Before the advent of the internet, journalism was highly revered as they did all the hard work of physically being in the place, referring to research papers, interviewing the subjects and sometimes even sitting with the sub editors to write and rewrite the stories. There was nothing called word count. It was one-page handwritten content.
To explain what a true blue-blooded journalist was in of those yore days were, I have often heard this story
The Venus Circus was in what is now called the Majestic Bus Stand near Bangalore Railway Station. Suddenly a fire broke out and the entire tented structure collapsed on over 400 people who were inside watching the show. The laughter and joy of seeing the performance of “Jokers” and “Buffoons” suddenly turned into loud shrieks from mothers and fathers, old and infirm, and performers and animals running helter-skelter with fire engulfing them. The circus fire disaster claimed 92 lives and 300 others were injured.
Many children who somehow escaped turned into psychological wrecks. And the rest of the story is what is called history. The time of the accident was 6.30 pm. This was a headline story. There was very little to compose the story with the gory details as many Bangalore based newspapers would close composing and printing by 9.30 PM.
A battery of experienced reporters was sent to the spot. The reporters after gathering the news live, would literally run to their offices and write the story, hand it over to the sub-editor and run back to the spot to get more information. There were no telephones and during those times, almost all reporters did not own a private vehicle. The reporters would often hitch a ride on somebody’s bicycle and go to write the story.
The news stories written were so authentic and had what is called the proverbial “blood and sweat” of the reporter. But now finding a journalist of the year is difficult. Journalism as such has completely turned topsy turvy now. With the advent of the internet, with the click of a button, a mound of content gets listed for you to pick and choose.
This access to information and data is equal to both, a highly experienced veteran journalist and to the Cub Reporter. Only aspect is how they use and process the data and incorporate the same in their stories.
The Internet works both ways. There are pluses and minus as well. Plus is that sitting in one corner of the globe, a journalist can now meet and interview anybody who is the target for his story line. That was not possible in erstwhile days. The second is that the life of a journalist is made easy as he can cull the data and information without having to research and move around to write the story. Minus is obvious, no hard work is necessary, your digital base will do all the work for you. As many teachers often say: “be smart-work smart, don’t slog like a donkey”.
That apart, though the internet is indeed a boon to a journalist, it has to be used judiciously alongside meeting and talking to people. If you talk to any veteran journalist, he/she will often advise you to converse with the target as that will give a new perspective to the story. What is called in journalistic parlance: “traversing that extra mile” will evince keen interest of the reader in imagining what you write.
When a reader relates and imagines the story you write, then you are a successful reporter. Moreover, that will also foster widening of the canvas of understanding and empathizing with what you write. We must now accept what the media baron Mr. Rupert Murdoch has said on the changing times and the advent of digital media: “Power is moving away from the old elite in our industry — the editors, the chief executives and, let’s face it, the proprietors. A new generation of media consumers has risen demanding content delivered when they want it, how they want it, and very much as they want it”.
True, the neo generation wants info on the tips. Quick and precise. Less jargon and more on content. In fact, the staccato kind of journalism is catching up fast and furiously on the small digital screens. The timeframe for the readership concentration has now completely shrunk to just a few minutes, unlike hours one would spend on each and every news item in the newspaper just a couple of years ago. Taking cognizance of the shrinking engagement time the media is now wonderfully catering to this new digitally savvy, on the move audience.
In conclusion, we can for sure say that there has been a massive tectonic shift in journalistic methods during this GenX-millennium period. But, the main idea of story-telling has, to some extent, retained its fervor, as of now. Journalism has always been and hopefully will continue to be about informing the reader with matters of interest and the journalist has worked hard to source the story for the reader.
But a new disturbing trend is emerging that of activism journalism. Since use of social media can spread the news wide and fast, the authenticity of the written word should also be correct, unlike in the olden days where the circulation of news was limited. Hence, a journalist should till the end of his career should only be a messenger showing both sides of the coin and never turn, whatever may be the enticements, into activism. That will defeat the very essence of Journalism no matter the advent of the internet or even more! Published By: JAINAM SHETH Edited By : KRITIKA KASHYAP
