IT'S YOUR FIRST DAY AT WORK. WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE LIKE?

As Commits students from the Class of 2014 take their first steps in the media industry, a look back at how their super-seniors coped with "First-Day Nerves" (an excerpt from The Commits Chronicle blog post of January 15, 2011):

Your first day as a full-time employee can be fraught with anxiety. The questions whirling in your mind can range from "Am I dressed appropriately?" to "Will I be able to cope?" Day One can also be supremely memorable, with everything going your way thanks to an understanding boss and cheerful colleagues who make it easy for you to fit in right away.

Some Commitscions from the Class of 2011 have begun working already, though they graduate only in June and, technically, they are still students. Most were lucky enough to have enjoyed their first day at work. So what was the day really like? Did they have butterflies in their stomach? Were they confident? Who was the first person they met in their department? Did their colleagues make them feel welcome? What can their juniors learn from them about how to behave on their Day One?

IF YOU DO NOT KNOW SOMETHING,
SHOW YOUR ENTHUSIASM TO LEARN

By Sindhu Pawar

Junior PR Executive for Lifestyle and Entertainment,
Nucleus, Bangalore

SINDHU PAWAR

My first day at work was good. I was not at all nervous; in fact, I was confident and this confidence is definitely thanks to Commits. :-)

The first person I met in office was the business head. She introduced me to everyone around, and then, like in every PR agency, my day started with "tracking" newspapers, and that meant reading all the newspapers, which I love. And, yes, my colleagues made me feel comfortable and they are very helpful and sweet people.

From my “Day One Experience”, what I would say to my juniors is that there is no need to panic or feel nervous; just be confident, and if you do not know something, show your enthusiasm to learn. It is not rocket science, and so what if it is? Nobody will scold you for not knowing something; instead they will be happy to teach you. If I were to pick three words that count on Day One, they would be CONFIDENCE, PASSION, and ENTHUSIASM. You should feel — and show — all three. But never be over-confident, always be humble. :)

In my first week itself I was associated with an event for a cause where actor Akshay Kumar was invited, and many more events followed. But the first big project which I got to handle independently was to oversee the PR for a photography exhibition for one of our clients, a professional photographer. It was an amazing experience and I got to learn a lot. You feel happier when your work is recognised and appreciated by your boss, which actually increases your responsibilities.

Right now I am the only Commitscion here at Nucleus but my boss, who has a decade's experience in PR and is one of the partners of the agency, is impressed and wants more Commitscions. She asks me every day to set up interviews with students from Commits as there is another vacancy. I have informed all my classmates but the ones who are interested in PR have already been placed.

I was not interested initially in PR but I grabbed this opportunity because my work is related to the lifestyle and entertainment industries and I have always wanted to do something related to entertainment, though I do want to explore other fields in the future.

I came to Commits to study marketing, but I also got a chance to study a lot of things like photography, cinema, etc., so I not only learnt other media subjects but also developed new passions. Our second semester news bulletin project was the most memorable for me. I still remember the full-of-effort four-day shoot — it was most enjoyable and something I am always going to remember. :)

I thank you and every faculty member at Commits for giving me an opportunity to learn and for helping me to chase and realise my dreams. And thank you for letting me describe my experience: I am glad I got an opportunity to share my thoughts. MISSING COMMITS :(

I WALKED IN WITH A LOT OF CONFIDENCE

By Satish Perumal

Account Executive, Percept/H, Bangalore

SATISH PERUMAL

My first day at work was absolutely superb. I walked in with a lot of confidence because I realised I had finally accomplished something in life.

I was never a great student at the PU and undergrad levels and had got a lot of stick for it, but when I sat in my chair here at Percept/H and looked back I felt content and satisfied. One thought that popped into my head: "I have made my critics eat humble pie." I know for sure now that no one should question people's abilities; all are capable of doing great things if they set their minds to do them.

My first job may not have been very significant — I was asked to prepare a presentation and generate an idea for a client. My boss liked what I did, though, and he congratulated me. He has now asked me to present the idea in Hyderabad early next month to the board of directors.

CNN-IBN ALWAYS MAKES EVERYONE FEEL AT HOME

By Padmini Nandy Mazumder
News Trainee, CNN-IBN, New Delhi

PADMINI NANDY MAZUMDER

I did not have butterflies in my stomach (by the way, how cliched is that?). I was kind of confident because I have worked on the ticker desk before, during my internship last year.

Astha Rawat, whom I met during my internship, was the first person in. So I met her and I was really happy to see her because she's become a good friend and she 'fought' to get me here :)

CNN-IBN always makes everyone feel at home and welcome. Attitude towards work here is casual but not laid back. The first official thing? Made the scroller for the rest of the day — and everything I typed went on air without having to be checked by anyone. :)

POOJA MENON AT HER DESK AT SAATCHI & SAATCHI FOCUS.

THE KEY IS TO OBSERVE EVERYTHING AROUND YOU

By Pooja Menon

Client Servicing Trainee, Saatchi & Saatchi Focus, Bangalore

On my first day at work I was a little nervous because I did not  know what to expect. When I entered the office Mallika Harsha (my senior from Commits) handed me a bouquet and said that Malavika Ma'am [Malavika Harita, the CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Focus] had sent it as a welcome gesture. That made my day! Then later on in the day I was introduced to everyone; they were all really nice to me.

For my first assignment, I was given Saatchi's white book and black book to go through. These books contain all the work the agency has done over the years and each has 200 pages, so that occupied me for most of the day.

By the end of the day all my anxiety and nervousness had vanished, and I had begun to get a feel of how the agency works.

