Pranav Saraswat, the coordinator of the Media Relations Club (MRC) took time from his swamped schedule to talk to the BOSM English Press. MRC has been working consistently in the weeks leading up to BOSM, contacting multiple media houses and spreading awareness about the fest through mass media.

Having attained club status just last November, MRC ensures the coverage of as many of BITS Pilani’s events and students’ achievements as possible. They advertise in some of the most popular newspapers and news channels in India.

‘I think it’s very important for every BITSian to know that the MRC is for them, highlighting their extraordinary feats and portraying to the world outside campus what the legacy of BITS really stands for,’ said Pranav, when asked about MRC’s role during BOSM and the rest of the year.

During BOSM, this club ensures that articles about different sports events, interviews with players, and results summaries are published both offline and online. This year, they have decided to go a step further and collaborate with a number of various online publications and forums such as YourStory, DU Beat, and RVCJ. ‘It’s essential that we increase our outreach, especially with the widespread boom of social media across all age brackets,’ he said.

The club is planning to work on six major stories this BOSM, one for each day of the fest, and a Day Zero issue. Some of these are currently in the process of being sent out.

This year brings a lot of responsibility intertwined with excitement for MRC, as this is their first BOSM as an official club.This makes it easier for them to access articles, statistics and photographs of events that they would otherwise have had a hard time obtaining. It also increases their level of coordination with other departments such as Department of Controls (BOSM).

The Times of India, Dainik Navajyoti, Dainik Bhaskar, and the Rajasthan Patrika are some of the newspapers that will be covering BOSM this year. On the topic of new recruits, Pranav stated that this year’s selection included a multi-talented pool of first years who have a solid work ethic. They recruited graphic designers, social media content writers, and editors in accordance to the needs of the club.

As the interview drew to a close, the MRC coordinator talked about the challenges that they are facing, with a major issue being the funding. However, they have managed to work their way around this, through negotiations and increased self-sufficiency. ‘Hey, I’m studying EEE. We’re immune to challenges,’ Pranav cheekily retorts, concluding the interview.