The ideal world shouldn't have interrupted data: MRUC's Paritosh Joshi

After a suspension of nearly seven months, the Media Research User’s Council (MRUC) announced last week that the voluntary abeyance on the 2013 Indian Readership Survey (IRS) had been lifted. Released in January, the IRS 2013 had drawn criticism from various print media groups for alleged anomalies in the data. Despite the seeming resolution, it is evident that nothing is clear in the acceptance and future of the IRS. Storyboard editor Anant Rangaswami spoke to Paritosh Joshi, member - technical committee, MRUC to understand IRS’ way forward.

After a suspension of nearly seven months, the Media Research User’s Council (MRUC) announced last week that the voluntary abeyance on the 2013 Indian Readership Survey (IRS) had been lifted.

Released in January, the IRS 2013 had drawn criticism from various print media groups for alleged anomalies in the data. Despite the seeming resolution, it is evident that nothing is clear in the acceptance and future of the IRS. Storyboard editor Anant Rangaswami spoke to Paritosh Joshi, member - technical committee, MRUC to understand IRS’ way forward.

Joshi shared his perspective on some of the many questions that are posed for the IRS - where do marketers stand now, and do they consider the data reliable? Are they going to be gaps in data? When is the data going to be seen next?

Joshi also says that they have lost out on almost a year’s worth of field work time, leading to a data gap of almost two years. While this is problematic for marketers, hesuggests that they will have to use the data from 2013 and use a projection model that they will have to evolve till the IRS is back on its feet.

Watch the entire interview to understand what is in store for the IRS next…

Written by Anant Rangaswami

Anant Rangaswami was, until recently, the editor of Campaign India magazine, of which Anant was also the founding editor. Campaign India is now arguably India's most respected publication in the advertising and media space. Anant has over 20 years experience in media and advertising. He began in Madras, for STAR TV, moving on as Regional Manager, South for Sony’s SET and finally as Chief Manager at BCCL’s Times Television and Times FM. He then moved to advertising, rising to the post of Associate Vice President at TBWA India. Anant then made the leap into journalism, taking over as editor of what is now Campaign India's competitive publication, Impact. Anant teaches regularly and is a prolific blogger and author of Watching from the sidelines. see more