Encouraging students to think beyond the conventional and explore learning in more imaginative forms, the Algorythms – Business Analytics Club of Apeejay School of Management (ASM) organised a unique and intellectually stimulating Newspaper Blackout Challenge. The activity witnessed enthusiastic participation from students eager to engage in a refreshing mix of creativity and analytical reasoning.
Today, as industries increasingly value innovation alongside data-driven decision-making, such initiatives aim to nurture a deeper understanding of how imagination and logic go hand in hand in the modern professional world. This competition beautifully aligned with the club’s vision of exploring the evolving dimensions of business analytics beyond textbooks and traditional assessments.
A Challenge Where Creativity Meets Strategy
The activity required students to transform an existing newspaper article into a completely new piece of expression. Armed with a black marker and critical thinking skills, each participant had to strategically blackout words while retaining a set of meaningful phrases that would come together to form a coherent and impactful message.
This rule encouraged students to evaluate language, filter information smartly and apply analytical judgement—all while crafting a creative, new narrative. It was a test of both precision and imagination, reflecting real-world skills where professionals often extract insights from extensive data to derive relevant conclusions.
A Room Full of Ideas and Imagination
The energy inside the venue was infectious. Students meticulously scanned their articles, thoughtfully selecting words and connecting ideas that resonated with them. The final blackout artworks varied from humorous verses to heartfelt statements and even motivational messages—each one different, yet equally impressive in its intent.
The enjoyable and explorative nature of the challenge reminded learners that personal expression, critical reading and creative risk-taking are essential aspects of holistic education.
Celebrating Excellence and Expression
After a careful and fair evaluation process based on clarity, creativity, and maximum blackout efficiency, the following students emerged as winners:
1st Prize – Harjas Kaur
2nd Prize – Vansh Sharma
3rd Prize – Divyansh Kamboj
Speaking about the event, Manya Jain, President of Algorythms, shared, “At Algorythms, innovation is at the core of what we do. The Newspaper Blackout Challenge perfectly reflected our commitment to transforming conventional activities into platforms for analytical and creative excellence
Winner Harjas Kaur added, “Turning a sea of text into a meaningful message felt empowering – like solving a creative puzzle. This is the kind of activity that makes learning truly memorable!”
Beyond competition, the activity helped students sharpen valuable skills such as content interpretation, strategic communication, concise writing, and visual creativity. It also fostered willingness to experiment—an essential mindset for future business leaders and data professionals.