The key to making your first day a success is to observe everything that is happening around you. Ask questions if need be, this will help later on. And, also, talk to all your colleagues; be friendly but not over-friendly.

ARCHITA NADGOUDA

'LOVE YOUR JOB,
YOUR JOB WILL
LOVE YOU BACK'

By Archita Nadgouda

PR Trainee,
Edelman, Bangalore

I had been dreading the thought of my first day at work for months, so on Day One I was a bit nervous and worried about making the oh-so-important "first impression".

I even practised introducing myself to everybody in the office.

But the friendly atmosphere at Edelman on that first day immediately relaxed me and my nervousness was soon forgotten.

Though it's been just a month and I have miles to go (in terms of learning the "tricks of the trade"), I’m pretty happy with my performance at work and the way it’s shaping up and for this I give the entire credit to my extremely helpful colleagues and my boss. I was put on the job right from Day One and my first official assignment was to issue a press release to the media and make follow-up calls, which I did perfectly because I already had some experience from my previous internship.

My advice to my juniors is actually to follow your advice, Sir: "Love your job, and your job will love you back." Enjoy what you do thoroughly and don't look at your job only as the means to make money to buy your favourite stuff. Also, you should have a learning attitude at all times... you never know which information will come in handy at what time! :)

A CONTEMPLATIVE APAR DHAM AT THE EXPLOCITY OFFICE.

YOUR APPEARANCE IS IMPORTANT AND DISTINCT
FROM YOUR CAPABILITY TO DO YOUR JOB
By Apar Dham
Information Manager, Explocity, Bangalore

When I was asked to write about my first day at work and I got to thinking about how to begin, it struck me suddenly that one of the most important days of my life has been ruined for me forever… even before I could experience it. My wedding night! Yes, that's what I'm talking about because I have come to the conclusion that there isn’t much difference between your first day at work and your wedding night.

You are very excited and eager about all the impending action, but you do not know where to begin and how to go about it. Right? You are eager to explore and learn new things but you are scared of pushing the wrong buttons. Right?

Well, that is how my first day at Explocity was. I was pumped up to begin a new phase in my life but I was also a little nervous about that dreaded “first impression”. Trust me, it matters a lot. I wore my favourite formal shirt and combed my hair twice! Yes, your appearance is important and distinct from your capability to do your job. Not all of us are blessed with a great body but then one has to understand that there is a significant difference in the way one dresses for college and for work.

Next: What do you say on the first day? Well, it depends on your job profile. I didn’t say much, I observed and observed and observed. One needs to understand that one is the latest entrant in the office (and at times one may be the youngest, too); everyone else has been there for some time and has a certain chemistry and comfort level with the others. Try to observe the office hierarchy and the way people function around you.

But at the same time this doesn’t mean that you play deaf and mute all day. As our professors have taught us, there is no such thing as a stupid question. So do not hesitate. Ask whenever you feel the need to. Everyone in the office knows that you are new. People will be glad to help you, provided you ask in the right manner and at the right time. But for heaven’s sake, please do not ask questions like “Is this Saturday an off-day for us?”

Coming back to the observation bit, I clearly remember looking at almost everyone in office and creating an imaginary ladder in my head, dreaming of a world five to ten years from now when I would have gone past all these colleagues and would be sitting in that elusive cabin at the end of the corridor. Ha! Don’t do that! Though I know everyone will and everyone does. It is inevitable.

Talking about colleagues, it is vital that you understand this isn’t college any more and there will be all sorts of people that you will encounter. There will be some who will come to you and introduce yourself and some who will not bother. Take this as an opportunity and take the initiative to familiarise yourself with your workmates. Remember, you do not work with a company, you work with the people at the company. Move around and introduce yourself, sit with your team during lunch, take tea breaks with them, and try to get comfortable with everyone. It helps — a lot.

Above all, have fun and try to enjoy yourself. As a wise man once remarked, “If you love what you do, you won't have to work a single day in your life.”

Baaki to bhaiyya, all is well! :)

SABIKA MIRZA

WITH TIME, YOU START
ENJOYING THE
WORK ENVIRONMENT
By Sabika Mirza
Management Trainee,
Lodestar UM, Bangalore

To be honest, my first day didn't go the way I thought it would (though the days that followed were brilliant). There is a lot of work at a media agency, so at first no one found time to talk to me on Day One; it was only by lunchtime that the people around me became more relaxed and that's when the group head spoke with me.

The juniors should know that it takes time for your colleagues to get used to you, and with time you start enjoying the work environment. So take it slow if need be; when it comes to getting to know your work mates better, speed is NOT of the essence.

Now, I love my work. I am mostly in the office from 9.30 am to 8.30 pm; once, recently, I was at work till midnight. But then if you are really passionate about your work, you won’t mind staying back late.

We're all going to Jaipur now for a conference. It’s an event where we will get to meet people from other Lodestar offices. It's going to be business mixed with pleasure so we have all been practising our dance steps — in the office! The atmosphere, as you can imagine, has been brilliant. The conference is going to be a great opportunity to network and to get to know other Lodestar employees better.

DEBMALYA DUTTA

IT TOOK AWHILE TO
SWITCH MODES FROM
INTERN TO JOURNALIST
By Debmalya Dutta
Sub-editor, The Statesman, Kolkata

The most interesting thing about my new job at the moment is that I am working the 6 pm-1.30 am shift. As you'd know, these timings are fully compatible with my biological clock!

