Research and consultancy

She has conducted several research studies and undertaken consultancy works on behalf of the Institute, some of which include the following:

Research and related Contributions: 1989- To date

• Media and Public Health- A WHO Trainer’s Guide for public Information Officers (WHO, 2007)

(Team leader for writing the manual that looked at WHO’s  mandate; the role of  public information officer in disseminating information on policies and programs.The manual provided practical tips on media writing, media handling, and crisis communication among other areas encompassing media).

• Portrayal of women in contemporary Indian popular culture: a case study of some Hindi television soaps on prime time viewing (IIMC, 2003, J Jethwaney & Abhilasha kumari) 

(The study has looked at the portrayal of women in soaps in a historical perspective. How the so-called women-centric serials build and reinforce stereotypes has been analyzed with theoretical models, besides mapping the perception of a cross-section of viewers from Delhi )

• Terrorist attack on the USA - a perception mapping study and media content analysis (IIMC 2001)

 (The study was designed to cover the perception of Delhites after the 9-11 and media content analysis for two weeks. About 100 students worked under my supervision for field survey and content analysis)

·        Media influence on the Mahakumbh visitors (IIMC, 2001)

(An estimated 70 million people, including journalists from various countries congregated at the Mahakumbh festival in January 2001 for what was considered an unparalleled spectacle. The research sample of 3060 comprised 11 per cent overseas visitors).

• The emerging Indian Society @ dotcom: an analysis of advertisements in mainstream newspapers. [IIMC, July 2000]

 (The year 2000 witnessed the emergence of scores of dotcom companies who were spending ruthlessly to be in the reckoning. The study looked both at the quantitative and qualitative aspect of advertising in various mainstream English dailies and matched the ad-spent vis-à-vis the comparative reach of publications).

• Knowing the media mind on Bill Clinton’s India visit: An editorial content analysis of major Indian newspapers- 15-31 March 2000

(The visit of the US President enthused most of the mainstream newspapers in writing stories, which were not always serious. Some even bordered the frivolous. An attempt was made to see how the editorials looked at the visit and what agenda they set for his visit and the expectations from his visit)

• State of PR education in India (2000)

 (The study looked at the big picture about the Pr education in India , its history and present status. The study also analyzed the course curriculum of a cross section of universities/institutes offering PR education at various levels. In-depth interviews were also held with some industry stalwarts to understand the gaps in teaching and market requirements)

• Information War- is media a victim or a tool?   [IIMC, 1999]

 {The Study was conducted jointly with Prof. S Sarkar when the border conflict between India and Pakistan at Kargil was at its peak in May- June 1999.The research content-analyzed a cross section of newspapers from India, Pakistan, USA and Britain}.

• Branding of politicians- a perception Mapping Study of the College Youth  [1999] 

Appreciating the emergence of spin-doctors who leave no effort in presenting politicians as brands, the study included major players during the 13^th parliamentary elections and mapped the perceptions of the Indian youth. The study analyzed the findings based on Kapfrer’s model. Three researchers jointly conducted the study: J Jethwaney et al.}

• IIMC Poll –Lok Sabha Elections 1999: Perceptions of Media persons

{The study was jointly conducted jointly with Prof. S Sarkar, to gauge the issues that were on the minds of political correspondents, editors  and media managers before the 1999 General Elections in India}

• Pre-test and Post-test of Outdoor media campaign on Child Prostitution. [1998] 

(The study was conducted for the UNICEF and Human Rights Commission in 1998 jointly with Dr. Abhilasha Kumari ).

• Impact of mass media and other campaigning techniques on Delhi Women. [1993] 

{Friedrich Ebart Stiftung , Germany sponsored the study. The Study was undertaken, when Delhi , the capital city of India got its own legislative assembly in 1993}.

• North-South and South-South Audio visual Co-productions 1991-92 

{The study was conducted for UNESCO/IDATE}