain about the care they are being given and not victimised.

News Consumption Strategic Implications Broadcasters

News Consumption Strategic Implications Broadcasters INTRODUCTION OF TOPIC Changing trends in news consumption and strategic implications for broadcasters The Indian Media environment has undergone changes in terms of news consumption trends as well as news production techniques. This has lead to contours of On demand culture for News which has been furthered by the digital revolution in the news arena. News consumption is shifting from a passive act to a proactive, interactive and participatory act. 2008 has seen some tremendous changes in the way we gather, share and interact with news.nes today is becoming less linear, less controlled, chaotic however increasingly participatory. The relationship between producers and consumers is changing. Examples of participatory news consumptions: Twitter showed its potential network to distribute raw information in almost instantly in the case of Mumbai attacks and arrest of American student in Egypt. Many media broadcasters took to using this medium as a strategy to cover the news. In early 2008 the channel CNN has built a platform called Ireport .com which permits anyone to submit and upload content from anywhere in the world and a team of journalist scours the content to look for stories. It could also sell this contributor generated created material on news wire for high margins. Another example would be Network 18 anchor Rick Sanchez used twitter to gather his story on twitter for Hurricane Gustav, showing conversations about the storm on screen. CNN even launched a daily show around it which was positioned as audience driven hour of days news and smart conversation Today in the news sector what is changing is how people interact with news , when they acquire it and thus old news deliverers must definitely adapt to it. The 24 hour television news channel in India today has become a meme. The random house unabridged dictionary defines a meme as a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes. Today there is nothing new or different in the way news channels telecast news stories. Activism, excitement, concern, empathy all are packaged in the same way. Most channels look alive, behave alike, talk alike. There is scarcity as regards to channel loyalty in television news. Additionally with media proliferation, audiences are getting and more fragmented and thus news broadcasters are in a fight to gain new audiences. Garnering eye balls, retaining loyal customer, and targeting new segments to gain new audiences becomes extremely important in today times. But with changing consumption habits the same old strategies like breaking news, anchors, tickers may be becoming ineffective today. Thus broadcasters need to revisit these strategies to create differentiation and competitive advantage. The research plans to undertake a study on news consumption trends today the way forward and thereby look at strategies that broadcasters are using currently to tap the existing and potential news customer. The research attempts will be to predict current future news consumption trends and strategic tools used by the broadcaster. LITERATURE REVIEW The Indian news industry was for long governed uncontested by print media. Till 2008, the country consumed 100 million newspaper copies making it the second largest market in the world for newspapers. In 1976 regular broadcasting started in India and Doordarshan had monopoly. It was in 1991 that the concept of multichannel came into India with the advent of BBC, CNN, Prime sports, MTV and Star Plus. Since then with the increasing technological changes taking place there has been extreme competition in this segment as differentiators like breaking news, program choices, expertise, live coverage are slowly diminishing. Almost all news channels in India today are on the same platform / level today as far as capacity and resources available for production of news. Internet slowly entered with new technological framework and changed the rules of the game. 2/3 rds of the internet users today visit the internet atleast 2-3 times a week. Thus consumption of internet is increasing not only in terms of reach but also in terms of impressions. News broadcasters have started teaming up with digital platforms to provide news on the internet as well as mobile mediums. Social media is emerging as another platform for interactivity to take place in the news sector. More and more news is breaking first on Twitter, Facebook, blogs and Flickr today even before being livecasted on news channels. Also today, news is no longer the dull, uninteractive genre as it is associated to be. Increasing numbers of news channels are cashing in on interactivity by using citizen journalism / participatory journalism. This new competitive media landscape has lead proliferation of channels, fragmentation of audiences and lack of diversity among show formats and content. This has lead to a fight among news channels to retain and grow audience numbers. In this scenario first look at the displacement theory : Kayany Yelsma, 2000 used the displacement theory to suggests that with the advent of a new media the overall consumption remains constant and as consumption of one medium increases the consumption go another medium reduces. This would imply that as digital media grows, audiences would move away from broadcast and a change in news consumption habits would occur. However there are convergence theorists who argue that one need to look at the relationship between traditional and new media to understand how simultaneous consumption will change the way news has been consumed till now. Users and gratification theory Infante, Rancer andWomack, 1997 have used the U G theory to explain how individuals use mass media to satisfy their needs.The U G theory argues that peoples needs and interests influence their use of a particular medium and how they respond to it. The idea is that the audience is self motivated to seek the kind of gratification that they want. With the advent of internet gratifying the need of immediacy it is important to relook at the motivations of the audience to turn to broadcast news and their gratification opportunities to construct effective strategies to retain and garner new audiences. Thus although the theory suggest different needs / motivations of consumer there is no research done on the strategies undertaken by Indian news broadcasters to segment different audiences accordingly to different gratification opportunities and provide differentiated offerings to them and how this helps them gain a competitive edge with advertisers and viewers. Let us look at a few theories which seek to explain convergent media behavior and look at MEDIA CONVERGENCE as a strategy: Selective media theory Stempel Hargrove, 1996; Stempel, et al., 2000; Vincent Basil, 1997 have endorsed the selective media theory which suggest that individual direct their attention to respond to specific stimuli in their environment. This implies that exposure to different media content is an active choice and individuals will seek information regarding contents that interest them across all media platforms. That is the consumption of sports news on one platform will lead them to consume the content in the sports space on mobile, online , broadcast and other platforms if the individual is interested in that particular section. Niche theory Dimmick, et al., 2000 in the Niche theory suggest that individual derive different gratifications from using different media. These gratifications would in turn depend on the modality of the medium and as the overlap in these gratification offerings is low in the news industry, the mediums would be more complementary than