TIMES OUT & PROUD CLASSIFIEDS

Short List
TitleTIMES OUT & PROUD CLASSIFIEDS
BrandTHE TIMES OF INDIA
Product / ServiceTHE TIMES OF INDIA
CategoryG07. Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility
EntrantFCBULKA Mumbai, INDIA
Idea Creation FCBULKA Mumbai, INDIA

Credits

Name Company Position
Fred Levron FCB Worldwide Creative Partner
Swati Bhattacharya FCBULKA Chief Creative Officer
Keegan Pinto FCBULKA National Creative Director
Anindya Banerjee FCBULKA Executive Creative Director
Jason Samuel FCBULKA Creative Supervisor
Shailesh Khandeparkar FCBULKA Group Head – Art
Amol Annaldas FCBULKA Associate Creative Director
Vishakha Khattri FCBULKA Brand Services Manager
Nikhil Kerkar FCBULKA Associate Creative Director
Rohit Divekar FCBULKA Brand Services Director
Raghav Mahendra FCBULKA Brand Services Executive
Manoj Hodawadekar FCBULKA Creative Consultant
Saad Khan FCBULKA National Planning Director
Trinolda Colaco FCBULKA Senior Brand Planner

Why is this work relevant for Media?

The Times of India redesigned its classifieds section with ‘Times Out & Proud Classifieds’, a dedicated classifieds section for the LGBTQ community. An integrated campaign led by print, digital, TV and on-ground initiatives were put together to reach the LGBTQ community in India. The campaign made a nationwide call to members of the Indian LGBTQ community to send in their classifieds messages and also aimed to normalise them in Indian society. Utilising media was instrumental to the success of the idea.

Background

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was an act that criminalised homosexuality. It was introduced in the year 1861 during the British rule of India. On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalised IPC section 377. But it changed little for the LGBTQ community. The community lives a life of social isolation. Society doesn’t accept them as they are. They find it extremely difficult to ‘come out’, find jobs, accommodation or life partners. The task was to give the LGBTQ community a voice and a platform that integrates their community back into society.

Describe the creative idea / insights (30% of vote)

The Times of India needed a simple yet powerful idea to normalise and include the LGBTQ community into society. So, we looked to the classifieds. In India, everything you want to share with the world, goes through the classifieds. Jobs, grooms, accommodation and much more. It’s the bedrock of things. The Times of India decided to make an editorial change in their newspaper: it redesigned its classified section. On the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, The Times of India unveiled ‘Times Out & Proud’. A free space where everything the LGBTQ community is looking for, or make public announcements could be found. Essentially, the LGBTQ community could now ‘come out’, look for accommodation, jobs, love, inclusion, and celebrate life events. A bold and unprecedented editorial change that gave the LGBTQ community a platform to be accepted and integrated into society.

Describe the strategy (20% of vote)

Homosexuality had been decriminalised in the courtroom but the 150+ year old discrimination against the community continues even today. The Insight: Until it is not given legitimacy in a mainstream platform, the LGBTQ community will stay marginalised. Newspaper classifieds announce key milestones in a person’s life. Due to rigorous checks, they bring legitimacy and authenticity to every announcement. The Times of India needed to use this power of classifieds to create social legitimisation and inclusivity for the LGBTQ community. The campaign aimed to reach LGBTQ individuals across India and empower them with their very own classifieds. It was also aimed at normalising the existence of the LGBTQ community in India by making them feel like a part of society. A national call to action was sent out via the press, OOH & film to generate awareness and more importantly, create an inclusive movement.

Describe the execution (20% of vote)

The campaign was launched on the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) with a front-page lead story in the Times of India newspaper followed by the first launch ad with a front-page innovation. Conversations were sparked with periodic editorial content on pressing LGBTQ topics. The campaign was launched digitally with a short film portraying captivating stories of people from the LGBTQ community and their families who have endured social discrimination for years but live with a hope of inclusion. Social media was leveraged with the help of celebrities and influencers to help reach the community. Out & Proud also partnered with Mirror Now, a national TV news channel to debate various LGBTQ issues with a panel of members of the community. The campaign was amplified with Out & Proud billboards, articles about community members and partnerships with pride parades and the Bangalore Times Fashion Week.

List the results (30% of vote)

The Times of India turned into The Times of Pride. A whole generation answered the call for inclusivity. LGBTQ individuals across India wrote in and shared their stories which were printed in the Times of India. While other dailies lost readership, The Times of India grew by 2.6%. It also received countless classifieds. Educational and corporate institutions across India opened their doors to the LGBTQ community. Generated $ 3.3 Billion in Earned Media Read by 12.2 million people every week Business Growth – 8.1% Impact: Over 12 million video views in 10 Days Media Impressions: Over 25 million impressions It gave hope to millions across India and gained coverage internationally for being a beacon of change for the LGBTQ community. It helped normalise and integrate the community back into society.

Please tell us how the brand purpose inspired the work

Times of India, the country’s largest-selling English daily is driven by a singular purpose – to be an agent of change. From education to inclusivity, the brand has always used the power of communication to fuel social change. For the first time ever, a mainstream newspaper became the mouthpiece of the marginalised LGBTQ community through the dedicated Out & Proud classifieds section. The Times of India didn’t just stop there. It partnered with the Times Group companies, right from news channels to events, to further spread the message of inclusivity.

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