Interestingly, on the first day, it took me a little time to switch modes from intern to journalist; I think it will be a couple of days before it sinks in that I'm a full-time employee now. (I kept on asking my seniors for permission to even go to the wash-room.)

I've already made friends with quite a few of my colleagues, and the others, I hope, will come on board soon. There are quite a few in my age group and they are a nice bunch.

Day One wasn't exceptional in terms of butterflies in the stomach; I believe that should be the case with all those who are confident about themselves and know their job — I guess, after completing the rigorous journalism programme at Commits and after being told at The Statesman that I am the best candidate they have had in four years, I've earned some bragging rights ;-).

On the first day, I edited about five stories and proofed two pages. Now, I have been assigned pagination full-time.

My sincere thanks to all of you at Commits for teaching me what it means to be a professional.

AJAY KURPAD ENJOYING HIS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AT SAATCHI & SAATCHI.

IT WAS LIKE BEING IN A VIDEO GAME
By Ajay Kurpad
Copywriter, Saatchi & Saatchi Focus, Bangalore

9.30 am. November 7, 2010. The day seemed normal enough until 9.29 am. Waking up late, riding like a maniac through the equally insane traffic of Bengaluru, and rushing up the stairway to what I can safely refer to now as my new Heaven. Yes, all this was very normal. I had been doing this throughout most of my college life.

But then, suddenly, everything seemed to slow down. You could call it a moment of enlightenment, but this Buddha (He might be fuming now that I have compared myself with Him) was standing under a board which read 'Saatchi & Saatchi Focus'. "Wow!" I thought. "I'm actually going to be working here. I'm actually going to create ads, come up with new ideas, generate content out of nowhere, and showcase my work to the world." However, this small bubble in my head suddenly popped when I saw Malavika Ma'am smiling at me. The first person I met at work here was also my teacher at Commits. She was going to be the Ranita Hirji of my professional life (Ranita Ma'am had already mentioned some traits the two shared when it comes to handling people like me).

But this sense of fear and doubt seemed to disappear when Malavika Ma'am presented me with a bouquet and welcomed me to what I hope will be a long and exciting adventure. She directed me to my desk which had nothing but a computer and a telephone. I learnt later that this was my territory and I'm entitled to personalise the area as I wish.

Then I was introduced to Deepak Thammaiah. A copywriter who would mentor me. So I, Luke Skywalker, toiled under my Master Yoda as he put me through rigorous tests. It was like being in a video game. Sometimes I was what I would like to call a 'storm-water brain' filled to the brim with rubbish ideas, and sometimes I was Superman, flying high with my great idea but with my underwear in the right place. When he thought I was ready, Deepak resigned. He now works with Draft FCB-Ulka. I actually saw him typing out his resignation letter the day I joined so it was obvious that he was just serving his notice period.

The initial days involved small victories and sometimes heavy losses, too. At first, when I got the rope, I always ended up tying a noose for myself. Now, I can say that I have learnt the ropes of the job to some extent. But there is a certain professor of journalism at Commits who told me that execution is everything. I'm trying not to allow my creative director to execute me ever time I send him copy (I report directly to him now).

That same certain professor taught us English grammar from scratch. Well, thank you, Mr. Ramesh Prabhu, for what I think was one of the most important modules during my academic life at Commits. Because grammar goes way beyond just journalism. It transcends into other media as well.

Today, I have to my credit quite a few ads and campaigns. The whole idea is to let people trust you with work. There are deadlines, deadlines which involve money, money which runs into lakhs and crores, and there are lakhs and crores of people who will notice your work, and your work is only done by being part of a team, and the team has to trust you with work. Pretty vicious circle, but that is why advertising is not a square.

When it comes to advertising, being yourself is everything. At the end of the day, if you go through the books that showcase ads, the names of the people involved in the making of the ads are also mentioned. So what matters, ultimately, is that you have to create a name for yourself in this field.

Commits alumna's awe-inspiring concept lends a touch of class to Tanishq campaign

From coming up with the concept to executing it with pin-point precision, which included finding the right couple, arranging for the amazing undercover videography, and then putting it all together, Commits alumna ROHITA R. MADAPPA (Class of 2011) has pulled off a jaw-dropping Web-only campaign for Tanishq. Watch the video here:

Rohita is a digital marketing expert who works with Bangalore-based Interactive Avenues for whom Tanishq is a major client.

I watched the video yesterday and I was blown! Spectacular is the only word for it. Take a bow, Rohita!

• Back in October 2012, in an e-mail which was published on The Commits Chronicle blog, Rohita had written about...

My first big campaign — Mia on Wheels by Tanishq — is live, and you won't believe this.

We have been planning this for two months at Interactive Avenues. "Mia on Wheels" involves a Volvo bus that takes women to work but that's not all: The bus has a spa, the women can try on jewellery, get themselves styled, and take part in a professional photo-shoot. This is also being promoted on the radio.

"MIA ON WHEELS": ROHITA RAMBABU IS FOURTH FROM LEFT.

The reason I am writing to you is because it's like a mini-Commits here. I am working on the digital promotion and campaign. Niveditha Rai (Class of 2010) is working on the radio promotion. The "gift experiences" are provided by Neha Ma'am [guest faculty at Commits] through Yellow Cycle, where three Commits juniors are interning, and Santhosh Sir is the official photographer.

I am so proud to have been at Commits. Whatever I am today is because of Commits. Just this week I have got two appreciations from clients and it's all thanks to what I've learned at Commits. 

• ON SOCIAL SAMOSA, A REVIEW OF THE TANISHQ CAMPAIGN. CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Commits alumna and CNN-IBN's docu-blog: How is this for a terrific way to tell a news story?