displacement. Involvement theory Petty Cacioppo, 1986 in the involvement theory suggest that individuals involved in obtaining information on an area are more likely to consumer news from all mediums to optimize their resources to gain maximum knowledge. Thus highly motivated consumers will seek information across various media outlets. It is important to understand whether broadcasters today are using their multi platforms to generate interest in broadcasting medium and pull audiences from online to broadcast or they first break the news on broadcast giving out more information on other platforms. There are various opportunities for gaining audiences by using these theories and news channels today need to jump at them to create competitive edges for themselves. Convergence today has become the strategic option for many media companies although he levels of response from consumers still it make it possible to differentiate between Leaders, laggards and learner ( Denis et al , 2006 ). Thus at business growth levels convergence is linked to growth strategies in 3 ways : 1) Operational convergence 2) cross platform marketing where companies leverage their platforms and repurpose their old content for new viewers 3) developing on demand content thereby addressing viewer needs Thus there have been clearly been changes in news consumption behavior especially in metros like Mumbai where technological acceptance, lifestyles and media environment are fast changing. 2008 witnessed a phenomenal change in the way we consumer news. Participatory media formats have lead us to not only gather news but enabled us to share it and produce it. As demonstrated above, besides using convergent media to gain audiences, broadcast channels need to revisit their competitive and differentiation strategies. For decades breaking news has been used as an age old strategy to establish exclusivity and garner eyeballs. With the introduction of similar technology, real time streaming and social media all news channels are breaking news at the same. Hence there is a need to explore the relevance of breaking news as a strategy and its effectiveness. Program choice selection: Webster and Wakshlag have identified the main factor in program selection as availability. They say if viewer choices are dictated by what is available to them. Many programming strategies are designed to stop the viewer from searching for a more gratifying program based on the assumption that if their program does not annoy them they will not change them. Thus the aim of many programs is to avoid displeasure. Jeffres (1978) called such programs least objectionable programs (LOP). However digital factors make this factor irrelevant in the future. Apart from that they identified audience they watch a program with as an influencer and selection habits as another. They say if a program search is generally restricted to a particular number of channels which Heeter calls Channel Repertoire. Thus viewers may avoid certain programs because the channel or network is not in their repertoire. However there is no research done on the branding and programming Indian news channels undertake to be included in the set of acceptable channels of a viewer. Rosenstein and Grant (1997 have pointed out that habit is a factor for selecting certain mediums and offerings. However how broadcasters are tapping into this habit to develop channel loyalty is yet to be studied. Weimann, Brosius, and Wober have shown that there is little variation in consumption of news content. When two people watch the same news program, one may watch it because of the programs specific appeal, whereas the other one is simply waiting for another program to come on. This explains their finding that overall time spent with the news media is roughly the same, regardless of reported medium reliance .Beaudoin and Thorson,2004 who remarked that exposure to news is not necessarily an expression of attention to news. Given the possibility of involuntary avoidance, one should remark that the reverse also applies: Lack of exposure to news is not necessarily an expression of lack of interest in the news. Thus programming choices designed to meet needs of such audiences who express an interest can be used as a niche strategy to gain hold in such audiences. A few programming segments that broadcasters need to look at are Late night viewers and Sunday morning program choices as strategic programming decisions. The PEW research center , 2004 has undertaken studies have been conducted in the US , research needs to be done on what news channels are doing to tap gain TRPs with these audiences. Anchors as differentiators: To look at anchors as brands for the news channels we need to view them as ingredient brands. The reason why companies for adopting ingredient branding as a strategy is that it helps the host brand to improve distribution accessibility, differentiate itself from other competitors and enhance the long term equity of the host brand (Desai and Keller, 2002; Norris 1992). The ingredient brand can also build end users brand preference, stabilize consumers demand, and establish long-term relations with manufacturers (Norris 1992). Anchors / Tv show hosts can be looked in the same respect for news channels. Today Barkha Dutt ,Rajdeep Sardesai have become ingredient brands of the networks they represent. Different segments news gratifications to study strategies for gaining their attention: For youth audiences, the news consumption patterns become extremely critical as they get formed into habits for a lifetime around they time they leave for college.(e.g., Al-Obaidi, Lamb-Williams, Mordas, 2004; Barnhurst Wartella, 1998; Schlagheck, 1998). Thus many media selectively target college students as a long term strategy to gain first advantage into new generation of consumers (Barnhurst Wartella, 1998). Motivations for media usage vary by age, with motivations to escape or pass time usually highest among younger viewers (Greenberg, 1974; Rubin, 1979). College students are susceptible to depression (Rich Scovel, 1987), making them especially vulnerable to the formation of media habits that relieve dysphoria through attendance to escapist media content. Edward Huang, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, USA, 2007 has undertaken a study Studies on how do what uses do youth make of news and what gratifications they derive from it have been undertaken in the US . The following questions have been answered through this study. Have news media failed to address the youths news consumptions objectives? What role does participatory news media play in satisfying youths consumption needs What are the best strategies in serving young new consumers? To explore the question of emergent news consumption trends it becomes essential to explore the future users news consumption patterns. With myriad options of news outlets, including the Internet, college students are emerging more as news grazers, which means they check news periodically but do not have a particular time for news competitors (Pew Research Center, 2002). A new grazer are audiences which take advantage of the new media environment to check the news from time to time with no set patterns and with a passivity towards event and information. Thus they tend to follow the news on television with the remote control flipping the channel from time to time when they are disinterested. (Pew research 2004) Thus the battle among television news providers to capture the grazing audience has been heated up. Commercial success in such an environment requires the news product to cater to the interests of the news grazer. Thus news producers today cover topics that are less likely to prompt grazers to switch to another channel.