The 8 Oscars that Slumdog Millionaire won has made India proud. It is rare that an Indian film ( or one about India) receives so much attention as has Slumdog Millonaire. And rarer is the combination of artists who have come together to produce this award winning film. I believe the awards have brought more positive publicity than the so-called damage to it by portraying the slums in the film. The amount of positive word of mouth and publicity that the film has generated is unprecedented. It surely is a moment to celebrate.
This week in Dubai, something equally interesting is taking place. While the scale of the event is not so big, it definitely has grabbed global headlines. I am talking about the Dubai Literature Festival taking place at Festival city. While the literary festival is mired in controversy, ( Margaret Atwood’s withdrawl after an author was apparently banned from the festival) one cannot deny that it is an effort to help position Dubai as a hub of culture and art. Looking at this in perspective, one cannot deny that arts and culture have greater currency as branding elements than many other straightforward means. Culture seems to be the new weapon in the branding arsenal.
With the current global recession, most cities and countries are down playing the small successes they may have had or even toning down the ‘celebrations’ if any to keep in tune with the somber mood globally. This seems to have an impact on how branding is being seen. The loud, brash and arrogant tone is long gone. Companies, cities and countries which were ambitious, loud and domineering are seeing the logic in toning down their voice and are a bit subdued. The tone being adopted is a bit more mature, careful and measured. What impact has this had on the image of Dubai and other destinations ?
Abudhabi and Sharjah have also taken a stand of positioning the heritage, culture and arts – not only of the region; but are ambitious enough to get Guggenheim and Louvre to set up museums in Abudhabi.
Art is being imported in large measures. The objective ? Create an ambience and eco-system to encourage global talent to gather in an atmosphere where it can thrive. Also, encourage local talent to thrive. The end result would be the growth of a certain consciousness and atmosphere in which Art and culture can flourish .
Dubai in turn is being positioned as a destination which has more to offer than just world class business , conferencing and leisure facilities. It is being positioned as a mature place, something which has something for everyone. A destination which has an eco-system which encourages scholarship, thinking, living a quality life and much more than just a transit point that many people take it to be. Looking at the current events, discussions, one gets the impressions : It is a maturing city. There is more to Dubai than just glamour and show. In essence, there is more depth . The leadership of Dubai has realized that these positive attributes and ‘soft branding’ can be used to show the world that Dubai can be a ‘complete city’ , a mature city with its own distinct identity .
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Will Saudi ever become a Dubai ?
After watching a few Youtube videos of Saudi women driving ( in the desert) last year, one could feel that the rebellion against certain archaic laws ( including not allowing women to drive) is coming out in the open. This week's overhaul of the leadership by King Abdulla is another positive sign in the right direction. King Abdulla is known to be a moderate leader, with a clear vision of integrating the Saudi society with the modern world.
In several discussions that i have had with people who live in Saudi, the resentment comes out quite clearly. The population clearly wants change and with such close contact with the western world, and the internet and proiliferation of technology and travel; the people are demanding more individual freedom and freedom of speech. While the over-all structure of Saudi society will not change overnight, at least the signals coming out now are encouraging. It shows a departure from the old ways and an approach which seems to be challenging the assumptions of certain laws which are restrictive and considered repressive.It must be remembered that King Abdulla also recently organised an inter-faith dialogue, met the Pope and also has been a leading voice in trying to solve the Palestine issue. He is seen as a moderate leader with a broad vision of integrating the best aspects of all cultures and religions.
A TNS survey conducted early last year called 'Shabab tek', sought to unravel what is going on in the minds of young Saudi nationals. This ethnographic study followed the lives of 'future shapers', youth who are likely to influence other youth and set trends. The research threw up some very interesting insights, some of which included the youth's need to express themeselves. The growing use of blogs, mobile devices and other means to connect with others, to rebel if needed and make their voice heard points to this growing trend. Riyadh also has the only graffiti park in Saudi Arabia and this was a point made to illustrate the growing need for youth to express their thoughts and concerns to the establishment and also make their voice heard.
In the latest move, the power of the moral police has been curtailed. This is also a welcome move, considering that even according to strict islamic interpretation, there cannot be force in religion. One cannot be forced to do an act of worship, let alone be punished for it. By reducing the power of the moral police considerably, King Abdulla has done the right thing. Morals cannot be taught by police, at best they can safeguard the rights of people and ensure that the law is not broken.
