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US research points to slow ad sector recovery
The advertising sector in the US is not likely to recover in a hurry.
Two prominent researchers, Zenith Media and Taylor Nelson Sofres have independently squelched hopes of an advertising about turn in the next two years.
Zenith Media has predicted that it would be 2004 before growth returned and even then, revenues would lag behind those of previous years. The agency says revenues would only return to the levels seen in 2000 when there was a widespread recovery in corporate profitability. It believes that by the end of 2002, Europe’s five largest economies will have shed eight per cent of their 2000 advertising volume in real terms and “will have done well to replace five per cent of this by 2004”.
The group also says that last year global ad revenues fell 6.4 per cent in constant terms and 3.8 per cent at current prices. The Zenith study, say media reports, has indicated that global annual advertising market for major media peaked in 2000 and thinks it will trough in 2002, having contracted by $23bn in real terms.
Although the media has been playing up possibilities of an advertising revival last week, Taylor Nelson Sofres’ CMR unit has also made some dismal projections. While it has projected that US ad spending, buoyed by a second-half rebound, will grow 2.5 percent to some $109 billion during 2002, the agency has network cable will not participate in the resurgence and will instead sustain a slight decrease. According to CMR projections, network cable ad spend will dip 0.3 per cent for the year, while network TV will register a 4.5 per cent advance for the year. Other would be media gainers, according to CMR are radio (6.7 per cent), local newspapers (5.7 per cent) and the Internet (5.3 per cent).
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
