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The purpose of this conceptual paper is to suggest that the growing sociocultural theorisation of risk calls for a more robust research focus on the role that information and in particular, information literacy, plays in mediating hazards and danger.

Starting by tracing how information has been conceptualised in relation to risk through technoscientific, cognitive and sociocultural lenses, the paper then focuses on emerging sociocultural understandings of risk to present a research agenda for a renewed sociocultural exploration of how risk is shaped through the enactment of information literacy.

The paper identifies and examines how information literacy shapes four key aspects of risk, including risk perception, risk management, risk-taking and “at-risk” populations. These four aspects are further connected through broader themes of learning, identity, work and power, which form the basis of the sociocultural risk research agenda.

This paper is the first study bringing together the many understandings related to how risk is informed and establishes risk as a key area of interest within information literacy research.

The purpose of this paper is to compare the effect of marketing communication techniques concerning product placement and TV commercials on brand recall and the purchase intention of consumers.

A sample of 420 participants randomly assigned to one of the four scenarios of an experiment watched a selected episode of a Sri Lankan TV show that consisted of commercial breaks. Then, their recall and purchase intention toward the advertised/placed brand were measured using a questionnaire and binary logistic regression was the analytical tool.

This research indicated that a combination of product placement and TV commercials forms the highest impact on both brand recall and purchase intention. The next highest impact is created solely by product placement, while sole TV commercials make the lowest impact comparatively.

This study is beneficial to brands and entrepreneurs looking for the most effective marketing communication methods to promote their brands and products to consumers.

As an initial study performed on a comparison between two commonly used marketing communication techniques, i.e. product placement and TV commercials, in the Sri Lankan context would also enrich the global marketing literature on the comparative effectiveness of both techniques, where studies are limited so far.

In 2015, NESTLÉ India underwent a major crisis as the product which contributed to nearly 30% of its sales had to be taken off the shelves. Maggi—the go-to convenience food for all generations (especially kids and young adults)—which had entered the market in 1983, was banned. With a market share of 70-80% before the ban, NESTLÉ, which got the ban lifted in November 2015, had to undergo the task of winning back the lost market. Over a period of 8 months after its relaunch, the brand regained about 60% of its market back, but the question is how could such brand disaster be avoided in future? The case revolves around a major brand recovering from a brand disaster, and whether they did it well enough or could the situation have been managed better. It also enquires as to what road should be taken forward from here. It notes the action taken by the government against the brand and leaves it to the judgment of the readers if the actions taken against the brand were a little too harsh, solely because MNCs are usually considered a soft target in India. The readers must also understand and analyse the different brand relaunch strategies that were adopted by NESTLÉ and the next steps that should be taken by it.