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MUMBAI: The BBC World Service is revisiting India's heartland,Bihar,
to talk to its listeners and encourage even more people to participate
in its programmes.
The BBC Hindi service's interactive campaign My world, my voice
is visiting 60 locations across the state of Bihar, from Sugauli
to Kishanganj, asking people what they think about the BBC Hindi
output and inviting them to engage with its programmes.It aims to
reach thousands of residents, as it covers hundreds of kilometres
in Bihar, visiting two locations across the state each day.
Local residents will be encouraged to test their knowledge of both
current affairs and BBC Hindi programmes, presenters and guest speakers
and win prizes. My world, my voice has been timed
to coincide with General Election's to India's Legislative Assemblies
to highlight the relevance of the BBC Hindi output to those in Bihar
who are interested in the global perspective of the daily news.Quizzes
conducted from the BBC stand will generate more interest in the
BBC Hindi output, especially its flagship morning and evening news
and current affairs programmes, Aaj Ke Din and Aajkal.
BBC Hindi head ,Achala Sharma, sees the campaign as a way to connect
with the BBC's core audiences in India. She says, "Listening
to audiences is central to BBC Hindi programming, and to reach out
for our most remote audiences and to engage with them face to face,
we have had several road-shows in India over the past two years.
We have covered thousands of kilometres, talking directly to thousands
of listeners, discussing issues important to them, encouraging their
direct participation and, most of all, listening to them."
"My world, my voice is in the same spirit as it will
tour Bihar to remind our audience those in small towns and
village haats - about our vibrant programmes, and to engage them
in dialogue about the programmes which are for them and about them."adds,Sharma.
For the first time, the BBC has teamed up with India's Post Office
whose branches across Bihar will sell special My world, my voice
meghdoots postcards.Feedback forms addressed to the BBC will
be distributed at the events, inviting residents of Bihar to share
their views of the BBC Hindi programmes. Alongside main, interactive
activity, the My world, my voice campaign incorporates an
outdoor communications element, with hoardings and wall-paintings
featuring people and images from rural India.
BBC World Service Marketing Communications & Audiences controller,
Alan Booth, says, "The Bihar campaign will show the BBC Hindi
service as contemporary, relevant and inspiring. Our previous campaigns
in northern India have demonstrated the effectiveness of this form
of interaction as they helped increase our Hindi listenership by
4.3 million. We want to keep the momentum of this success and continue
to encourage active listening among potential audiences in India's
'Hindi belt'."
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