With the help of some talented journalists, Commits alumna Priyali Sur (Class of 2005), who is a producer-anchor with CNN-IBN in New Delhi, has put together a digital docu-blog on the trafficking of minor girls, who are sold as forced labour and brides in India.

"It's a first attempt at a digital blog with videos and still pictures," Priyali wrote in a Facebook post, "courtesy Anika Gupta and Neil Holt... with help on reporting from Assam by Arijit Sen." Check it out here.

How a Commits student became a Citizen Journalist on CNN-IBN

"THIS IS ANKITA SENGUPTA,
CITIZEN JOURNALIST"

Last month, Commitscion ANKITA SENGUPTA (Class of 2013) featured on CNN-IBN's special episode of the "Citizen Journalist" show. Here Ankita, who works with Deccan Herald in Bangalore, explains how it all happened and describes the experience:

When Commitscion Shylaja Varma (Class of 2012), who is a reporter with CNN-IBN in Bangalore, first asked me if I wanted to be a Citizen Journalist for the news channel, I was obviously thrilled but when she told me that she wanted to cover the molestation story that had appeared in print more than a year ago, my first thought was, "Oh dear. Are we really going to milk that cow again?" The story had been published in The Chronicle and also in Bangalore Mirror. Although I had received a lot of appreciation for the article, I felt it had outlived its importance and did not deserve any more attention.

However, Shy explained to me that to mark the anniversary of the Nirbhaya gang-rape, CNN-IBN was planning a series of shows concentrating on crimes against women and my report would be one of the segments. Now I remember practising my PTCs in front of the mirror when I was at Commits : "This is Ankita Sengupta, reporting for CNN-IBN," but after I opted to join the print media I never thought I would get the opportunity to do a PTC again. So when Shy came up with this offer, I pounced on it.

On the day of the shoot, Shy told me that she wanted the PTC to be conversational in tone so it would be better if I did not mug up my lines. We decided to improvise the "script" so that it felt like I was having a conversation with the camera.

ANKITA SENGUPTA DURING THE SHOOT.

Not having to learn any lines made it a little easier for me. As it is, for my first national television PTC, to be standing in a public space, being gawked at, with the sun in my face and a cameraman waiting to get the perfect shot, the pressure to perform was immense. I could not stare at the camera, ignore the heat and the onlookers, and try to remember what I was supposed to say next. Fortunately, we were able to wrap up the shoot within three hours and, thankfully, both Shy and the cameraman were happy with the day's work.

The next day Shy told me that the CJ team wanted me to be a part of an "online hangout" that would be streamed live on the news channel's website. As luck would have it, the microphone in my laptop had stopped working the previous day and since the hangout could not be postponed, I had to get my hands on another laptop. Desperate, I called up my roommate, rushed to her office to get her cupboard keys, and then, thanks to her laptop, finally managed to be part of the chat.

This particular CJ report was telecast through the week and when I was told that my PTC was quite good, I could not help but be a little smug about it. After all, I did practise it at Commits.

I was working the night shift at Deccan Herald, so a day dedicated to the shoot and another taken up by the hangout meant that I had had less than eight hours' sleep in two days. So I was exhausted but I was also elated. It was a great experience being a Citizen Journalist and being on television for CNN-IBN. And if I do continue to be a print journalist, I will always have this CJ report, my tiny contribution to the broadcast media, to cherish.

However, none of this would have happened had it not been for my dear senior, Shylaja Varma. She has been a "super senior" in every sense of the term. Again, thanks a million, Shy.

• Watch Ankita Sengupta's CJ report here: "Molested on the streets of Bangalore".

How to win an "Ad Pitch"

AVC student NATASHA REGO (Class of 2014), who was a co-editor of the college newspaper, looks back on an eventful semester at Commits that culminated in her group winning the Ad Pitch competition

Not too long after joining Commits one realises that there are two coveted prizes to be won in the second year. Fittingly, these two friendly competitions, which are an interesting way to evaluate our skill, are at the beginning and at the end of the third semester. How you fare in them, I believe, puts into perspective your growth as an audiovisual communication student at Commits.

The first is the contest that is part of Victor Mukherjee’s annual film-making workshop for the AVC students, which my team* (I was the producer, or group leader) lost. The second, for both the AVCs and the MMCs, is the Ad Pitch. This competition, my group** and I proudly won.

ALL DRESSED UP FOR THE "COMPANY CREDENTIALS" FILM SHOOT FOR THE AD PITCH: NATASHA REGO, NEETHU GEORGE, PRAJNA G.R., SAUMYA IYER, AKHILA DAMODARAN, AND RISA MONICA KHARMUTEE. WATCH THE "COMPANY CREDENTIALS" FILM HERE.

The day we picked the chit that revealed our topic for the Ad Pitch, we were very disappointed. To us, it was a very “boring” topic: “You get the government you deserve. Vote”. It was immediately apparent that we had long days of research ahead of us.

In our opinion, the others had more interesting topics to work with. We were quite envious of the groups that got “Have sex. Responsibly”, and “Donate your organs. Why waste them!” We cribbed, but not for long.

Three weeks before D-Day, we began... lethargically. We’d meet every day for several days and tire our brains getting familiar with the Indian electoral system, understanding voting trends, and then formulating ideas to motivate the masses to get off their backsides and participate in this enormous democracy that we belong to. Group member and “Head of Research” Akhila Damodaran would spend time helping us understand relevant laws, challenges in the system, and similar campaigns run in the past. All of this was not an easy task.

