A Day at a Digital Agency

Post spending the last few months at the Campus, we headed out for our Industrial visits and then on to our internships. It was a mixed set of feelings, leaving the confines of our home away from home, the campus and moving towards Industry, where we all plan to be spending the rest of our working life.

Our first stop on the 12^th of October was a trip to a digital agency, iProspect, who are a part of one of Asia’s largest advertising conglomerates, Dentsu Aegis. The office was a grand one, buzzing with activity and our 1^st glimpse into life in the fast lane! We were greeted by Mr. Benedict Hayes – Executive VP of Strategy,an executive who has a vast knowledge of technologies, systems, processes and tools which is the backbone of the Digital World. Mr. Hayes took us through a detailed presentation about digital India, and the opportunities which are available in abundance as a career choice as communication’s specialist. He took us through how India is changing digitally, and the promises it holds in the digital arena. 

On Mr Hayes, my batch mate, Ankita Kureel said “It was interesting to see a foreign national tell us all about the Indian digital scenario. That is something unusual but heart-warming how the World is looking at India as place with immense potential.”

Mr Hayes also took us through a presentation about Dentsu Aegis, its subsidiaries, and how they all work together. This got us thinking off all the sessions which we have had on IMC (Integrated Marketing Communication) and it began to make sense of how it functions in the World of marketing Communications.

While we were being taken through the part on iProspect – the digital arm of Dentsu, we had insights into some trailblazing campaigns done by the agency in the recent past. The digital agency has won eight awards at the 5^th Asian Customer Engagement Forum making it the Agency of the Year 2015.

Post lunch, we were taken to the iProspect office, a few buildings down the road and here we met the various heads of department which make a Digital Agency. We were then taken through the various departments – SEO, Creatives, Client Servicing and copywriting. There was also a room especially meant for brainstorming complete with a PlayStation console! I could see a lot of glee in some of my batch mates faces as they surely wondered how they would wish to work here! We met a few ex-Northpointers as well here, who interacted with us and patiently answered all our queries.

It is remarkable how it all makes so much sense when we mix theory, which we have been having at the campus and the practical real life experiences of visiting an Agency. Suddenly there were quite a few of us who started to view Digital as a serious option for our specialization.

We were surely impressed by iProspect’s work. Like Rishi said, “I was particularly amazed by the work that the company has done till date. I liked how Mr.Hayes explained how the company functions and what it’s like to work there.”

The day was well spent and we had a lot to take in by the end of it. Northpoint would like to thank Mr. Hayes and the entire Dentsu team for making this possible for us. It was indeed a great experience.

Pallavi Dhote

PGP MarComm 2015-16

pallavi.dhote@northpointindia.com

A Tainted Life

Many a times I ponder how is it to get up in the morning and start a life of a prostitute. Dazed and petrified, I would wonder how I became one. Seems so bizarre but unfortunately it’s a life story of many. Even while I am penning my thoughts down, someone somewhere is facing the same predicament. 

India has had a history of forcing many of its daughters into the racket of sex workers. One day they have a simple life of their own and suddenly they are made to lead a new one. It saddens me to see how their life takes a full turn, being someone whom they never aspired to be. What goes in their mind? How do they reach the level of accepting their fate? Sure they rebel and retaliate, most of the times seeing their effort fail miserably, sometimes succeeding in seeing the end of the road. The ones who remain caged are coerced to sell their body for money, living a tainted life hitherto.

The society which dictates the norms and values believes in shunning these women hence terming them impure and filthy. Surprisingly enough the men engaged in the activity are never under the purview of scrutiny; they are given the liberty to express their sexuality. On the contrary these women even after being marginalized and subjugated are looked at with contempt. The debilitated law system of our country further adds on to this grave issue.

The inhumane nature of ours reflects in their helplessness. It pinches my heart every time I read about some case of physical assault on a prostitute. Just trying to visualize the terror which they undergo imposes a big question on the morality of our country as a whole. This never ending saga of pain and suffering seems ceaseless.  Is it justified that a young girl is pushed into this black hole, knowing how her future holds no hope?

Years and years of being in this rut needs to be challenged. We as individuals have to take a step forward and voice our dissent. Ensuring that will awaken our politicians as well as the people we our surrounded with. Some might criticize and question its action ability but that shouldn’t stop us from working towards eradication of the forced sex racket organizations. The idea of saving some girl’s life should be enough to fuel our willpower.

The atrocious nature which is inbuilt in humans pushes them to get involved in such heinous crimes. For many, our conscience affects the rationale making us evolve from monsters to mere humans. For others, being monstrous suits them well. 

Sophia Jose

PGP MR 2015-16

sophia.jose@northpointindia.com