( Bellamy and walker 1996) News providers have started downplaying political news to make it soft entertainment oriented news.( Patterson 2000) The strategies that present broadcasters are using to tap this audience will determine the future leaders. Senior citizens are the ones that have maximum time currency and thus strategies used to gain those eyeballs also become increasing important. Thus it is important to study this in the competitive landscape. Thus changing news consumption behavior has lead to news broadcasters to relook at their differentiators, strategies and also identity and target new audiences while retaining old ones so as to avoid becoming irrelevant or obsolete in future. NEED Gap: With the above mentioned technological and lifestyle changes there has been no study undertaken on consumption trends in 2008 2010 and thus predicting the future. Such studies have been undertaken for different segments in the US but not in the Indian context. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE/ SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH The scope of the research extends to both consumer trends in news consumption as well as broadcasters response and action to the same thereby drafting in conclusion the strategies which are used for differentiation in todays news scenario. The research objectives can be listed as below: To identify the patterns and trends in new consumption for various audiences To study the case Mumbai Terrorist blast to understand recent news consumption habits and delivery tactics. To list and rank the competitive strategies used by news channels to differentiate their offerings and gain new audiences To study the integration of print, broadcast, radio , citizen, digital , social mobile media and their working with each other to carry news in todays scenario Rationale: As literature and current news cases such as Mumbai terror blasts, 9/11, Economic Times launching a channel reveal consumption of news has changed today. Thus delivery tactics must be relooked and strategies revisited as differentiation is almost nil in the news broadcast industry today. There is a constant struggle to garner new audiences and thus it becomes important to follow the new trends. There has been no study conducted on the trends in news consumption today and in future times in the Indian scenario. Hypothesis: With the changing news consumption trends there is a need for broadcasters to align their delivery tactics and revisit their competitive strategies Research questions Are news channels truly differentiated in todays scenario? Is there any kind of channel loyalty? What are the strategies news channels are using for differentiation? What are the patterns and trends in news consumption for various audiences? How have broadcasters aligned their delivery methods to meet these news trends? How are various media integrated while provided news today? RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The study is primarily exploratory in nature. I shall be primarily using qualitative tools to identify trends from current data viable and accounting for the broadcasters perspective. Extensive Tam analysis study of viewership data already available Areas of information: Demographic and basic lifestyle information Source of news consumption Response to news Participation in news production and delivery Channel loyalty Perceptions about different brands Consumption behavior for different genre of news Impact of :Anchors, tickers, breaking news, programming choices Programming choices preferences for each segment Industry perspective In this phase after identifying the trends in consumption patterns I shall be undertaking a qualitative research for a few broadcasters to understand the tactics and strategies used by them. The different treatment given by them to these segments shall be understood. Also the need for differentiation and their action plans regarding the same shall be understood. Areas of information: Segmentation by broadcasters and different treatments of the same Tactics used by broadcasters to retain and develop channel loyalty Tactics used by broadcasters to gain new audiences Integration of traditional and new media by broadcasters Importance given to differentiation and strategies used to achieve the same Tool used: In depth interview I shall be meeting with experts in the broadcast company: Marketing, Programming Editorial. Media consultants were interviewed to understand the working of the business. The following panel of experts was used in the discussion of various aspects. Sampling: Purposeful Sampling This method allowed me to select experts based on relevant work experience and knowledge of the industry. Thus the information collected was highly credible and reliable. The method also was convenient as I was the only one involved in the selection process. This allowed me to make analysis and thereby compare different perspectives. Further snowballing was used as a method of referral sampling wherein through networks of professionals experts were reached. These experts made valuable contributions to the field. Case study method of analysis: Detailed study of 2 TV news channels- NDTV 24 x7 and CNN -IBN have been undertaken. A brief programming review, convergence strategies, differentiators, marketing branding strategies of the channels have been studied. Each case covers interesting new emerging strategies used by that particular broadcaster during the period of 2008 -2010. A single event based case study of how twitter was used during Mumbai blasts is also studied. This is used to study the effect of new media on consumption and the extent of the impact and implications it holds on the broadcasters. This case method allows me to study changes that have happened in the last two years in Channel strategies and also news consumption. Thus it allows me to map the different strategies used by broadcasters and identify emerging trends. Advantages of case study method: The case study method is most valuable when the researcher wants to obtain a wealth of information about the research topic. Case studies provide tremendous detail. Many times researchers want such detail when they dont know exactly what they are looking for. The case study is particularly advantageous to the researcher who is trying to find clues and ideas for further research. This is not to suggest, however, that case studies be used only at the exploratory stage of research. The method can also be used to gather descriptive and explanatory data. The case study technique can suggest why something has occurred. For example, in many cities in the mid-1980s, cable companies asked to be released from certain promises made when negotiating for a franchise. To learn why this occurred, a multiple case study approach examining several cities 16 could have been used. Other research techniques, such as the survey, might not be able to get at all the possible reasons behind this phenomenon . Ideally, case studies should be used in combination with theory to achieve maximum understanding (Wimmer Dominick, 1983:156). The case study method also affords the researcher the ability to deal with a wide spectrum of evidence.Documents, historical artifacts, systematic interviews, direct observations, and even traditional surveys can all be incorporated into a case study. In fact, the more data sources that can be brought to bear in a case, the more likely it is that the study will be valid (Wimmer Dominick, 1983:156,157). Disadvantages of case study method : There are three main criticisms. The first has to do with a general lack of scientific rigor in many case studies. Yin points out that too many times, the case study investigator has been sloppy, and has allowed equivocal evidence or biased views to influence the findings and conclusions. It is