All of this brings us to the next question : Will Saudi ever become as liberal and free as Dubai ? I dont think that is possible in the near future and highly unlikely that the extent of individual freedom will ever become as much as in the UAE and Dubai in particular. Saudi is Saudi because it houses the holiest sites for Muslims. Mecca and Medina are cities of not only religious and spiritual importance, but are also significant historically. The entire history of early Islam is tied to these cities and the authorities believe that by 'opening' up the country to foreign influences and culture, the very brand of Saudi will be diluted. They are partly right in thinking so. At least from a branding and positioning perspecitive, one can understand that if Saudi becomes a Dubai, then what impact would that have on Islam ?
Saudi Arabia today is in a formidable position, both economically and morally. It has the goodwill of all leading Arab nations ( except Iran) and also USA. It has the moral standing to mediate in disputes, offer solutions to the world's problems and also be a beacon of hope for those financially distressed ( either in terms of Aid to suffering victims or even bailing out firms with its Petro dollars). It is about time that the society reflects this by modifying certain archaic laws and ensuring that freedom and individual liberty are given in areas where there is no conflict and which will ensure that people from the rest of the world feel safe and secure while travelling/ living in KSA.
In several discussions that i have had with people who live in Saudi, the resentment comes out quite clearly. The population clearly wants change and with such close contact with the western world, and the internet and proiliferation of technology and travel; the people are demanding more individual freedom and freedom of speech. While the over-all structure of Saudi society will not change overnight, at least the signals coming out now are encouraging. It shows a departure from the old ways and an approach which seems to be challenging the assumptions of certain laws which are restrictive and considered repressive.It must be remembered that King Abdulla also recently organised an inter-faith dialogue, met the Pope and also has been a leading voice in trying to solve the Palestine issue. He is seen as a moderate leader with a broad vision of integrating the best aspects of all cultures and religions.
A TNS survey conducted early last year called 'Shabab tek', sought to unravel what is going on in the minds of young Saudi nationals. This ethnographic study followed the lives of 'future shapers', youth who are likely to influence other youth and set trends. The research threw up some very interesting insights, some of which included the youth's need to express themeselves. The growing use of blogs, mobile devices and other means to connect with others, to rebel if needed and make their voice heard points to this growing trend. Riyadh also has the only graffiti park in Saudi Arabia and this was a point made to illustrate the growing need for youth to express their thoughts and concerns to the establishment and also make their voice heard.
In the latest move, the power of the moral police has been curtailed. This is also a welcome move, considering that even according to strict islamic interpretation, there cannot be force in religion. One cannot be forced to do an act of worship, let alone be punished for it. By reducing the power of the moral police considerably, King Abdulla has done the right thing. Morals cannot be taught by police, at best they can safeguard the rights of people and ensure that the law is not broken.
All of this brings us to the next question : Will Saudi ever become as liberal and free as Dubai ? I dont think that is possible in the near future and highly unlikely that the extent of individual freedom will ever become as much as in the UAE and Dubai in particular. Saudi is Saudi because it houses the holiest sites for Muslims. Mecca and Medina are cities of not only religious and spiritual importance, but are also significant historically. The entire history of early Islam is tied to these cities and the authorities believe that by 'opening' up the country to foreign influences and culture, the very brand of Saudi will be diluted. They are partly right in thinking so. At least from a branding and positioning perspecitive, one can understand that if Saudi becomes a Dubai, then what impact would that have on Islam ?
Saudi Arabia today is in a formidable position, both economically and morally. It has the goodwill of all leading Arab nations ( except Iran) and also USA. It has the moral standing to mediate in disputes, offer solutions to the world's problems and also be a beacon of hope for those financially distressed ( either in terms of Aid to suffering victims or even bailing out firms with its Petro dollars). It is about time that the society reflects this by modifying certain archaic laws and ensuring that freedom and individual liberty are given in areas where there is no conflict and which will ensure that people from the rest of the world feel safe and secure while travelling/ living in KSA.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Protecting reputation in times of crises
During times of crises, brand protection becomes the top priority. Brand promotion usually takes a back-seat. What do you do when your client is mobbed by a group of curious, over-curious or angry journalists just after a press conference ? And how do you deal with them especially if your client has just fired 500 employees ?
