Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Diary of a Reporter

Reporting is a challenging job and is considered as a unique profession that suits those with special qualities to identify the pleasant fragrance of news-worthy elements. Sensationalism has become the pulse of news and it’s helping to add more visibility to the news. Hard news are getting diluted by adding drama elements to it, visual media is playing the role to perfection. Now a days, more than information, infotainment is considered as the prime motto of most of the news stories.

Many of them among the public have misapprehensions that reporters are super humans and they are gifted with certain special qualities that make them extraordinary in nature. But the reporter only knows the fact hidden behind this belief. The glare of publicity offered by the media has some magical effects that make the celebrities to rummage around the media, which converts the reporter as the messenger of media God.

While considering the theory, reporters should have to possess certain inbuilt qualities that include he/she should be ‘jack of all things and master of none’, inimitable quality of interacting, mainly mastering the art of questioning (questions for question sake!), acquire the peerless quality to overcome adversities, inimitable skill in using language, and the personality and glamour quotients are part of visual media.

Above mentioned are the qualities of a reporter, I’m also a reporter I don’t think that I have had the above mentioned qualities in me! But for the last six years I’m actively involved in contributing captivating stories as part of my stint with various media groups. During my stint as a reporter, I came across several interesting personalities (I’m sure they are not celebrities) but the way in which they approached life and the way in which they lead life created an urge in me to approach them for a soul-searching interview. For the purpose of interview and to approach those news-worthy personalities, I traveled hundreds of miles to the interiors of jungles, islands, hilly terrains, bustling towns, charming villages and the list goes endless.

I’m a reserved person by nature and I don’t possess the impressive quality of interacting with unfamiliar people. But, my interest in the field of reporting changed me a lot and gradually with my untiring efforts I realized that it is not the art of questioning that bring the information, it is the art of listening that brings in the desired results.

My experience over the years as a reporter taught me one thing that a reporter should have a third eye view when approaching a so-called human interest stories. Rather than ferreting out truth he/she should create the ambiance for the interviewee to come out voluntarily to express the news-worthy elements.

This blog is an attempt to register my experience; it is also an attempt to introduce some of the rarest individuals with unusual qualities. You are going to travel back with me in a time machine; I will show you the interesting realities hidden behind the news stories.

I take pleasure to thank my editors who supported me by understanding my desire to register the other side of limelight. Without their encouragement my wayward journey would got interrupted. I also thank my parents who allowed me to take risk, most of the time I didn’t revealed the risk associated with the news story (the one in the hamlet 15 kms inside a dense forest is the perfect example) I have worked with many budding photographers who shared a good wavelength with me and were willing to take risk for a fantastic snap. Initially, my unusual news sense panicked them, but later they felt impressed and still cherish those wonderful moments with them.

Get ready for the adventurous journey away in the wild to find the unusual life stories…

5 comments:

Pradeep said...

hi buddy,,great stuff,,,,expecting more from you...

Unknown said...

Dei..Thambi..Yepdi da...yepdi ithellam..neeyae yezhuthi..neeyae comment pannikira...

Mithu said...

pradeep... its really nice while reading this diary... i feel those days back like getting into a time machine....keep going...

Naveen Murugesan said...

Today am going to write my Vikatan Exam....Second round. Your writing is inspiring me a lot.

Pradeep said...

Hi Naveen...all the best...get ready for a life changing experience...whichever career you choose, your experience as student journalist will help you a great deal :)