easy to do a sloppy case study; rigorous case studies require a good deal of time and effort (Wimmer Dominick, 1983:157). The second criticism is that the case study is not easily open to generalization. If the main goal of the researcher is to make statistically based normative statements about the frequency of occurrence of a phenomenon in a defined population, some other method may be more appropriate. This is not to say that the results of all case studies are idiosyncratic and unique. In fact, if generalizing theoretic propositions is the main goal, the case study method is perfectly suited to the task (Wimmer Dominick, 1983:157). Finally, like participant observation, case studies are likely to be timeconsuming and may occasionally produce massive quantities of data that are hard to summarize. Consequently, fellow researchers are forced to wait years for the results of the research, which too often are poorly presented. Some authors, however, are experimenting with nontraditional methods of reporting to overcome this last criticism (Wimmer Dominick, 1983:157). Even with these limitations, the methods provide a lot of possibilities as it is very flexible. It allows deep study of a specific subject. Thus having specified the method, the unfolding chapters refer to the case in point. Expected contribution: Theoretically, through the findings of the research, the user gratifications theory, nice theory, selective theory and involvement theory will be tested. I shall use these theories in the news genre and test the application of the same in this genre. On the practical front, the testing the hypothesis shall have practical significance for the broadcasters. Additionally the trends indentified and predicted for the coming year shall have strategic implications for news broadcasters. The trends shall enable the broadcasters target their prospective audiences better and use tactics to compete, differentiate garner new audiences. NDTV 24 X 7 Founded in the year 1988, the channel was Indias first and largest private producer of current affairs, news stories and entertainment .The brand NDTV 24 * 7 is the market leader and holds an unrivalled reputation for excellence. The following strategic initiatives for growth were undertaken by NDTV . Reliance Infocomm (2004): s In 2004, the channel tied up with reliance Infocomm, Indias largest mobile service provider to provide on the hour news updates of actual newscast with streaming of videos of NDTV news. This enabled Rim customers to watch streaming videos of election updates as well as other news coverage on their handsets. Southern Edition (2006): In 2006, the channel announced the launch of a southern edition - a daily news show using opt -out telecast technology for its viewers in Tamil Nadu, Kerela Karnataka. This show is on air on weekdays at 7 30 and on weekends there is an extravaganza of region specific programming. FTA (2007) : In 2007, it was converted to a FTA channel in the CAS notified areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkatta.The channel is still a pay channel in Chennai. Durand Cup (2007): In 2007 NDTV decided to get into telecasting the live broadcast of Durand Cup 2007.No other news channel in India had beamed live sports before this. The reason behind this was that football viewership has been growing in India. The target audience is mostly 15 +, in SEC A+, A, B+ and B segments. PROGRAMMING Apart from news the channel also airs other programs like We the people and The big fight which are hugely popular. The channel continues to produce original content such as documentaries and special reports featuring political news, entertainment reports and cricket. The channel also has an afternoon weekday segment of the business and market news thereby encompassing all programs offering for their core viewer. The channel has an innovative approach to programming there taking the first step in news shows. Very recently it launched Newsnet2.0 which involves consumer engagement in the production of news as well as syndication of online content. It covers he hot topics which are currently exciting netizens across the world. It provides a 360 vision of all the mediums that people use to discuss their views on contemporary issues. Weekend programming: The weekend programming comprises an array of non news shows like Documentary 24 x 7, cell guru, picture this and others. There are also shows recapping and discussing the weeks news events. Weekday programming: A one stop solution for all interests of the target audience , on weekdays the channel provides news offering in sport, politics, business, national and current news. The Key shows We The People- This powerful opinion-based show, hosted by Barkha Dutt, puts eminent panelists at the mercy of an enquiring public, throwing the floor open for discussions on the issues affecting the country and its people and ensuring that the average citizen has his or her say. The Big Fight- Hosted by Vikram Chandra, the show pits those on opposite sides of an issue against each other in a lively and often heated debate. What emerges from the sometimes controversial opinions is a thorough 360Â ° view of the key national or global issue at hand. India 60: Verdict- NDTVs flagship news programme, India 60 Minutes, is complemented by this special debate segment on the major controversy of the day. Designed to be interactive, it lets viewers have the final word on the big issue in that days news, be it from politics, sports, entertainment or business Bombay Talkies- Sreenivasan Jain takes a walk with Mumbais renowned personalities, through an area that is especially significant to him or her. The freewheeling chat format of the show touches upon a range of issues, showcasing new facets of their persona. The show has featured people from all walks of life, including the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Raj Thackeray, Nusli Wadia, Shatrughan Sinha and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Walk the Talk- One of the flagship programmes of NDTV 24X7, it is a technical first in the Indian television industry, being the only programme in the country to be shot in one take. For four years and with over two hundred episodes, Indian Express Editor-in-Chief, Shekhar Gupta, has travelled and questioned every eminent national personality at a place of special relevance to the guest. Amongst the stellar guests the show has had, were all three of Indias recent Nobel Prize winners Dr. Amartya Sen, VS Naipul and the Dalai Lama. www.ndtv.com CONVERGENCE NDTV Convergence the new media arm of NDTV encompasses an array of digital media and mobile media services to provide a complete solution to advertisers and tap into the mobile/net savvy audience of todays times. NDTV ACTIVE : NDTV active is packaged with various mobile sites consisting of text based content like news, movies, astrology, music, lifestyle and stocks powered by NDTVs online content. The portal is monetized through ads, sponsorships, plus offering some sections of the portal on a subscription basis. He channel is looking at content syndication and they want to tie up with mobile operators to provide content for their mobile portals. NDTV convergence launched a free SMS service with July systems in partnership. The service called MISMS will enable mobile users to access multimedia content via sms. Users of this service can get the latest news, videos, stocks, and cricket scores by sending the short code to NDTV. The content is hosted on NDTV active which is NDTVs existing mobile portal. NDTV active receives about 15000 visitors a month. From its mobile services NDTV is targeting to achieve Rs. 4. 