How do you deal with rumours of a company closing down ? Do you bury your head in the sand and hope that they go away ( as most people do ), or would you go out boldly and tell them what you can tell them ? ( without damaging stake-holder value) ? How much do you speak and what do you tell those who are asking questions ? What implications do your words, actions have on your clients reputation and how do you advise your client to behave ?
These are some of the crucial questions that every PR professional must ask himself/ herself when dealing with a crisis.
The current economic downturn is a blessing in disguise, as it is a living laboratory of all kinds of scenarios. Job losses, loss of confidence, project cancellations, scandals, firings, all of these are plentiful in every industry across the world. As brand stewards, one is required to protect the brand ( and the people behind the brand).
Some tips for handling the process well :
1) Have a strategy in place . Be clear about the direction that the company ( your client) will respond to the dynamic conditions in the market
2) Discuss honestly with the top management what one is allowed to say and what one is not. There can be embargo on communication from the company and the PR agency if needed. It is better to keep one's mouth shut than blurt out something which may damage a reputation
3) Keep channels of communication open. Nothing hurts than the journalists calling you up and complaning that they are facing a brick-wall. It is better to receive calls / emails and respond saying that there is an embargo on communication rather than not speak at all
4) Play out worse case scenarios in mind and prepare responses. Brief client/ others in the communications team on the possible scenarios
5) Never exaggerate. This can be the worse crime in a crisis. If the whole market is doing badly and if your client is doing OK, it is better to be cautious and play down the success rather than beat one's drum . This will be seen as being pompous and ostentatious. Qualities the media will not forgive you for. Unless you are Muhammad Ali !
The over-arching rule is to be prepared and be seen as prepared. Protection of reputation is in itself a huge task and very challenging and requires creativity and composure. Following these simple rules may help ease the process for any company trying to deal with difficult times.
How do you deal with rumours of a company closing down ? Do you bury your head in the sand and hope that they go away ( as most people do ), or would you go out boldly and tell them what you can tell them ? ( without damaging stake-holder value) ? How much do you speak and what do you tell those who are asking questions ? What implications do your words, actions have on your clients reputation and how do you advise your client to behave ?
These are some of the crucial questions that every PR professional must ask himself/ herself when dealing with a crisis.
The current economic downturn is a blessing in disguise, as it is a living laboratory of all kinds of scenarios. Job losses, loss of confidence, project cancellations, scandals, firings, all of these are plentiful in every industry across the world. As brand stewards, one is required to protect the brand ( and the people behind the brand).
Some tips for handling the process well :
1) Have a strategy in place . Be clear about the direction that the company ( your client) will respond to the dynamic conditions in the market
2) Discuss honestly with the top management what one is allowed to say and what one is not. There can be embargo on communication from the company and the PR agency if needed. It is better to keep one's mouth shut than blurt out something which may damage a reputation
3) Keep channels of communication open. Nothing hurts than the journalists calling you up and complaning that they are facing a brick-wall. It is better to receive calls / emails and respond saying that there is an embargo on communication rather than not speak at all
4) Play out worse case scenarios in mind and prepare responses. Brief client/ others in the communications team on the possible scenarios
5) Never exaggerate. This can be the worse crime in a crisis. If the whole market is doing badly and if your client is doing OK, it is better to be cautious and play down the success rather than beat one's drum . This will be seen as being pompous and ostentatious. Qualities the media will not forgive you for. Unless you are Muhammad Ali !
The over-arching rule is to be prepared and be seen as prepared. Protection of reputation is in itself a huge task and very challenging and requires creativity and composure. Following these simple rules may help ease the process for any company trying to deal with difficult times.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Iran's satellite launch, refusal of Visas to americans and the western world's reaction
This week Iran made news. And news for all the wrong reasons. On February 3, the media across the world reported the launch of a home-made satellite by Iran. According to BBC, "President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the launch had been successful and that with it Iran had "officially achieved a presence in space". The satellite, carried on a Safir-2 rocket, was meant for telecommunication and research purposes, state TV said. A US state department official said the launch was of "great concern" and could lead to ballistic missile development. Iran insists its intent is peaceful".