The trick lay in figuring out our target audience and carefully defining them. For that, we picked people whom we could easily relate to. We picked ourselves: the youth… urban residents between 18 and 35 years of age. However, Sai Sir explained to us that you don’t talk to an 18-year-old who hasn’t yet begun to understand the magnitude of the right he’s just been handed the same way you would talk to a 35-year-old who has been working and who has had trysts with the system for several years. So with the help of group member and “Head of Client Servicing” Neethu George, we narrowed down our target audience to 18- to 25-year-old registered urban dwellers who are just too lazy to go out and vote (we arrived at this finding through our survey).

One week into preparing for the Ad Pitch, we AVC students had to complete another assignment: submit our “corporate films” for evaluation. Group Saraswathi travelled to Kodagu (Coorg) and spent two days there shooting at the offices of group member Prajna G.R.’s family newspaper, Shakthi, Kodagu’s first Kannada daily. After returning to Bangalore, we scripted, edited, and submitted the film, all in a span of four days. Soon after, we got back to the Ad Pitch, for such is life at Commits: exciting and always on the run.

TAKING A BREAK TO CHECK OUT THE SIGHTS IN KODAGU.

STILL IN KODAGU, HOPPING ON TO A PARKED TRUCK AFTER A LONG DAY'S WORK.

WATCH THE CORPORATE FILM ON SHAKTHI HERE:

All jazzed up from that trip to Kodagu, we decided to train our eyes away from our computer screens for extensive brainstorming sessions. Ideas would float above our heads like brilliantly coloured bubbles… but that was all they were, bubbles which burst almost as soon as they formed.

Eventually, we went from coming up with terribly complex ideas which Sai Sir would roll his eyes at, to ideas that seemed almost plausible. We were also so bad at making Sai Sir understand what we were trying to say, that we acted in and shot our ad films to show him a sample. If Sai Sir hadn't rejected idea after idea, with arguments that only an experienced marketer could come up with, we may never have reached our final concept.

The eventual plan for our ad campaign was not exactly the result of all the knowledge that we had accumulated thus far. It was just one of those bubbles that were floating above group member and “CEO” Saumya Iyer’s head. With little confidence she revealed the idea. At first listen, it was charming. It took me a second to realise the brilliance in its simplicity. And then, our hearts leapt with joy. This bubble did not burst! We had exactly a week by the time we ran it by Sai Sir and were ready to shoot.

Meanwhile, as “Creative Director”, I made the logos for our advertising company “IOTA” and for our ad campaign the “Young Voters Movement”, as well as the posters. Group member and fellow “Creative Director” Risa Monica Kharmutee shot our ad film and wrote our radio ad. And “Media Planner” Prajna gave us solid strategy, complete with teaser, message/tagline, reminder, and acknowledgement to get people out there to vote. We even shot ourselves a company-credentialsvideo.

We discussed almost everything and the results were sharp. And then we practised our pitch at least 20 times. But we were still worried. The MMC groups had a leg up on us with their ability to research and strategise. Plus there was no telling what would come out of the creativity of the other AVC groups.

Finally, D-Day arrived: Saturday, December 7, 2013. With almost a hundred pairs of eyes trained on us, including those of the esteemed judges, we made our pitches.

THE JUDGES PAY RAPT ATTENTION TO THE AD PITCHES AND TO THE "COLLATERAL".

"IOTA" WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THE JUDGES HAD TO SAY... IT WAS ALL GOOD.

The first team to be called was “Pointed Curves” with the topic: “Have sex. Responsibly.” Their pitch had many elements that ours didn’t. We watched, and shivered with fear, as they presented their plans for consumer contact and merchandise. We, on the other hand, hadn’t gone past the basics. Had we not done enough work? At the end of the presentation, though, the judges identified the loopholes in the pitch and picked on them. The group was grilled. The judges were brutal. We watched helplessly.

We happened to be the next group to be called. We strode into the spotlight and made our pitch. When Prajna finished with the final slide, we all gathered together facing the judges, ready to have our pitch shredded to bits. Except, they said we had made quite a “wholesome” presentation and they had no questions. We were stunned. 

We walked quietly out of the auditorium and into the computer lab next door, where we had spent many a day working out this pitch, and screamed, and jumped, and hugged each other.

Even though we knew we had nailed it, we watched on nervously as the remaining six groups made their presentations to the judges. The pitches were elaborate and well thought out. But each groups had to face some tough questions. The judges pointed out the good and bad elements in each pitch.

When the results were announced, frankly, it was no surprise that we had won. I’m not being full of myself by saying this. I’m just proud of the five talented girls I got to work with on this project. It’s because we worked on so many projects together through this semester, each one of us contributing our two cents, making up for one another when emergencies called for it, and becoming best friends at the end of it all, that we were as good as we could be when we made our Ad Pitch.

Sticking to the basics made us the first AVC group in Commits’ history to win the Ad Pitch. And we won by a LARGE margin. So remember, Junior AVCs, you now hold bragging rights for a year, until next year when it’s time for you to make your own pitch. AVCs or MMCs, whether you think you stand a chance or not, give it better than your best.

*Team Turquoise was one of the three teams formed exclusively for Victor's workshop

**Group Saraswathi was one of eight teams that worked together on all the group projects in the third semester

• Read Bilal Hasan's report on the Ad Pitch (and the PR Pitch) here: "PITCH PERFECT".

• ADDITIONAL READING: "What creative advertising really means" (a series by Commits alumni)

One of the most courageous young women I know. Certainly, the most courageous young mother I know.