3 crore in revenue which comprises 15 % of their total revenue. OTHER PORTALS: NDTV website looks more like a general interest website than a serious ne News Consumption Strategic Implications Broadcasters News Consumption Strategic Implications Broadcasters INTRODUCTION OF TOPIC Changing trends in news consumption and strategic implications for broadcasters The Indian Media environment has undergone changes in terms of news consumption trends as well as news production techniques. This has lead to contours of On demand culture for News which has been furthered by the digital revolution in the news arena. News consumption is shifting from a passive act to a proactive, interactive and participatory act. 2008 has seen some tremendous changes in the way we gather, share and interact with news.nes today is becoming less linear, less controlled, chaotic however increasingly participatory. The relationship between producers and consumers is changing. Examples of participatory news consumptions: Twitter showed its potential network to distribute raw information in almost instantly in the case of Mumbai attacks and arrest of American student in Egypt. Many media broadcasters took to using this medium as a strategy to cover the news. In early 2008 the channel CNN has built a platform called Ireport .com which permits anyone to submit and upload content from anywhere in the world and a team of journalist scours the content to look for stories. It could also sell this contributor generated created material on news wire for high margins. Another example would be Network 18 anchor Rick Sanchez used twitter to gather his story on twitter for Hurricane Gustav, showing conversations about the storm on screen. CNN even launched a daily show around it which was positioned as audience driven hour of days news and smart conversation Today in the news sector what is changing is how people interact with news , when they acquire it and thus old news deliverers must definitely adapt to it. The 24 hour television news channel in India today has become a meme. The random house unabridged dictionary defines a meme as a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes. Today there is nothing new or different in the way news channels telecast news stories. Activism, excitement, concern, empathy all are packaged in the same way. Most channels look alive, behave alike, talk alike. There is scarcity as regards to channel loyalty in television news. Additionally with media proliferation, audiences are getting and more fragmented and thus news broadcasters are in a fight to gain new audiences. Garnering eye balls, retaining loyal customer, and targeting new segments to gain new audiences becomes extremely important in today times. But with changing consumption habits the same old strategies like breaking news, anchors, tickers may be becoming ineffective today. Thus broadcasters need to revisit these strategies to create differentiation and competitive advantage. The research plans to undertake a study on news consumption trends today the way forward and thereby look at strategies that broadcasters are using currently to tap the existing and potential news customer. The research attempts will be to predict current future news consumption trends and strategic tools used by the broadcaster. LITERATURE REVIEW The Indian news industry was for long governed uncontested by print media. Till 2008, the country consumed 100 million newspaper copies making it the second largest market in the world for newspapers. In 1976 regular broadcasting started in India and Doordarshan had monopoly. It was in 1991 that the concept of multichannel came into India with the advent of BBC, CNN, Prime sports, MTV and Star Plus. Since then with the increasing technological changes taking place there has been extreme competition in this segment as differentiators like breaking news, program choices, expertise, live coverage are slowly diminishing. Almost all news channels in India today are on the same platform / level today as far as capacity and resources available for production of news. Internet slowly entered with new technological framework and changed the rules of the game. 2/3 rds of the internet users today visit the internet atleast 2-3 times a week. Thus consumption of internet is increasing not only in terms of reach but also in terms of impressions. News broadcasters have started teaming up with digital platforms to provide news on the internet as well as mobile mediums. Social media is emerging as another platform for interactivity to take place in the news sector. More and more news is breaking first on Twitter, Facebook, blogs and Flickr today even before being livecasted on news channels. Also today, news is no longer the dull, uninteractive genre as it is associated to be. Increasing numbers of news channels are cashing in on interactivity by using citizen journalism / participatory journalism. This new competitive media landscape has lead proliferation of channels, fragmentation of audiences and lack of diversity among show formats and content. This has lead to a fight among news channels to retain and grow audience numbers. In this scenario first look at the displacement theory : Kayany Yelsma, 2000 used the displacement theory to suggests that with the advent of a new media the overall consumption remains constant and as consumption of one medium increases the consumption go another medium reduces. This would imply that as digital media grows, audiences would move away from broadcast and a change in news consumption habits would occur. However there are convergence theorists who argue that one need to look at the relationship between traditional and new media to understand how simultaneous consumption will change the way news has been consumed till now. Users and gratification theory Infante, Rancer andWomack, 1997 have used the U G theory to explain how individuals use mass media to satisfy their needs.The U G theory argues that peoples needs and interests influence their use of a particular medium and how they respond to it. The idea is that the audience is self motivated to seek the kind of gratification that they want. With the advent of internet gratifying the need of immediacy it is important to relook at the motivations of the audience to turn to broadcast news and their gratification opportunities to construct effective strategies to retain and garner new audiences. Thus although the theory suggest different needs / motivations of consumer there is no research done on the strategies undertaken by Indian news broadcasters to segment different audiences accordingly to different gratification opportunities and provide differentiated offerings to them and how this helps them gain a competitive edge with advertisers and viewers. Let us look at a few theories which seek to explain convergent media behavior and look at MEDIA CONVERGENCE as a strategy: Selective media theory Stempel Hargrove, 1996; Stempel, et al., 2000; Vincent Basil, 1997 have endorsed the selective media theory which suggest that individual direct their attention to respond to specific stimuli in their environment. This implies that exposure to different media content is an active choice and individuals will seek information regarding contents that interest them across all media platforms. That is the consumption of sports news on one platform will lead them to consume the content in the sports space on mobile, online , broadcast and other platforms if the individual is interested in that particular section. Niche theory Dimmick, et al., 2000 in the Niche theory suggest that individual derive different gratifications from using different media. These gratifications would in turn depend on the modality of the medium and as the overlap in these gratification offerings is low in the news industry, the mediums would be more complementary than displacement. Involvement theory