The biggest concern is that Iran will use this technology to deliver arms and it will not be used for 'peaceful' purposes as Iran claims. The usual back and forth about the western double standards went on between the foreign ministers of UK, US, Iran.
The newspapers today carried news of Iran's refusal of visas to the USA women's badminton team. The reason given for it is that their papers were not submitted on time. The head of the delegation said that the papers were submitted on time, but they were not granted visas anyway.
While the concern that Iran may deploy the technology to intimidate others and non-peaceful purposes is genuine, the coverage of the issue was slightly skewed. While President Ahmadinejad seems to have a sense of theatrical performance, timing the launch with the anniversary of the Iranian revolution; what cannot be denied is that the media tend to cover issues related to Iran with a lot of bias and pre-judgment.
The Iranian revolution which de-throned the Shah, the Iran nuclear program, refusal of visas to westerners tend to take on larger than life proportions. The media tends to focus on Iran as the 'other', an evil force that needs to be closely monitored and scrutinised.
Why doesnt the media carry stories of the thousands and thousands of Iranians who are denied US visas ? Why this lop-sided perversion of reality? There is a deliberate attempt to paint certain countries in a certain light and this bias seems almost unconscious. The same propaganda happened with Saddam Hussein before Iraq was bombed out of existence. The media seems to have all but forgotten about the Nuclear program and WMDs' that Saddam had after the western leaders acknowledged that it was a big fat lie.
Fair, honest reporting demands that each issue be examined closely before reaching any conclusion and definitely demands that opinion be kept out from facts. There seems to be an easy blending of both facts, opinion when it comes to reporting on Iran. The same holds true for any country that has challenged the US hegemony. One is reminded of Edward Said 's "Covering Islam", which brilliantly captures the trends in reporting on Islam and muslim countries.
While it is a fact that Iran is still on the list of suspect countries which is developing a nuclear program, it should not deter the media and responsible spokespersons from reporting accurately and stop interspersing the facts with their own per-conceived notions ( which are usually handed down ) either from the establishment they work for, or their superiors.
I hope that the global media start seeing this pattern of their own mistakes and correct themselves to the extent of merging facts with fiction.
The biggest concern is that Iran will use this technology to deliver arms and it will not be used for 'peaceful' purposes as Iran claims. The usual back and forth about the western double standards went on between the foreign ministers of UK, US, Iran.
The newspapers today carried news of Iran's refusal of visas to the USA women's badminton team. The reason given for it is that their papers were not submitted on time. The head of the delegation said that the papers were submitted on time, but they were not granted visas anyway.
While the concern that Iran may deploy the technology to intimidate others and non-peaceful purposes is genuine, the coverage of the issue was slightly skewed. While President Ahmadinejad seems to have a sense of theatrical performance, timing the launch with the anniversary of the Iranian revolution; what cannot be denied is that the media tend to cover issues related to Iran with a lot of bias and pre-judgment.
The Iranian revolution which de-throned the Shah, the Iran nuclear program, refusal of visas to westerners tend to take on larger than life proportions. The media tends to focus on Iran as the 'other', an evil force that needs to be closely monitored and scrutinised.
Why doesnt the media carry stories of the thousands and thousands of Iranians who are denied US visas ? Why this lop-sided perversion of reality? There is a deliberate attempt to paint certain countries in a certain light and this bias seems almost unconscious. The same propaganda happened with Saddam Hussein before Iraq was bombed out of existence. The media seems to have all but forgotten about the Nuclear program and WMDs' that Saddam had after the western leaders acknowledged that it was a big fat lie.
Fair, honest reporting demands that each issue be examined closely before reaching any conclusion and definitely demands that opinion be kept out from facts. There seems to be an easy blending of both facts, opinion when it comes to reporting on Iran. The same holds true for any country that has challenged the US hegemony. One is reminded of Edward Said 's "Covering Islam", which brilliantly captures the trends in reporting on Islam and muslim countries.
While it is a fact that Iran is still on the list of suspect countries which is developing a nuclear program, it should not deter the media and responsible spokespersons from reporting accurately and stop interspersing the facts with their own per-conceived notions ( which are usually handed down ) either from the establishment they work for, or their superiors.
I hope that the global media start seeing this pattern of their own mistakes and correct themselves to the extent of merging facts with fiction.
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