Media Mapping Survey by Top PR Agencies in India for Q1-FY21-22
This survey report provides information obtained through media
analysis, regarding the news trends across major publications in the country.
This survey report will pay particular attention to the news trends in the
first quarter of FY2021-22 when the country was reeling under heavy pandemics.
These observations do have limitations that will be noted and are based on a
total number of stories categorised by different sectors. Not only India, but
the entire world is experiencing a devastating wave of COVID-19. The spread of
COVID-19 in India was initially characterized by fewer cases and lower case
fatality rates compared with numbers in many developed countries, primarily due
to a stringent lockdown and a demographic dividend. However, economic
constraints forced a staggering lockdown exit strategy, resulting in a spike in
COVID-19 cases. This factor, coupled with low spending on health as a
percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), created mayhem because of
inadequate numbers of hospital beds and ventilators and a lack of medical
personnel, especially in the public health sector. Nevertheless, technological
advances, supported by a strong research base, helped contain the damage
resulting from the pandemic. In the first ten days of May, India’s reported
count of COVID-19 deaths was nearly 40,000, roughly accounting for a third of
deaths worldwide during this period. The media ecosystem continues to be
challenging this year – and that was before the pandemic. To inform the
citizens during these uncertain times, newsrooms and media houses across the
country have made pandemic coverage a priority. While there is an abundance of
news to be reported on the global pandemic, the esteemed media houses of the
country pointed out several other news trends to keep people educated and
aware.
THE INDIAN MEDIA
“FREE PRESS IS ESSENTIAL TO FREE SOCIETY”
The Indian Media Industry is one of the world’s most diverse and
vibrant in addition to being largely free and fair. The Indian media landscape
has changed significantly over the last one decade. With the advancement in
technology, the Indian media industry has been burgeoning like never before and
expanded its reach, in terms of the number of outlets, whether in television,
radio, print or digital.
At this hour of the global pandemic,
media has successfully played the role of a watchdog of the government
functionaries and has also aided in participatory communication in raising
major issues faced by the citizens of the country. Several media platforms
across the country kept providing credible news and information to the citizens
of the country when they most needed it without letting fear affect them amid
COVID-19. The onset of the global pandemic and ensuing lockdown has dealt a
severe blow to the Indian economy. It is being reported that the Indian Media
& Entertainment sector, which saw a contraction of around 24 per cent at Rs
1.38 lakh crore in the pandemic-struck 2020, is expected to log growth this
year and double its revenue to Rs 2.68 lakh crore by 2025.
Print newspapers in India have been seeing a significant surge in
revenue, making it the largest global market for the industry. The most popular
daily in the country is “The Times of India” that had the highest
average readership in 2017. India’s print industry is to be able to retain
their audiences through digital platforms, while still maintaining enough
advertising and subscription revenue to continue different editions.
TREND ANALYSIS OF
COVID-19 OUTBREAK IN INDIA
IMAGE INDIA MAP
More than 15 countries including the US, Russia, France and the
United Kingdom rushed critical emergency use equipment to enable India counter
the COVID-19’s deadly second wave. Ministry of External Affairs announced that
several countries are sending hundreds of oxygen concentrators, respirators and
large quantities of liquid oxygen to help India at this hour of the pandemic.
The Delhi High Court announced that it will take up court proceedings through
virtual mode from April 9 to April 23. India became the first country in the
world to report over 4 lakh new cases on April 30, 2021. It was being
speculated that the COVID-19 wave that plunged India into the world’s biggest
health crisis has the potential to worsen in the coming weeks, with some
research models projecting that the death toll could more than double from
current levels. Several states of the country introduced lockdowns, although
Prime Minister Narendra Modi resisted a national effort after one imposed by
the Central government last year fueled a humanitarian crisis with migrant
workers fleeing the cities on foot and in some cases bringing the virus with
them. A devastating second wave of coronavirus in India has seen hospitals and
crematoriums overwhelmed and widespread shortages of oxygen and medicines.
Hospitals across India are also experiencing oxygen shortages, with some forced
to put up signs warning of a lack of supplies. War of words erupted between the
Central government and several state governments such as Delhi &
Maharashtra government over oxygen supply.
Fitch group company (India Ratings) said “the second wave of
COVID-19 infections will be less disruptive than the first wave for the
business environment as corporates are better prepared”. But it was being
reported that smaller businesses including micro, small and medium enterprises
are laying off more employees as demand and sales have plummeted due to
localised lockdowns implemented by the state governments. The Centre for
Monitoring Indian Economy, recently said that “the unemployment rate in the
country has touched a four-month high as over 70 lakh jobs have been impacted.”
Amid the concerns regarding shortage of COVID-19 vaccines in the national
capital, the Delhi government recently stated that “the vaccination of the
18-44 age group remained suspended for the fifth consecutive day” and
further informed that there is no COVAXIN stock available for any age group.
AAP MLA Atishi said “Delhi has already shut 235 of the 368
inoculation centres for this category due to a shortage of vaccines.” Few
other states including Maharashtra suspended vaccination for 18-44 age group,
citing shortage of doses. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, cases of
Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) have emerged in patients who were in the recovery
phase of the disease. Hundreds of corpses were also found floating in the Ganga
river or buried in the sand of its banks in the northern state of Uttar
Pradesh, fearing they were COVID-19 infected.
Prime Minister during his latest address to the nation said "The
Centre is taking back total control of vaccination now, will be implemented in
next two weeks. The Centre will give free vaccines to states for all above 18.
From 21 June, the Centre will provide free vaccines to states." Prime
Minister also announced free ration for the poor under Prime Minister Garib
Kalyan Yojana till Diwali.
As the second wave of coronavirus in the country continues to slow
down, several states have started easing the strict restrictions which were
imposed to check the spread of the deadly virus. Delhi resumed the Metro train
services with 50 per cent seating capacity.
Malls, markets and market complexes were allowed to open between
10 am to 8 pm on odd-even basis in accordance with their shop numbers. Private
offices also opened up with 50 per cent manpower. In Uttar Pradesh, the curfew
continues to remain in districts that have more than 600 actives cases. With
states unlocking across the country and the Delta variant still around, health
experts are continuously stressing on the need to re-open with a robust
vaccination strategy and COVID appropriate behaviour.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DGCA) has granted its nod
to Indian pharmaceutical giant Cipla to import Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for
restricted emergency use in the country. The Directorate General of Civil
Aviation (DGCA) extended the restrictions on scheduled international passenger
flights to and from India extended till July 31st, 2021. DGCA also stated “However,
international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the
competent authority on a case-to-case basis.”
US President Joe Biden and house unanimously passed a resolution
recognizing the devastating impact of COVID-19 in India and expressing the
sense of the House of Representatives to urgently facilitate assistance. Indian
Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently stated that India crossed the
milestone of conducting 400 million tests for COVID-19 since the pandemic
began, with the last 50 million tests being conducted over the last 24 days.
The United States’ National Institutes of Health reported that India’s first
indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin is able to effectively
neutralise the Alpha and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2. Read more on: https://www.iccpl.in
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