Petty Cacioppo, 1986 in the involvement theory suggest that individuals involved in obtaining information on an area are more likely to consumer news from all mediums to optimize their resources to gain maximum knowledge. Thus highly motivated consumers will seek information across various media outlets. It is important to understand whether broadcasters today are using their multi platforms to generate interest in broadcasting medium and pull audiences from online to broadcast or they first break the news on broadcast giving out more information on other platforms. There are various opportunities for gaining audiences by using these theories and news channels today need to jump at them to create competitive edges for themselves. Convergence today has become the strategic option for many media companies although he levels of response from consumers still it make it possible to differentiate between Leaders, laggards and learner ( Denis et al , 2006 ). Thus at business growth levels convergence is linked to growth strategies in 3 ways : 1) Operational convergence 2) cross platform marketing where companies leverage their platforms and repurpose their old content for new viewers 3) developing on demand content thereby addressing viewer needs Thus there have been clearly been changes in news consumption behavior especially in metros like Mumbai where technological acceptance, lifestyles and media environment are fast changing. 2008 witnessed a phenomenal change in the way we consumer news. Participatory media formats have lead us to not only gather news but enabled us to share it and produce it. As demonstrated above, besides using convergent media to gain audiences, broadcast channels need to revisit their competitive and differentiation strategies. For decades breaking news has been used as an age old strategy to establish exclusivity and garner eyeballs. With the introduction of similar technology, real time streaming and social media all news channels are breaking news at the same. Hence there is a need to explore the relevance of breaking news as a strategy and its effectiveness. Program choice selection: Webster and Wakshlag have identified the main factor in program selection as availability. They say if viewer choices are dictated by what is available to them. Many programming strategies are designed to stop the viewer from searching for a more gratifying program based on the assumption that if their program does not annoy them they will not change them. Thus the aim of many programs is to avoid displeasure. Jeffres (1978) called such programs least objectionable programs (LOP). However digital factors make this factor irrelevant in the future. Apart from that they identified audience they watch a program with as an influencer and selection habits as another. They say if a program search is generally restricted to a particular number of channels which Heeter calls Channel Repertoire. Thus viewers may avoid certain programs because the channel or network is not in their repertoire. However there is no research done on the branding and programming Indian news channels undertake to be included in the set of acceptable channels of a viewer. Rosenstein and Grant (1997 have pointed out that habit is a factor for selecting certain mediums and offerings. However how broadcasters are tapping into this habit to develop channel loyalty is yet to be studied. Weimann, Brosius, and Wober have shown that there is little variation in consumption of news content. When two people watch the same news program, one may watch it because of the programs specific appeal, whereas the other one is simply waiting for another program to come on. This explains their finding that overall time spent with the news media is roughly the same, regardless of reported medium reliance .Beaudoin and Thorson,2004 who remarked that exposure to news is not necessarily an expression of attention to news. Given the possibility of involuntary avoidance, one should remark that the reverse also applies: Lack of exposure to news is not necessarily an expression of lack of interest in the news. Thus programming choices designed to meet needs of such audiences who express an interest can be used as a niche strategy to gain hold in such audiences. A few programming segments that broadcasters need to look at are Late night viewers and Sunday morning program choices as strategic programming decisions. The PEW research center , 2004 has undertaken studies have been conducted in the US , research needs to be done on what news channels are doing to tap gain TRPs with these audiences. Anchors as differentiators: To look at anchors as brands for the news channels we need to view them as ingredient brands. The reason why companies for adopting ingredient branding as a strategy is that it helps the host brand to improve distribution accessibility, differentiate itself from other competitors and enhance the long term equity of the host brand (Desai and Keller, 2002; Norris 1992). The ingredient brand can also build end users brand preference, stabilize consumers demand, and establish long-term relations with manufacturers (Norris 1992). Anchors / Tv show hosts can be looked in the same respect for news channels. Today Barkha Dutt ,Rajdeep Sardesai have become ingredient brands of the networks they represent. Different segments news gratifications to study strategies for gaining their attention: For youth audiences, the news consumption patterns become extremely critical as they get formed into habits for a lifetime around they time they leave for college.(e.g., Al-Obaidi, Lamb-Williams, Mordas, 2004; Barnhurst Wartella, 1998; Schlagheck, 1998). Thus many media selectively target college students as a long term strategy to gain first advantage into new generation of consumers (Barnhurst Wartella, 1998). Motivations for media usage vary by age, with motivations to escape or pass time usually highest among younger viewers (Greenberg, 1974; Rubin, 1979). College students are susceptible to depression (Rich Scovel, 1987), making them especially vulnerable to the formation of media habits that relieve dysphoria through attendance to escapist media content. Edward Huang, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, USA, 2007 has undertaken a study Studies on how do what uses do youth make of news and what gratifications they derive from it have been undertaken in the US . The following questions have been answered through this study. Have news media failed to address the youths news consumptions objectives? What role does participatory news media play in satisfying youths consumption needs What are the best strategies in serving young new consumers? To explore the question of emergent news consumption trends it becomes essential to explore the future users news consumption patterns. With myriad options of news outlets, including the Internet, college students are emerging more as news grazers, which means they check news periodically but do not have a particular time for news competitors (Pew Research Center, 2002). A new grazer are audiences which take advantage of the new media environment to check the news from time to time with no set patterns and with a passivity towards event and information. Thus they tend to follow the news on television with the remote control flipping the channel from time to time when they are disinterested. (Pew research 2004) Thus the battle among television news providers to capture the grazing audience has been heated up. Commercial success in such an environment requires the news product to cater to the interests of the news grazer. Thus news producers today cover topics that are less likely to prompt grazers to switch to another channel.( Bellamy and walker 1996) News providers have started downplaying political news to make it soft entertainment oriented news.