Why I am proud of Commitscion ANN THOMAS (Class of 2005):

Life. Parenting. The Works.: Hate me. Love me. Judge me.

mommysuitup.blogspot.com

I speak up after few years of silence. In the hope that others are out there-like me, beaten, not by the law, but by institutions and the system. Not willing to give up or be defeated.

An ode to punctuation

From The Commits Chronicle archives: 

COMMATOSE PROSE

Ajay Kurpad (Class of 2011) thought he and the rest of the batch were losing their marbles as I took the class though the basics of punctuation. Here’s his angst-ridden “ode” to punctuation:

Forgot your punctuation? Stop hyphen-ventilating. You just have semi-colon cancer. You are not running a 100-m dash. After all, your feet are like ellipses.
If you have a period (pun intended), then you must have read the wrong Commasutra. Brackets are barricading your mind and are trying to colonise you.
People will put a question mark on your mental stability now. The apocalyptical apostrophe’s apostle is out to slash you. So don’t forget your punctuation.

• ALSO READ: "Everything you always wanted to know about the usage of punctuation marks (but were afraid to ask)" and "How good is your grammar?"

What it means to be a freelance photographer

Commits alumnus PRATIDHANI TAMANG (Class of 2012), who works as a freelance photographer in Bangalore, explains what it takes to work on one’s own terms

I have no boss. And every day is the weekend; at the same time, every day is also a workday.

That’s because I have been “job-less” — by choice — since I graduated from Commits a little over a year ago.

But not having a job to go to does not mean not having to work.

So I do work, but on my own terms. You see, I am a freelance photographer and cinematographer.

PRATIDHANI TAMANG: IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, FOR ONCE.

The first thing I want to make clear here is that being a freelance photographer is not for everyone (as my senior, Nishal Lama, from the Class of 2008, will corroborate), so don’t splurge on that latest Canon or Nikon just yet.

The biggest problem when you work as a freelancer is that hundreds of people will appreciate your work and make business inquiries. But after you send them an estimate, they will just vanish into thin air. Out of hundreds of formal discussions, only five or so jobs will actually work out.

Also, sometimes, there is no work for long periods of time, which can be very frustrating. I think it is this fluctuation in work schedule that scares many freelancers into opting for a regular full-time job.

On the flip side, I am sometimes offered loads of work, but I feel too lazy to take it all on. There is no boss to scream at me, so why bother!

When I first started off I already had a few contacts, thanks to whom I was able to bag my initial assignments. I explored many new places and I made many new friends. That was amazing! As for making ends meet, the money is certainly coming in, though not as fast as I would like. The thing is, I have to make humongous investments in my gear: there’s always something I need to buy to upgrade my equipment, or so it seems.

But there is mostly satisfaction in being able to have a huge amount of control over the work I choose to do.

Bottom line: I love my life right now. Having said that, I know that sooner or later, like most freelancers, I will have to give up this gig and go in for a 9-to-5 (yikes!) or set up my own business (very different from hangin’ out solo). I see the latter happening, but I think there is time enough for that.

Till then, I am going to savour, and live by, Pink Floyd’s dictum: “Shine on, you crazy diamond.”

CHECK OUT PRATI'S FACEBOOK PAGE HERE.

"How writing for our college newspaper helped me land a job"

• FROM THE COMMITS CHRONICLE ARCHIVES (May 23, 2010)

When Commits alumna Mallika Harsha (Class of 2010), was hired by Saatchi&Saatchi as a copywriter in Bangalore, she told me excitedly over the phone: "My articles in YO helped me get the job!" Afterwards she wrote this e-mail to me (YO, or Your Opinion, was the name of the college newspaper till July 2011, when it was changed to The Chronicle):

"THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME

LAND A JOB AS A COPYWRITER"

I owe this to you. Thank you for helping me overcome my fear of writing.

In my opinion, this is my personal fairytale. A modern-day fairytale of course, but a fairytale nonetheless. And I'm taking a chance with writing about it in the Chronicle knowing full well that after having painted such a rosy picture I can't complain about it later, but that's a choice I've already made, I suppose.

Okay, so since it's a modern-day fairytale, let's give the once-upon-a-times and happily-ever-afters a skip. I'm not going to build suspense and reveal it all at the end and neither am I going to take you through the emotionally draining journey till I actually got to the point of writing about it for the Chronicle.

So, the point being: I recently bagged a job at Saatchi&Saatchi. (They haven't given me a designation yet, but it'll most probably be that of copywriter).

When Saatchi called me for an interview, I wasn't expecting to be hired. The interview lasted an hour in which I spoke for 20 minutes and got grilled for the next 40. At the end of which I was told to write a copy test the next day. So, there I was again at the Saatchi office, expecting to spend the next couple of hours writing essay-type questions.

Flashback

I had already sent them a profile of the work I did at my previous job. And earlier that day, I was asked by the creative head to send them all the other work I had done (written work to be precise) like articles and other published work. I had nothing but YO articles to send (which also I found on my email with great difficulty because I wasn't carrying any of it around with me), and I did that — sent the few articles I could find. And the rest of the time, I spent mentally preparing myself for the gruelling test that evening.

Back to the office scene

I was asked to sit in a cabin. I was waiting to be administered the copy test. Then the creative director walked in and said, "I went through your articles. Why didn't you send these to us before?" I didn't know what to say. Even I couldn't think of a good enough reason.  What he said after this is what makes me proud to relate this story at all.

He said based on what he had read he would skip the copy test!

