MAM
Govt ad spend on print falls by 54 % in last 3 years
New Delhi: The government’s expenditure on print advertisements has dropped by almost 54 per cent in the last three years.
According to the latest data presented in the Parliament, the government had spent Rs 429.55 cr in print advertisements in 2018-19, which decreased to Rs 295.05 cr in 2019-20, and further plummeted down to Rs 197.49 cr during the pandemic in 2020-21. The data was shared by the union minister for information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur during the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament.
The ad-expenditure on electronic and digital media has also also recorded a significant drop over the last three years, said Thakur in a written response to a question raised by BJD MP Sasmit Patra. According to Thakur, the Centre spent Rs 514.29 crore on TV ads in 2018-19. In 2019-20, the allocation for ad expenditure on electronic media platforms was slashed to Rs 316.99 crore, which further came down to Rs 167.98 crore in 2020-21.
All these expenditures refer to expenses incurred by the Bureau of Outreach and Communications (BOC), which acts as an advisory body to the government on its media strategy, and undertakes information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns of the government through its empanelled media platforms as per the policy guidelines.
The plummeting ad spends by the government come at a time when the print industry is struggling to survive the pandemic’s severe blow. The print media thrives on advertisement expenditure of industries including e-commerce, automobiles, and finance, which were also impacted by the lockdown. Many businesses ended up pulling out advertisements, as part of budget cuts and also due to a drastic fall in the circulation of newspapers and magazines. The prolonged lockdown restrictions forced several publications to limit the number of pages, shut their editions and resort to layoffs.
Last year, the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) had also raised concerns over the rising newsprint and logistics costs and increasing preference for online content. It had also demanded a 50 per cent increase in government advertisement rates and a 200 per cent increase in the Centre’s spend on print media advertising and an immediate settlement of advertisement bills outstanding to both central and state governments.
MAM
Bark Out Loud launches #ThriveSharedJourney with Huma Qureshi
New campaign reframes pet nutrition as a mindful, shared growth journey.
MUMBAI: Bark Out Loud just gave pet parenting a leash on meaning because when your dog’s dinner becomes a daily pact, even the kibble starts feeling like a love letter. Bark Out Loud by Vivaldis has unveiled #ThriveSharedJourney, a new campaign for its Thrive range of pet food, featuring actress and pet parent Huma Qureshi. Launched around International Women’s Day 2026, the campaign shifts the narrative from routine feeding to intentional, shared growth between pets and their owners.
The core idea, thriving isn’t automatic, it’s a conscious decision made together. Today’s pet parents track their own milestones and upgrade their lives, yet pet nutrition often slips into autopilot. The campaign challenges that gap, showing that real wellbeing comes from active participation, not passive provision.
A heartfelt film starring Huma Qureshi captures this shift: everyday moments of connection over Thrive meals become the building blocks of a stronger bond. The message is clear growth is shared, not solo.
Bark Out Loud by Vivaldis CEO Kunal Khanna said, “Pet parents today love their pets deeply, but there is still a gap when it comes to everyday nutrition awareness. #ThriveSharedJourney is our way of building a more responsible culture of feeding, where thriving becomes a shared commitment.”
Bark Out Loud business head Devika Khanna added, “Thrive has been created to bridge that gap with clean, thoughtfully developed recipes that support digestion and overall wellbeing. Partnering with Huma allows us to tell this story in a way that feels real and relatable.”
The campaign will roll out through digital films, creator collaborations and community conversations, positioning Thrive as a daily investment in long-term health rather than a habitual purchase.
In a world where pets are family, Bark Out Loud isn’t just feeding them, it’s feeding the idea that every bowl is a promise: we grow together, we thrive together, one mindful kibble at a time.