( Patterson 2000) The strategies that present broadcasters are using to tap this audience will determine the future leaders. Senior citizens are the ones that have maximum time currency and thus strategies used to gain those eyeballs also become increasing important. Thus it is important to study this in the competitive landscape. Thus changing news consumption behavior has lead to news broadcasters to relook at their differentiators, strategies and also identity and target new audiences while retaining old ones so as to avoid becoming irrelevant or obsolete in future. NEED Gap: With the above mentioned technological and lifestyle changes there has been no study undertaken on consumption trends in 2008 2010 and thus predicting the future. Such studies have been undertaken for different segments in the US but not in the Indian context. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE/ SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH The scope of the research extends to both consumer trends in news consumption as well as broadcasters response and action to the same thereby drafting in conclusion the strategies which are used for differentiation in todays news scenario. The research objectives can be listed as below: To identify the patterns and trends in new consumption for various audiences To study the case Mumbai Terrorist blast to understand recent news consumption habits and delivery tactics. To list and rank the competitive strategies used by news channels to differentiate their offerings and gain new audiences To study the integration of print, broadcast, radio , citizen, digital , social mobile media and their working with each other to carry news in todays scenario Rationale: As literature and current news cases such as Mumbai terror blasts, 9/11, Economic Times launching a channel reveal consumption of news has changed today. Thus delivery tactics must be relooked and strategies revisited as differentiation is almost nil in the news broadcast industry today. There is a constant struggle to garner new audiences and thus it becomes important to follow the new trends. There has been no study conducted on the trends in news consumption today and in future times in the Indian scenario. Hypothesis: With the changing news consumption trends there is a need for broadcasters to align their delivery tactics and revisit their competitive strategies Research questions Are news channels truly differentiated in todays scenario? Is there any kind of channel loyalty? What are the strategies news channels are using for differentiation? What are the patterns and trends in news consumption for various audiences? How have broadcasters aligned their delivery methods to meet these news trends? How are various media integrated while provided news today? RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The study is primarily exploratory in nature. I shall be primarily using qualitative tools to identify trends from current data viable and accounting for the broadcasters perspective. Extensive Tam analysis study of viewership data already available Areas of information: Demographic and basic lifestyle information Source of news consumption Response to news Participation in news production and delivery Channel loyalty Perceptions about different brands Consumption behavior for different genre of news Impact of :Anchors, tickers, breaking news, programming choices Programming choices preferences for each segment Industry perspective In this phase after identifying the trends in consumption patterns I shall be undertaking a qualitative research for a few broadcasters to understand the tactics and strategies used by them. The different treatment given by them to these segments shall be understood. Also the need for differentiation and their action plans regarding the same shall be understood. Areas of information: Segmentation by broadcasters and different treatments of the same Tactics used by broadcasters to retain and develop channel loyalty Tactics used by broadcasters to gain new audiences Integration of traditional and new media by broadcasters Importance given to differentiation and strategies used to achieve the same Tool used: In depth interview I shall be meeting with experts in the broadcast company: Marketing, Programming Editorial. Media consultants were interviewed to understand the working of the business. The following panel of experts was used in the discussion of various aspects. Sampling: Purposeful Sampling This method allowed me to select experts based on relevant work experience and knowledge of the industry. Thus the information collected was highly credible and reliable. The method also was convenient as I was the only one involved in the selection process. This allowed me to make analysis and thereby compare different perspectives. Further snowballing was used as a method of referral sampling wherein through networks of professionals experts were reached. These experts made valuable contributions to the field. Case study method of analysis: Detailed study of 2 TV news channels- NDTV 24 x7 and CNN -IBN have been undertaken. A brief programming review, convergence strategies, differentiators, marketing branding strategies of the channels have been studied. Each case covers interesting new emerging strategies used by that particular broadcaster during the period of 2008 -2010. A single event based case study of how twitter was used during Mumbai blasts is also studied. This is used to study the effect of new media on consumption and the extent of the impact and implications it holds on the broadcasters. This case method allows me to study changes that have happened in the last two years in Channel strategies and also news consumption. Thus it allows me to map the different strategies used by broadcasters and identify emerging trends. Advantages of case study method: The case study method is most valuable when the researcher wants to obtain a wealth of information about the research topic. Case studies provide tremendous detail. Many times researchers want such detail when they dont know exactly what they are looking for. The case study is particularly advantageous to the researcher who is trying to find clues and ideas for further research. This is not to suggest, however, that case studies be used only at the exploratory stage of research. The method can also be used to gather descriptive and explanatory data. The case study technique can suggest why something has occurred. For example, in many cities in the mid-1980s, cable companies asked to be released from certain promises made when negotiating for a franchise. To learn why this occurred, a multiple case study approach examining several cities 16 could have been used. Other research techniques, such as the survey, might not be able to get at all the possible reasons behind this phenomenon . Ideally, case studies should be used in combination with theory to achieve maximum understanding (Wimmer Dominick, 1983:156). The case study method also affords the researcher the ability to deal with a wide spectrum of evidence.Documents, historical artifacts, systematic interviews, direct observations, and even traditional surveys can all be incorporated into a case study. In fact, the more data sources that can be brought to bear in a case, the more likely it is that the study will be valid (Wimmer Dominick, 1983:156,157). Disadvantages of case study method : There are three main criticisms. The first has to do with a general lack of scientific rigor in many case studies. Yin points out that too many times, the case study investigator has been sloppy, and has allowed equivocal evidence or biased views to influence the findings and conclusions. It is easy to do a sloppy case