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Bridging Theory and Practice: Bennett University Hosts Insightful PR Session with Adfactors Executive

Bennett University's Times School of Media conducted a masterclass in PR and personal branding featuring Nikhil Dey, Executive Director at Adfactors PR. Students were walked through the A - Z of the public relations world through innovative interactive segments.

Published:May 2, 2026 at 05:46 PM3 min read
Bridging Theory and Practice: Bennett University Hosts Insightful PR Session with Adfactors Executive
Correspondent: Shreya

Bennett University organised an engaging and interactive session on public relations reputation management on April 28, 2026. Featuring Nikhil Dey, Executive Director at Adfactors PR, one of the nation’s fastest-growing and most-awarded PR conglomerates, the Career Services Centre organised the session in collaboration with the Times School of Media. The aim? To fill the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice.

The session was coordinated by Ms. Sneh Gupta, Assistant Professor at the Times School of Media, whose structured planning ensured a memorable and seamless experience. The session was attended by prominent academic and industrial experts, Sumit Narula, Dean of Times School of Media, and Dhiraj Singh, Head of the Centre of Media Technology and Deputy Dean of Times School of Media, underscoring the importance of the session.

The session began with the concept of reputation management, which is described as one of the important tools for both personal and professional success. Nikhil Dey also highlighted the fact that reputation is something that is not going to build overnight, but is shaped through personal credibility, consistent behaviour and sharp communication skills. In this fast-moving and perception-driven world, he noted, managing how one is perceived has become as important as actual performance.

The most important topic of discussion was the idea of attention as a form of critical currency. He mentioned that in the digital age, where information is overloaded everywhere, the ability of individuals to capture and sustain attention for a long time is one of the biggest weapons for this generation. On the other hand, he also stressed the importance of giving attention, active listening and engaging meaningfully as a way to build trust for a long-term relationship.


One of the most interesting parts of the session was the discussion of the difference between advertising and public relations. He explained the insights of how the advertising industry works as one of the biggest paid forms of communication, where the brand has complete control over content and its delivery form, and where public relations fully depend upon earned media for relationship and credibility building. He then explained how public relations works as background support for any brand, which helps to shape public perception and maintain a positive image for a long time.

The memorable and impactful moment of the session was Dey’s statement: “PR is doing good and then getting credit for it.” This clear definition directly resonated with students, simply and clearly offering an insightful understanding of how the PR and advertising industry works.

The session remained highly engaging and interactive throughout. With students actively participating in various questions that allow students to understand complex industrial concepts through experts. Overall, the session provided valuable insights into the growing field of advertising and public relations by combining theoretical and practical perspectives. The presence of experienced professionals, academic leadership, and active student participation made the event both informative and enriching, reinforcing the importance of industry exposure in academic environments.

(The writer is a curious and driven communicator passionate about media, branding, and turning ideas into impactful narratives.)
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#sneh gupta#nikhil dey#dhiraj singh#deys#times school of media#dean of times school of media

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