Saatchi&Saatchi did not take a copy test based on my YO work! I was stumped, so much so that when he told me they'd like me to join them, I burst out laughing — to his face (I got an earful for that too, but that's a different story).

I'm going to be under probation for a while, in which time I'm supposed to "show them what I'm made up of" — that's what they've told me. Too good to be true? I think so too. There has to be a catch, na? But I'm ready to take this on! It's "my big break" (as Sai Sir put it), so I'm going to put in my all to prove myself here.

I'm glad I wrote for YO while I was in college, it was great learning for me and I loved it. I'm glad I could use such a platform to get the job I had only dreamt of. Thank you would just be an understatement for all the support I've got so far. So, I'm just going to sign off  here, 'cause the longer this email gets, the more people will want to hunt me down and chase me.

I'm so proud and high on confidence right now that if I wrote any more, I'd just be bragging. So, I'm going to stop here, just glad I could share my experience.

Regards,
Mallika

ALSO FROM THE COMMITS CHRONICLE ARCHIVES: The November-December 2009 issue of Your Opinion, or YO, was a fabulous 10-pager, the first in Commits history. That was an opportune moment, therefore, to ask past co-editors and current editorial board members to share their thoughts on the issue and also to reflect on how YO has evolved over the years, from a black-and-white “lab journal” to a professional college newspaper, the “jewel in the Commits crown”, as our website refers to it. It was also an occasion to think about how the students’ involvement with YO has benefited them. Read what they all have to say here: "Jai YO!"

"The many lessons I learnt as an intern with a leading Bangalore newspaper." Plus: "Professionalism, the Commits way"

Commitscion Monalisa Das (Class of 2014) recently spent six weeks as an intern with Deccan Chronicle in Bangalore, working with the features section, Bengaluru Chronicle. Here she talks about the experience, and also discusses what it means to be a professional in a highly competitive industry (these two pieces were first published in The Commits Chronicle on April 28, 2013):

MONALISA DAS FLANKED BY HER COMMITS SENIOR TAPASYA MITRA MAZUMDER AND CLASSMATE RAJARSHI BHATTACHARJEE AT THE DECCAN CHRONICLE OFFICE.

The internship at Deccan Chronicle was my first working experience in the professional world, my first real stint with journalism. When I first began my internship I had a lot of inhibitions. I had never thought I’d be working on a tabloid; hard news was my thing. Part of me wasn’t even sure that I would be up to the mark. 

In fact, after almost a month with the paper, I was still learning, absorbing, and understanding the rules of the trade, the bottom line being “you need to be good at whatever you do”.
 
I was lucky to be working in an organisation where things happen the way they should. My editor is strict, I was warned. What I understood, and came to appreciate, was that she is not ready to compromise on quality. That is sacrosanct. I also learnt that no one is indispensable and you are doing no one a favour by working.

Let me share what I grasped during this stint.

First, you need to be sincere and dedicated to your work. As an intern, you can’t expect people to offer you the opportunity to cover big stories. Trust me, you aren’t ready. Besides, it’s always better to begin at the bottom of the ladder. Whatever work is given to you, show an interest; do not feign it. You might not get a byline — so what? Realise that your work is at least good enough to be published.
 
Second, and you must have heard this a billion times, you need to be on good terms with your colleagues. I was lucky to have such cooperative colleagues. As a journalist, you need to know lots of people — your colleagues are the ones who will provide you with your initial contacts. Be nice to your colleagues; ask for help when you have a doubt. But make sure you do not pester them and antagonise them. They have their own assignments to take care of, and they aren’t there to teach you. A little chat about things unrelated to work doesn’t hurt, though.
 
Third, social media is a journalist’s friend. When I reached a dead end regarding a contact I needed urgently, Facebook was my saviour. Friends of friends of friends usually know someone you are looking for. In my case, I can’t but not mention Sneha Sukumar, my classmate. She somehow always happened to know people related to my story. Call it luck or coincidence!

MONALISA'S STORY ON THE FRONT PAGE OF BENGALURU CHRONICLE ON APRIL 27.

When you work in the features section of a daily newspaper, you get to talk to a lot of famous people (and many not-so-famous ones, too). The glamour wears off after some time. A lot of hard work is involved, after all. Every column that you see in print is a well-thought-out process. Another important lesson: Be prepared if people do not want to talk to you or are rude. No one gives a darn about your story. They have work to do. Be polite, be courteous at all times.

One of my bosses called me “Smarty” because I once went to her with a story idea that had already been covered. Afterwards, before I submitted a story idea, I made sure it hadn’t been done before. How did I do that? I read. Like crazy. Because ideas aren’t as easy to come by as Abhishek Bachchan makes it seem in the TV commercials. And I read everything from The Huffington Post to the Guardian and Bangalore Mirror. You never know what will work. You need to keep looking, only then will you get what you want.

I usually worked on a lot of columns, snippets, and a story that became the second lead once in a while. I got only one day off in the week but I did not complain. Because when I saw my name in the papers, I knew it was worth it. When people asked if I liked the work, I said I did. It was definitely not a bed of roses, but then roses are so not me.

PROFESSIONALISM, THE COMMITS WAY
When you work in the industry, you come to know that Commits has a well-deserved reputation. Commitscions are expected to be smart, dedicated, and hardworking individuals. Anything less is just not acceptable. When you are working in a professional environment for the first time in your life, it might be a little difficult to live up to those standards. So how do we beat the odds?