study; rigorous case studies require a good deal of time and effort (Wimmer Dominick, 1983:157). The second criticism is that the case study is not easily open to generalization. If the main goal of the researcher is to make statistically based normative statements about the frequency of occurrence of a phenomenon in a defined population, some other method may be more appropriate. This is not to say that the results of all case studies are idiosyncratic and unique. In fact, if generalizing theoretic propositions is the main goal, the case study method is perfectly suited to the task (Wimmer Dominick, 1983:157). Finally, like participant observation, case studies are likely to be timeconsuming and may occasionally produce massive quantities of data that are hard to summarize. Consequently, fellow researchers are forced to wait years for the results of the research, which too often are poorly presented. Some authors, however, are experimenting with nontraditional methods of reporting to overcome this last criticism (Wimmer Dominick, 1983:157). Even with these limitations, the methods provide a lot of possibilities as it is very flexible. It allows deep study of a specific subject. Thus having specified the method, the unfolding chapters refer to the case in point. Expected contribution: Theoretically, through the findings of the research, the user gratifications theory, nice theory, selective theory and involvement theory will be tested. I shall use these theories in the news genre and test the application of the same in this genre. On the practical front, the testing the hypothesis shall have practical significance for the broadcasters. Additionally the trends indentified and predicted for the coming year shall have strategic implications for news broadcasters. The trends shall enable the broadcasters target their prospective audiences better and use tactics to compete, differentiate garner new audiences. NDTV 24 X 7 Founded in the year 1988, the channel was Indias first and largest private producer of current affairs, news stories and entertainment .The brand NDTV 24 * 7 is the market leader and holds an unrivalled reputation for excellence. The following strategic initiatives for growth were undertaken by NDTV . Reliance Infocomm (2004): s In 2004, the channel tied up with reliance Infocomm, Indias largest mobile service provider to provide on the hour news updates of actual newscast with streaming of videos of NDTV news. This enabled Rim customers to watch streaming videos of election updates as well as other news coverage on their handsets. Southern Edition (2006): In 2006, the channel announced the launch of a southern edition - a daily news show using opt -out telecast technology for its viewers in Tamil Nadu, Kerela Karnataka. This show is on air on weekdays at 7 30 and on weekends there is an extravaganza of region specific programming. FTA (2007) : In 2007, it was converted to a FTA channel in the CAS notified areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkatta.The channel is still a pay channel in Chennai. Durand Cup (2007): In 2007 NDTV decided to get into telecasting the live broadcast of Durand Cup 2007.No other news channel in India had beamed live sports before this. The reason behind this was that football viewership has been growing in India. The target audience is mostly 15 +, in SEC A+, A, B+ and B segments. PROGRAMMING Apart from news the channel also airs other programs like We the people and The big fight which are hugely popular. The channel continues to produce original content such as documentaries and special reports featuring political news, entertainment reports and cricket. The channel also has an afternoon weekday segment of the business and market news thereby encompassing all programs offering for their core viewer. The channel has an innovative approach to programming there taking the first step in news shows. Very recently it launched Newsnet2.0 which involves consumer engagement in the production of news as well as syndication of online content. It covers he hot topics which are currently exciting netizens across the world. It provides a 360 vision of all the mediums that people use to discuss their views on contemporary issues. Weekend programming: The weekend programming comprises an array of non news shows like Documentary 24 x 7, cell guru, picture this and others. There are also shows recapping and discussing the weeks news events. Weekday programming: A one stop solution for all interests of the target audience , on weekdays the channel provides news offering in sport, politics, business, national and current news. The Key shows We The People- This powerful opinion-based show, hosted by Barkha Dutt, puts eminent panelists at the mercy of an enquiring public, throwing the floor open for discussions on the issues affecting the country and its people and ensuring that the average citizen has his or her say. The Big Fight- Hosted by Vikram Chandra, the show pits those on opposite sides of an issue against each other in a lively and often heated debate. What emerges from the sometimes controversial opinions is a thorough 360Â ° view of the key national or global issue at hand. India 60: Verdict- NDTVs flagship news programme, India 60 Minutes, is complemented by this special debate segment on the major controversy of the day. Designed to be interactive, it lets viewers have the final word on the big issue in that days news, be it from politics, sports, entertainment or business Bombay Talkies- Sreenivasan Jain takes a walk with Mumbais renowned personalities, through an area that is especially significant to him or her. The freewheeling chat format of the show touches upon a range of issues, showcasing new facets of their persona. The show has featured people from all walks of life, including the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Raj Thackeray, Nusli Wadia, Shatrughan Sinha and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Walk the Talk- One of the flagship programmes of NDTV 24X7, it is a technical first in the Indian television industry, being the only programme in the country to be shot in one take. For four years and with over two hundred episodes, Indian Express Editor-in-Chief, Shekhar Gupta, has travelled and questioned every eminent national personality at a place of special relevance to the guest. Amongst the stellar guests the show has had, were all three of Indias recent Nobel Prize winners Dr. Amartya Sen, VS Naipul and the Dalai Lama. www.ndtv.com CONVERGENCE NDTV Convergence the new media arm of NDTV encompasses an array of digital media and mobile media services to provide a complete solution to advertisers and tap into the mobile/net savvy audience of todays times. NDTV ACTIVE : NDTV active is packaged with various mobile sites consisting of text based content like news, movies, astrology, music, lifestyle and stocks powered by NDTVs online content. The portal is monetized through ads, sponsorships, plus offering some sections of the portal on a subscription basis. He channel is looking at content syndication and they want to tie up with mobile operators to provide content for their mobile portals. NDTV convergence launched a free SMS service with July systems in partnership. The service called MISMS will enable mobile users to access multimedia content via sms. Users of this service can get the latest news, videos, stocks, and cricket scores by sending the short code to NDTV. The content is hosted on NDTV active which is NDTVs existing mobile portal. NDTV active receives about 15000 visitors a month. From its mobile services NDTV is targeting to achieve Rs. 4. 3 crore in revenue which comprises 15 % of their total revenue. OTHER PORTALS: NDTV website looks more like a general interest website than a serious ne