Media Mapping Survey by Top PR Agencies in India for Q1-FY21-22 (1)

1
Media Mapping Survey by Top PR Agencies in India
for Q1-FY21-22 This survey report provides
information obtained through media analysis,
regarding the news trends across major
publications in the country. This survey report
will pay particular attention to the news trends
in the first quarter of FY2021- 22 when the
country was reeling under heavy pandemics. These
observations do have limitations that will be
noted and are based on a total number of stories
categorised by different sectors. Not only India,
but the entire world is experiencing a
devastating wave of COVID-19. The spread of
COVID-19 in India was initially characterized by
fewer cases and lower case fatality rates
compared with numbers in many developed
countries, primarily due to a stringent lockdown
and a demographic dividend. However, economic
constraints forced a staggered lockdown exit
strategy, resulting in a spike in COVID-19
cases. This factor, coupled with low spending on
health as a percentage of gross domestic product
(GDP), created mayhem because of inadequate
numbers of hospital beds and ventilators and a
lack of medical personnel, especially in the
public health sector. Nevertheless, technological
advances, supported by a strong research base,
helped contain the damage resulting from the
pandemic. In the first ten days of May, Indias
reported count of COVID-19 deaths was nearly
40,000, roughly accounting for a third of deaths
worldwide during this period. The media ecosystem
continues to be challenging this year and that
was before the pandemic. To inform the citizens
during these uncertain times, newsrooms and media
houses across the country have made pandemic
coverage a priority. While there is an abundance
of news to be reported on the global pandemic,
the esteemed media houses of the country pointed
out several other news trends to keep people
educated and aware. THE INDIAN MEDIA FREE PRESS
IS ESSENTIAL TO FREE SOCIETY The Indian Media
Industry is one of the worlds most diverse and
vibrant in addition to being largely free and
fair. The Indian media landscape has changed
significantly over the last one decade. With
the advancement in technology, the Indian media
industry has been burgeoning like never before
and expanded its reach, in terms of the number of
outlets, whether in television, radio, print or
digital. At this hour of the global pandemic,
media has successfully played the role of a
watchdog of the government functionaries and has
also aided in participatory communication in
raising major issues faced by the citizens of the
country. Several media platforms across the
country kept providing credible news and
information to the citizens of the country when
they most needed it without letting fear affect
them amid COVID-19. The onset of the global
pandemic and ensuing lockdown has dealt a severe
blow to the Indian economy. It is being reported
that the Indian Media Entertainment sector,
which saw a contraction of around 24 per cent at
Rs 1.38 lakh crore in the pandemic-struck 2020,
is expected to log growth this year and double
its revenue to Rs 2.68 lakh crore by 2025. Print
newspapers in India have been seeing a
significant surge in revenue, making it the
largest global market for the industry. The most
popular daily in the country is The Times of
India that had the highest average readership in
2017. Indias print industry is to be able to
retain their audiences through digital platforms,
while still maintaining enough advertising and
subscription revenue to continue different
editions. TREND ANALYSIS OF COVID-19 OUTBREAK IN
INDIA More than 15 countries including the US,
Russia, France and the United Kingdom rushed
critical emergency use equipment to enable India
counter the COVID-19s deadly second wave.
Ministry of External Affairs announced that
several countries are sending hundreds of oxygen
concentrators, respirators and large quantities
of liquid oxygen to help India at this hour of
the pandemic. The Delhi High Court announced that
it will take up court proceedings through virtual
mode from April 9 to April 23. India became the
first country in the world to report over 4 lakh
new cases on April 30, 2021. It was being
speculated that the COVID-19 wave that plunged
India into the worlds biggest health crisis has
the potential to worsen in the coming weeks, with
some
2
research models projecting that the death toll
could more than double from current levels.
Several states of the country introduced
lockdowns, although Prime Minister Narendra Modi
resisted a national effort after one imposed by
the Central government last year fueled a
humanitarian crisis with migrant workers fleeing
the cities on foot and in some cases bringing the
virus with them. A devastating second wave of
coronavirus in India has seen hospitals and
crematoriums overwhelmed and widespread shortages
of oxygen and medicines. Hospitals across India
are also experiencing oxygen shortages, with some
forced to put up signs warning of a lack of
supplies. War of words erupted between the
Central government and several state governments
such as Delhi Maharashtra government over
oxygen supply. Fitch group company (India
Ratings) said the second wave of COVID-19
infections will be less disruptive than the first
wave for the business environment as corporates
are better prepared. But it was being reported
that smaller businesses including micro, small
and medium enterprises are laying off more
employees as demand and sales have plummeted due
to localised lockdowns implemented by the state
governments. The Centre for Monitoring Indian
Economy, recently said that the unemployment
rate in the country has touched a four-month high
as over 70 lakh jobs have been impacted. Amid
the concerns regarding shortage of COVID-19
vaccines in the national capital, the Delhi
government recently stated that the vaccination
of the 18-44 age group remained suspended for the
fifth consecutive day and further informed that
there is no COVAXIN stock available for any age
group. AAP MLA Atishi said Delhi has already
shut 235 of the 368 inoculation centres for this
category due to a shortage of vaccines. Few
other states including Maharashtra suspended
vaccination for 18-44 age group, citing shortage
of doses. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the
country, cases of Mucormycosis (Black Fungus)
have emerged in patients who were in the recovery
phase of the disease. Hundreds of corpses were
also found floating in the Ganga river or buried
in the sand of its banks in the northern state of
Uttar Pradesh, fearing they were COVID-19
infected. Prime Minister during his latest
address to the nation said "The Centre is taking
back total control of vaccination now, will be
implemented in next two weeks. The Centre will
give free vaccines to states for all above 18.
From 21 June, the Centre will provide free
vaccines to states." Prime Minister also
announced free ration for the poor under Prime
Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana till Diwali. As the
second wave of coronavirus in the country
continues to slow down, several states have
started easing the strict restrictions which were
imposed to check the spread of the deadly
virus. Delhi resumed the Metro train services
with 50 per cent seating capacity. Malls, markets
and market complexes were allowed to open between
10 am to 8 pm on odd-even basis in accordance
with their shop numbers. Private offices also
opened up with 50 per cent manpower. In Uttar
Pradesh, the curfew continues to remain in
districts that have more than 600 actives cases.
With states unlocking across the country and the
Delta variant still around, health experts are
continuously stressing on the need to re-open
with a robust vaccination strategy and COVID
appropriate behaviour. The Drugs Controller
General of India (DGCA) has granted its nod to
Indian pharmaceutical giant Cipla to import
Modernas COVID-19 vaccine for restricted
emergency use in the country. The Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) extended the
restrictions on scheduled international passenger
flights to and from India extended till July
31st, 2021. DGCA also stated However,
international scheduled flights may be allowed on
selected routes by the competent authority on a
case-to-case basis.
3
US President Joe Biden and house unanimously
passed a resolution recognizing the devastating
impact of COVID-19 in India and expressing the
sense of the House of Representatives to urgently
facilitate assistance. Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) recently stated that India
crossed the milestone of conducting 400 million
tests for COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with
the last 50 million tests being conducted over
the last 24 days. The United States National
Institutes of Health reported that Indias first
indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin
is able to effectively neutralise the Alpha and
Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2. Read more on
https//www.iccpl.in