News Broadcasting
Unveiling of the Unreal Academy
New Delhi, 25th July, 2013: The Unreal Academy, an institution that inculcates the power of imagination in children, youngsters and senior citizens through numerous creative and innovative ways, was formally inaugurated on Wednesday, 24th July. A completely novel concept in itself, this Academy believes that Imagination is the key to innovation. Their vision is to create a space where creativity is nurtured and allowed to breed into a lifelong quality.
The event witnessed several speakers who share the conviction and the idea the Academy is based on as well as parents and children eager to delve into this world of creativity and progress.
Guneet Pandya, Founder Director – The Unreal Academy shared her philosophy for the Academy. She said, “Years ago I committed the mistake of stumbling upon the word ‘Imagination’. But as all mistakes lead to something new, my mistake gave birth to The Unreal Academy: An institution that gives birth to imagination every second. The Unreal Academy inculcates the power of imagination in children, youngsters and senior children through various creative and innovative BURPS (Brilliant Unreal Rare Programmes). Through its various courses, the Academy endeavours to bring out the imaginative potential of the mind.”
Viral Pandya, Director and CCO of The Unreal Academy, then held an informal interactive session with the media on the importance of creativity, imagination and the role the Academy aspires to play in bringing out one’s imagination. Viral has decades of experience in advertising and a host of awards to his name from global platforms like One Show Design, Gold at Cannes Lions, The New York Festivals, Graphis Advertising, etc .
Reena Mishra, the first guest speaker for the evening, elaborated on the importance of the philosophy that forms the cornerstone of the Academy by sharing her own experiences as a mother. She explained why she shared the enthusiasm of the Academy and how the importance of such an institution is palpable to anyone who has tried raising a child in this ever-changing world. Reena Mishra has had a decade-long stint in Media & Public Relations after which she joined Tasveer as Director of Operations to support & further the dreams of her husband as an Advertising Photographer.
Sabu Paul, Creative Director at Out of the Box, elucidated the inspiration behind the Academy and why he feels innovation is core to any progress that mankind has made and will continue to make in the future. He has close to 17 years of experience in advertising at agencies such as Mudra, Contract, Ogilvy One and TBWA. He is ranked as the no.1 copywriter in India, along with Viral Pandya.
After the speeches, Guneet Pandya held another interactive session on the courses available at The Unreal Academy. She explained that the specially constructed courses at the Academy are borne by deep and innovative research and development. Each course is directed towards instilling a process that delves into the imaginative mind and brings forth creativity. Courses are designed in keeping with the four target age groups of the Academy.
This one-of-a-kind Academy seeks to question, motivate, inspire and set their students thinking in a direction that is beyond the obvious or the conventional.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
