National Cyber Media Conclave’09

On 28th of March, 2009, a day-long seminar was organized by the students of Symbiosis
Institute of Media and Communication (SIMC). The seminar witnessed a young and
enthusiastic crowd of over 400 post graduate and undergraduate student participants who
had gathered to experience the first ever cyber media meet to be held by a media
educational institute.
NCMC ’09 (National Cyber Media Conclave) was organized by SIMC students to bring
together stalwarts from the cyber world on a common platform where they can address
enthusiastic young minds interested in a future in cyber media and enable discussions on
issues pertinent to their fields of interest. The Conclave witnessed two panels of speakers
on the power, reach & potency of cyber media for knowledge sharing, social change and
networking; and the emergence of the web as a medium for branding and marketing.
The first session saw eminent entrepreneurs of the online industry including Kiruba
Shankar, Co-founder, The Knowledge Foundation, CEO of Business Blogging Pvt. Ltd and
Founder-Director of F5ive Technologies; Jasmeen Patheja, Founder, The Blank Noise
Project; Shivam Vij, Blogger & Tehelka Journalist, Delhi; and Shiv Bhaskar, CEO, The
Viewspaper which represents the voice of the youth on socio-political concerns.
Kiruba Shankar enlightened the crowd on the collaborative capability of the internet
wherein one query or topic raised on a social networking site, for example, Twitter, could
generate multiple responses. In concern to the credibility of the blogs, Kiruba Shankar
opined that blogging was a way of expressing your own personal space unlike print or
broadcast medium. Next, Shivam Vij took the crowd through the difference between
mainstream media and social media and how new media does not actually replace
mainstream media but rather complements it. There was a shift from vox-pops stories to
blog based stories to represent public opinion. He also shed some light on how opinions
raised in blogs reach a certain level and later get amplified by mainstream media. The Third
speaker Shiv Bhaskar Dravid, Founder of The Viewspaper shared his insight about internet
changing the ownership of news content from that of concentration in the hands of the few
to that of masses. He also talked about how online news media is real time where radio, TV
and Print can converge on one platform. It is also an environment friendly medium and
economically cheaper, where publishing costs are low or nothing. Citizen Journalism has
also been gaining momentum lately. Jasmeen Patheja discussed about the power of internet
as a tool for social change. Her Blank Noise Project initiated in 2003 started with a stance

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against street sexual harassment and determining what defines its boundaries. Testimonials,
opinion blogs, conversations were invited on people’s personal experiences wherein
perpetrators, survivors and spectators were brought on a single platform. This in accordance
with on-ground activation mobilized public opinion. The topic of self regulation in cyber
media was raised among the panel and discussion revolved around cyber journalists taking
onus of what they write.
The second session began with Mr. Rajesh Lalwani, Founder and CEO,
Blogworks.com who spoke about the relevance of narrowcasting to reach the intended
audience and how the new age consumer is not just consuming but now owning,
participating and publishing content as well.
The second speaker of the afternoon session was taken forward by Ms. Rashmi
Dhanwani, Manager – Media & Internet – Breakthrough who spoke about internet as a tool
for mass mobilization. She shared her case study on the well-known ‘Bell Bajao’ 360 degree
campaign against domestic violence. The third speaker Mr. Namit Bimbhat, CEO- Switch
Media talked about evolving face of online video: global learning & relevance for India and
how online videos were a lucrative prospect for educational institutes, destination portals,
travel, radio portals and broadcasters. The next speaker Mr. J Mahadevan, VP – Products,
bharatmatrimony.com took the seminar through the online customer acquisition & retention
dynamics and how it was important to connect with the cyber users and speak their
language. The session was concluded by Mr. Atul Chitnis, Senior VP, Geodesic Information
Systems; who spoke about the significance of open source software across products, be it
the web browser, an e-book, multi-media player or an Apple iPod. After an interactive Q & A
session with the audience, moderated by Professor Ujjwal Kumar Chowdhury, Director –
SIMC, the session was brought to a close.
This was followed by a workshop conducted by Mr. Rajesh Lalwani, Founder and
CEO, Blogworks.com, which was an instant hit with the students.

The Indian cyber media industry has evolved over the years and is today replete with
innovative ideas and ventures. SIMC’s National Cyber Media Conclave (NCMC) proved to
be one such avenue which allowed students and aspiring media professionals to explore
and discuss myriad opportunities that this medium has to offer. Interactive sessions with
stalwarts and pioneers from the industry provided the students with valuable insights, thus
influencing and moulding future careers in the field of Media & Communication.

-Ambika
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