News Broadcasting
Puravankara receives highest accolade at worlds largest Communications Competition
MUMBAI: Puravankara Projects Limited, a premier real-estate developer, has been recognized with a ‘Platinum Award’, the highest accolade, at the 2013 Global Communications Competition sponsored by the League of American Communications Professionals (LACP). This event is the world’s largest communications competition.
The Puravankara entry, the company Annual Report FY 2013, received a ‘Platinum Award’ in the ‘Most Creative‘ category. The report entitled ‘Invest in Life’, reflecting the axiom that a home purchase is an investment of a lifetime, was ranked #10 among the top 100 communication materials of 2013 (The report can be viewed at:
http://www.puravankara.com/pages/Annual_Reports).
The proprietary judging system developed by LACP, evaluated over 1500 entries on the following six criteria: first impression, narrative, visual design, creativity, message clarity and relevance. Puravankara scored 99 out of a maximum 100 points, outperforming several global brands in the process.
The competition was judged by communications professionals affiliated with LACP (Details are available at: http://www.lacp.com/2013spotlight/competition.htm )
Commenting on the award Jackbastian Nazareth, Group CEO, Puravankara Projects said: “Puravankara is honoured to have received the highest commendation at the LACP Global Communication Competition. Recognition at a prestigious global forum validates our organizational focus on international benchmarks and best practices. We view our Annual Report not merely as a statutory document, but also as a strategic brand communication medium. It is a matter of pride for us that we are ranked at #10 among the top 100 Annual reports of 2013. This award reaffirms our commitment to the pursuit of excellence in our operations.”
Christine Kennedy, Managing Director LACP said, “The Puravankara Annual Report 2012-13, proves to be remarkable in light of tremendous competition. More than 1500 entries representing a dozen countries were received, so the competition was exceptionally tough.
Overall, we find this work to be outstanding, earning a total score of 99 out of a maximum 100 points. The first impression presented by this entry is exceptional, while the narrative is outstanding. The visual design is exceptional, tied with a level of creativity that is outstanding. We classify this entry as ranking at #10 among the Top 100 Communications Materials of 2013.” she added.
News Broadcasting
Senior media executive Madhu Soman exits Zee Media
Former Reuters and Bloomberg leader says he leaves with “no regrets” after brief stint at WION and Zee Business
NOIDA: Madhu Soman, a veteran of global newsrooms and media sales floors, has stepped away from Zee Media Corporation after a short stint steering business strategy for WION and Zee Business.
In a reflective LinkedIn note marking his departure, Soman said his time within the network’s corridors was always likely to be brief. “Some chapters close faster than expected,” he wrote, signalling the end of a nearly two-year spell in which he oversaw both editorial partnerships and commercial strategy.
Soman joined Zee Media in 2022 after more than a decade abroad with Reuters and Bloomberg, returning to India to take on the role of chief business officer for WION and Zee Business. His mandate was ambitious: bridge the newsroom and the revenue desk while expanding digital and broadcast reach.
During the stint, Zee Business reached break-even for the first time since its launch in 2005, while WION refreshed programming and strengthened its digital footprint across platforms such as YouTube and Facebook.
But Soman suggested the cultural fit proved uneasy. Describing himself as a “cultural misfit”, he hinted at deeper tensions between editorial instincts shaped in global newsrooms and the realities of India’s television news ecosystem.
Before joining Zee, Soman spent more than seven years at Bloomberg in Hong Kong as head of broadcast sales for Asia-Pacific, expanding the company’s news syndication business across several markets. Earlier, he held senior editorial roles at Reuters, overseeing online strategy in India and managing Reuters Video Services from London.
His career began in television and wire reporting, including a stint with ANI during the 1999 Kargil conflict, before moving into digital publishing as India’s internet media landscape took shape.
Now, after nearly three decades in broadcast and digital media, Soman is leaving Delhi NCR and returning to his hometown, Trivandrum.
Exhausted, he admits. But unbowed. And with one quiet line that sums up the journey: he didn’t sell his soul — because some things, after all, are not for sale.