We learn most of it in class. And by learn I do not mean mugging up from textbooks. We are taught how to work and behave like professionals. Slowly and steadily, we imbibe “professionalism”. From maintaining 100 per cent attendance to being punctual, from adhering to deadlines to juggling multiple roles, each is a step towards a better us. For some this can be achieved only through conscious effort; others just fit in.

Day in and day out, we attend classes tirelessly. We crib now and then and we often pay fines for certain transgressions. Presentations and assignments are a way of life. Social life is a distant dream. But just as every cloud has a silver lining, when you peer through the gloom, you will find light.

MONALISA WITH RAJARSHI: ALL THOSE HOURS SPENT AT THE GRINDSTONE PAID OFF.

Most of us suffered stage fright before we came to Commits. Today we do not just speak up, we often surprise. At the risk of sounding immodest, I would like to add here that I received some lovely compliments for my speech during our vice-chancellor’s recent visit to Commits.

In a way, all those hours spent at the grindstone pay off. Our teachers are the best we have, and all those assignments and presentations later, we do appreciate their efforts.

Today, almost a year into our Commits journey, most of us are sure about our career choices. Being clear in your mind is a good feeling. Some of us, however, will always be the confused kind. But it just gives us more options to explore. We are smart and skilled individuals. We are future competition for other professionals as well, confident in the belief that we can thrive and be successful in almost any field.

I am not sure I would have done better if I wasn’t from Commits.

• ALSO READ: "10/10 for a newspaper story written by an intern from Commits".

• PLUS: "How to have a successful AVC-related internship" and "How to have a successful MMC-related internship".

10/10 for a newspaper story written by an intern from Commits

Commitscion Natasha Rego (Class of 2014) lived up to my expectations (and perhaps exceeded hers) when she filed this brilliant story for Mumbai's Afternoon Despatch & Courier, the newspaper I helped to launch in March 1985.

Natasha, who is a co-editor of the college newspaper, worked as an intern with the Afternoon for six weeks over April-May and earned her first byline with this story about the "bottle bulbs" that are lighting up the lives of the city's slum-dwellers.

When I first read the article after she had sent me the link, I wrote back:

What a FAN-TAS-TIC story, Natasha! From idea to execution to presentation, I give it 10/10.

NATASHA REGO

And then I asked her a few questions to understand better how she got the idea for the story in the first place and how she went about getting the facts and putting them together:

• How did you get the idea?

Facebook, of course. Although many ideas have come to me when I take extensive walks around this city, I chose to work on this one because I related to the girls about whom I wrote, and it was a slum story (I've been wanting to enter a slum since I arrived and this seemed like a perfect opportunity).

• How did you go about working on it?

I read everything on the girls' website and Facebook page, especially the press coverage that they've received in the past. I found that it told a one-sided story — that of the girls. I wanted to try and tell one that included the people who benefited from the work of the organisation.

• What were the obstacles and how did you overcome them?

Language — my biggest drawback in Mumbai. But the girls that I went to the slum with translated for me, and a surprisingly large number of people spoke English.

• What was the contribution of your bosses and colleagues?

Sub-editor and colleague Prasad Madhukar Patil pushed me to submit my photos and write stories after he saw my editing work.

When I asked Deputy News Editor Robin Shukla what I should keep in mind when I went out to cover this story, considering it was going to be my first, he gave me some good advice. He said not to be influenced by anything in the reports that I had read, and to give it my own "new" perspective, because I'm so new to the city.
 
Editor-in-Chief Carol Andrade had the final say, of course. I think she liked it.

• What has the feedback been — from colleagues, from readers, from those featured in the story?

One of my bosses said that this is the kind of stories the newspaper should be doing.

• What was your reaction to seeing your story in print?

I did not go to work the day they processed this issue, so I didn't know it was going to get a full page. Walking to work the next day, I picked up an issue to find that it was spread over page 5 and had a border to make it stand out...like it was a special story. My sub-editor boss later told me that he told the page designers to put the border in.

Natasha, who is a discerning and savvy photographer, too, later published another interesting feature in the Afternoon. This one concerns an unsung organisation that teaches art to slum children. Read it here: "Everyone is an artist. No conditions apply!" (The photographs that accompany this piece, as well as the article on the "bottle bulbs", were shot by Natasha.)

• Commitscions, our brand ambassadors, have done well for themselves in the media industry and they have done us proud, too. Here are just a few of the many stories written by those who have become, or will become, journalists:

1. An excellent example of an interview-based local feature (Dipankar Paul, Class of 2009)

2. Gutsy Commits student's story in Bangalore Mirror — an inspiration to women everywhere (Ankita Sengupta, Class of 2013)

3. "My mum has my FB password. Big deal" (Sonakshi Nandy, Class of 2014)

4. Asha Bhosle: The Eternal Indian Idol — scroll down to "An interview with Asha Bhosle in Kuwait" (Priyanka Saligram, Class of 2009)

5. Reading Made Easy — Why Just Books Libraries Work (Nilofer D'Souza, Class of 2009)

6. Jet lag is for amateurs (Ayesha Tabassum, Class of 2007)

...and, finally, a Page 1 story in yesterday's Bangalore Mirror by Tapasya Mitra Mazumder (Class of 2013), who only joined the newspaper five days ago:

You can read Tapasya's report here. Well done, all!

• ALSO READ: "The many lessons I learnt as an intern with a leading Bangalore newspaper. Plus: Professionalism, the Commits way".

UPDATE (August 11, 2013): Natasha Rego and some of the photographs she made when she was in Mumbai were the subject of a "Diary" item in The Afternoon yesterday:

Read the item here: "Picture Perfect!" (go to Page 3)