The document discusses the role and importance of house journals in organizations. It provides context on the origins of house journals in the UK and defines them as semi-official printed mediums of communication published by institutions and businesses. The document outlines the aims of house journals as informing, motivating, educating and entertaining employees while giving them an outlet for their literary skills. It discusses facets like sourcing material, the role of correspondents in gathering and making news, and importance of visuals, grammar and concise writing. The document emphasizes teamwork and obtaining feedback to continuously improve the house journal.

1. The Agony and
Ecstasy
of Publishing
House Journals
by Edwin Fernandes
General Manager & Editor,
Shree Vayam
House Journal of IDBI Bank
1

2. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
The Hatching
HJs were first published by the British Association of
Industrial Editors (BAIE) in 1949.
The BAIE has 3000 members
The American Asso. approx. 15,000
ABCI in India had approximately 1000 members 2

3. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
DEFINITION
A semi official printed medium
of communication published
by
Institutions and Business
Houses etc.
3

4. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
House Journals
Help develop a feeling of psycho - social security
among employees.
Help employees to be attached to the
Goal.jpg
organization- lifts Employee Morale.
This helps in meeting organizational goals.
4

5. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
AIMS OF A HOUSE JOURNAL
To create a feeling of togetherness among employees.
To inform, to motivate, to educate, to empathise, to
entertain.
Give an outlet to employees‟ literary skills.
Serve as a channel for communication between
people posted to far-flung locales. 5

6. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
6

7. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
A House Journal should not look like a college
festival souvenir.
CFS are meant to make money, not to
be in the red or be read!
A HJ is vibrant and interactive, a
surrogate Relationship Manager.
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8. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
What‟s in a name…? Rbi.jpg

9. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
TYPES OF HOUSE JOURNALS
INTERNAL TYPE : Contributes to bonding.
Acts as a binding
force in the organisation - keeping
the 'family' in the net.
EXTERNAL TYPE : Projects a corporate
image to public.
DUAL TYPE : A mix of the above, used for
internal and external
communication. Some also
contain advertisements e.g.
9
HJs of Airlines

10. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Sourcing Material
Management Employees and their Correspondents
usually CMD, DMD activities
or EDs write about (on-the-job & off-the-job)
company policy
10

11. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House
Journals
FACETS OF A HOUSE
JOURNAL
a) Good idea to carry a disclaimer
“The views expressed in this
magazine are not necessarily
those of the Management".
b) Member
Association of Business
Communicators of India
11

12. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
FACETS OF A HOUSE JOURNAL
HJs have budgetary constraints like every project or
activity. - A HJ should be made as attractive as possible
within the budgetary limitations.
12

13. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
FACETS OF A HOUSE JOURNAL
13

14. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
26/11
Provide some
knowledge of
current situations
too. Be in sync
with the times.
14

15. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
NABARD
15

16. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
16

17. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
FACETS OF A HOUSE JOURNAL
House Journals also become vehicles of expressing
different facets of an employee's personality through
his/ her writings.
Stress on creativity. Drab office circulars or pompous
notifications a “no-no” in House Journals.
17

18. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
THE ROLE OF CORRESPONDENTS
Knowledge is power
"Informed Employees are better Employees...........“
Correspondents should know the Organisation and its staff.
Correspondents should take an interest in a wide-range
of activities –office, research, environment, education, social
events, international affairs etc.
Suggest topics for special features
18

19. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
THE ROLE OF CORRESPONDENTS
NEWS GATHERING :
Correspondents are the vital link between the
Editor and staff.
They have to have a for News
19

20. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Role of Correspondents
What is News?
If a dog bites man
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- that's not news

21. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
If a man bites dog
-Now that's news!! 21

22. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Preliminary scrutiny of articles is the responsibility of
the correspondents.
Everyone likes to see one‟s name in print. Be careful
when using names of persons. Spell names correctly.
A misteak gets multiplied by the no of copies in
circulation. The circulation of Vayam is 15,000!!!
22

23. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Remember a H J is not a newspaper.
Don‟t incite or inflame passions.
Avoid politics and religious subjects.
23

25. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Correspondents not only have to
report news, at times they have to
make News.
25

26. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
THE ROLE OF CORRESPONDENTS
MAKE
NEWS :
Arrange
events,
contests for
children etc.
26

27. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House
Journals
Hold annual contests
for employees
27

28. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Reward Winners
Appreciate them in
Writing
Report on the events.
28

29. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Be Topical/ Don’t Delay
Food tastes better when hot, right?
29

30. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Wedding Photograph
Of an Emloyee/s
30
28

31. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
The Baby Arrives!!!
31

32. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
32

33. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
“When farmer Oak chose to show his unbridled joy, the corners of his
mouth spread till they were within an unimportant distance of his ears,
his eyes were reduced to narrowest of chinks, diverging wrinkles
appeared round them, extending upon his countenance like the
diffused rays in a rudimentary sketch of the rising sun”
Far from the Madding Crowd
- Thomas Hardy
33

34. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
On Guard
SENTENCES & PARAGRAPHS
A sentence, ideally, should not exceed 25 words
-and a paragraph 10 lines.
Don’t be like the convict
Who took 20 years to
complete a sentence !
34

35. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
PHOTOGRAPHS
“A photograph says a thousand words”
Encourage the use of photographs with articles.
35

36. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Action photographs have more appeal
36

37. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
M. S. Dhoni in Action
37

38. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
For „Achievers Column‟ – Head and
shoulders are preferable to full length
photos.
Do not write behind photographs with
smudgy pens.
e-photos are preferable.
Do a little research, explain the event
the photograph covers
38

39. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
60th Birthday
39

40. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
GRAMMAR / PUNCTUATION / CORRECT ENGLISH
Wrong usage / Examples of Tautology:
Both the two
Shout loudly
Funny Joke
Hurry up fast
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41. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Your hairs are looking silky.
Your hair is looking silky.
My shirt is lose.
My shirt is loose
Every Sunday, I take head bath.
Every Sunday, I have a head bath.
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42. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Punctuation is important
Woman without her man is a beast.
Woman, without her, man is a beast.
Woman, without her man, is a beast !
42

43. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
English As She is Spoke
1. I need leave to marry my daughter
2. My Mother in law expired and
only I am responsible in the house
43

44. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Height of Jargon / Hyperbole
Members of an avian species of identical plumage
congregate – Birds of a feather, flock together
Pulchritude possesses solely cutaneous
profundity - Beauty is only skin deep
It is fruitless to become lachrymose over precipitately
departed lacteal fluid – Don’t cry over split milk.
44

45. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Avoid Cluttering
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46. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Importance of Correspondents
The Link
The goodwill of the HJ will depend on your goodwill.
To your contacts, you will be the face of the HJ.
Win the confidence of employees by your dedication.
Associate yourself with useful activities within the
organisation and outside. Be better informed 46

47. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Importance of Correspondents
Study people, their likes, dislikes, their hopes and aspirations.
Spend a little time with them whenever possible – at work or
at recreation. You must interact with employees at all levels.
Net work all the time. Your familiarity with people will ensure a
two-way communication, to tell them what the HJ is and what it
does and also to know from them what they think of the Journal
and its contents. Be a good listener.
Know your Orgn. and its operations in all aspects. Regularly
update Mailing List. Give importance to Retired Employees.
47

48. FEEDBACK FORM The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
What goes around,
comes around
OBTAIN FEEDBACK
48

49. Flow Chart for HJ
START The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Conceptualize the theme
Send material for
typesetting
Co-ordinate with Verticals/ employees
for article collection Prepare the Dummy / Receive the HJ Copies
Decide on Designing
Implement last edition's feedback Despatch the HJ Copies
Co-ordinate with the Printers
for final printing
Receive articles
Confirm receipt
of Copies
Give final approval
for printing
Are the No
Reject Reserve copies for Contests
articles
Interesting Visit Press
?
Y Receive Feedback
e
s
Edit Articles Update Mailing List
STOP
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50. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Flow Chart for HJ Awards
START
Make a List of
Functions/ Contests
Make a shortlist
Find out the procedure to apply
for the Awards
Apply for the Awards
Coordinate with Admin
STOP 50

51. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Ilustrative List of Organisers of HJ Contests
The Association of Business Communicators of India, Mumbai
Mayaram Surjan Foundation, Raipur
Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai.
The Press Club of Trivandrum
The Rotary Club of Midtown Cochin
FEI Cargo Limited, Mumbai.
Public Relations Council of India
51

52. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Strive for Perfection
Aim for the moon and you will hit the coconut tree.
Aim for the coconut tree and you will hit the ground.
52

53. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
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54. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
TEAM WORK
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55. The Agony and Ecstasy
of Publishing House Journals
Thank You For
Being Such
Wonderful
Participants
Edwin Fernandes
e.fernandes@idbi.co.in
(M) 9870336765 55