Column Archives - MediaCatalyst : News - Opinion

30 Sep

Beyond Maternity Leave: The Case for Postpartum Infrastructure at the Workplace

MediaCatalystColumn, Health, Human Resource

Maternity leave has been the gold standard of support within the workplace for new mothers for decades. In India, the 2017 Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act provided paid maternity leave of 26 weeks – an essential step toward the recognition of the needs of childbirth and initial childcare. Maternity leave, however, does not cover the range of support that a woman might require to return to the workplace following childbirth. Returning to work postpartum isn't only a logistical hurdle; it's a physical, emotional, and psychological transition that needs compassionate infrastructure. As we strive to make workplaces more welcoming, it's time we…

05 Sep

From EMI Ads to Aspirational Finance: Redefining BFSI Messaging for Bharat

MediaCatalystBanking, Finance, Insurance, Column

Financial affordability has been the one formula Indian marketing of Bharat Financial has used for decades. The "easy EMI" tune has dominated bank, NBFC, and fintech campaigns. The pitch is simply buy now, pay later. While this model suited metropolitans in the last decade's consumption boom, it now feels passé, especially when framed in the context of Bharat - India's small cities, towns, and semi-urban places where its next growth narrative is playing out. Here's the thing: people beyond metros don't merely desire affordability. They aspire to progress. They dream of finance that allows them to grow, not just service payments.…

10 Jul

The Growing Crisis of Online Gaming Addiction

Sangeet SaritaColumn, Health, Technology, Wellness

What starts as harmless entertainment can sometimes spiral into something far more consuming. What harm could there be in playing a few online games to unwind? This is the primary thought with which one of my close friends started playing online games. But slowly, almost without noticing, a few online games turned into hours of game play, days blurred, the outside world faded, screen time ballooned to several hours a day, friendships slipped away, work suffered. The breaking point came only when mental health had started dwindling; hypertension cripped in; and normal behavior has been replaced by irritability and silence. revealing just…

18 Sep

Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Web3: Balancing Compliance and Innovation

MediaCatalystColumnWeb3

The world wide web is growing, and the new generation is Web3. But what is Web3? In layman’s terms, it is the third generation of the internet that is based on the blockchain. Unlike today’s internet or more specifically Web2 where companies such as Google and Facebook dominate, Web3 seeks to decentralise control to the users by eliminating intermediaries. Web3 is the idea of a new internet that is private, secure and decentralized. Individuals can communicate directly through decentralized applications (dApps) and digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Eth. Although this sounds enticing, it also has its drawbacks for governments…

06 Sep

Navigating the dynamics of a lifestyle PR Agency in India: An Insider’s Perspective

MediaCatalystColumn

Behind the Scenes of the Communications Craft Lifestyle is one of the key verticals or niches that need Public Relations services to enhance brand visibility, media presence, narrative building, events and trust building. Often, lifestyle brands are an integration of other verticals. Let’s say a skincare brand or apparel brand may fall under the lifestyle category. It could be a cafe, restaurant, resort or home decor verticals brand too. Lifestyle brands usually have a higher SEC target audience and stakeholders. The concerned PR Agency working on lifestyle brands should have an updated media list from the beats of lifestyle, fashion,…

24 Aug

AI is Here, There, and Everywhere: Let’s Talk About the Good, the Bad, and the Future

MediaCatalystColumn, Technologyaccountability, AI, artificial intelligence, bias, customer service, Education, Entertainment, ethics, finance, future predictions, Healthcare, job displacement, manufacturing, media, privacy, retail, transportation

Remember those sci-fi movies where robots took over the world? Well, we're not quite there yet, but AI is definitely making its presence felt. It's like that friend who's always popping up in unexpected places - from your smartphone's voice assistant to those eerily accurate recommendations on Netflix. It's pretty amazing, but it also raises some serious questions. The Ethical Minefield: Tread Carefully AI is a bit like a double-edged sword. It can do incredible things, but it can also cause harm if we're not careful: Bias and Discrimination: Imagine an AI system trained on biased data. It's like teaching…

24 May

How to Address Conflicts and Prevent Them from Escalating in the Workplace

MediaCatalystColumn, Human ResourceConflict Management, Human Resources

Conflict in the workplace is unavoidable. Differing personalities, working methods, and stress levels might foster disputes. However, how these conflicts are resolved has a tremendous impact on the entire work atmosphere and productivity. According to the CPP Global Human Capital Report, 85% of employees face some level of conflict, with 29% dealing with it regularly. It is imperative to look at effective ways to defuse conflicts and keep them from escalating, resulting in a healthier and more productive workplace. Understanding the Causes of Workplace Conflicts Before getting into conflict resolution tactics, it’s critical to understand the most typical causes of workplace conflict. These may include: Lack of communication can cause disagreements…

25 Feb

Unveiling the Unsettling Dynamics

MediaCatalystColumnJournalism, PR Industry, Public Relations

The complicated connection between journalism and public relations (PR) sector across globe has come under more scrutiny in recent years. Journalism is tasked with the vital duty of enlightening, educating, and examining the activities of individuals in positions of authority. But the mutually beneficial but tense partnership between PR and journalism has exposed a reality far different from the romanticised picture of an open and critical press. The symbiotic relationship between the PR industry and journalism has significantly compromised the integrity and independence of the fourth estate. The overpowering impact of PR apparatus on media narratives and public debate is among…

24 Jun

How the Coronavirus pandemic opened new avenues for hygiene brands

MediaCatalystColumn, Health

As the nation grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, the hygiene market sees hope in reinventing itself to cater to a new basket of needs. The mindfulness of maintaining one’s health and hygiene has increased tenfold and it has become a priority in the lives of people across the globe. Owing to the heightened consciousness about cleanliness, new importance has been given to maintaining both personal and environmental hygiene. Preventive care is recognized as a way to reduce the chances of infection; therefore, consumers are investing more in hygiene products to ensure their safety. One’s hygiene often takes a backseat in…

12 Apr

How lucrative is the ‘elderly’ market in India?

MediaCatalystColumn

Today, senior citizens are roughly about 8% of India’s population and by 2050, they will account for 20% of the country’s population. This surge in TAM (total addressable market) will drive growth in the senior care market in the coming years. The current market size of senior care is estimated to be around USD 7 billion. According to a 2018 report by Agewell Foundation, senior citizens are emerging as an influential consumer segment as most senior citizens today continue to work past the retirement age. Therefore, they are no longer just dependent on pension and have great purchasing power. Healthcare…