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January 22, 2009 at 3:01 am | In IBN, internship, sensationalism | Leave a CommentI’m at my wit’s end. What makes news?? As an intern, my primary task at IBN is to come up with story ideas. It sounds simple enough, especially because this is what my job also included when I was working at AM850. The only problem is, here, in Chennai, what constitutes news for the large English national channel is different than what constitutes news in little ole’ Gator town. In Gainesville, everything was news. For IBN, nothing is news.
But what concerns me are the stories that are given up and the ones which are picked up for the sake of headlines and competition. In J-school, we learn about the battle between Hearst and Pulitzer’s competing publications during the era of yellow journalism. That was then, I thought. But now I see that scandal, violence, conflict–these are what sell even today.
Yesterday, the Dalai Lama was in Chennai. Knowing that no one is our office was covering it yet, I called up one of the reporters and asked her if I could do the story. World leader. In chennai. Speaking at Madras University. Again, this is something I would expect would scream “story” in the eyes of any news organization. But she told me it wasn’t worth covering.
What?? A major world leader, proponent of peace, visits India, not even two months after the Mumbai attacks and it isn’t worth covering?
I later asked one of the other girls working why this wouldn’t be newsworthy. Her response: “Well if there was violence going on in Tibet or something, that would be a great story.” Ahh ok. Now I understood better. Just the other day I heard our bureau chief turn down another reporter’s story idea about property thefts asking, “Is there any murder linked to these property thefts? If not, it’s not a story. I need a recent murder.” So we’re looking for blood and guts, the rated-R stuff. Gotcha.
This realization of what makes news and what doesn’t has somewhat discouraged me. At a time when I’m thinking about my graduate school options because job prospects are limited, such episodes only deter me from journalism. I chose it because journalism is fun, you have to know a little bit about everything, you meet extraordinary people, you can write about your interesting experiences, and you do something different every single day. It isn’t your average 9-5 cublicle work. I know there are catastrophes, murders, kidnappings, and natural disasters to report, but it depresses me to know that these are the stories news organizations seek out at the expense of lighter, equally newsworthy topics. Sensationalism isn’t why I chose this field.
They say internships not only pad your resume and give you practical experience, but they give you some insight into what you may like to do in the future. Well, if these little instances are indicative of what to expect at the larger bureaus of other major news networks in the U.S., then I know for a fact that it’s not where my interests lie.
The next world power?
January 18, 2009 at 5:02 am | In India, problems, progress | 1 Comment
Perhaps my view of India thus far has been far too simplistic. A recent conversation got me thinking……
me:
Classical Western music falls on deaf ears
January 13, 2009 at 3:51 pm | In Bolshoi, Chennai | Leave a CommentLast weekend I went to a performance of the Bolshoi Ballet of Uzbekistan here in Chennai at the Music Academy. I know. A Russian ballet? Here in South India? I wondered what kind of audience it would attract and if it was possible for the Music Academy crowd to appreciate Western classical art with the same enthusiasm as it did Carnatic music.
To my surprise, the hall was packed, a full house. I was impressed. And the ballet itself was so beautiful. The men would lift the girls up as if they were weightless clouds, and, for as angular and structured I think Bharatanatyam is, ballet seemed equally precise. It was amazing, a real treat to watch. The ballet wasn’t my source of disappointment as I walked out of the auditorium. It was the audience’s lack of manners.
As expected, I saw at least 20-25 patrons traipse in late (in just the lower level of seats), disturbing the experience for everyone else. Cell phones rang obnoxiously over the orchestra’s music, and people would actually receive the call and continue to talk on the phone. I was appalled and disgusted that the ballet troupe was being treated as such. “Poor dancers,” I thought, “they do not know that this is how it is in India.”
However, I didn’t complain about the rudeness to anyone because I didn’t want to unnecessarily whine. Sometimes I feel perhaps I fault Indian society too much, and I should just let it slide instead.
But the next day I found after reading the New Indian Express, that I wasn’t the only one who felt perhaps the ballet was wasted on an Indian audience. In a story covering the post-performance celebrations of the production, U. Teyjonmayam wrote that members of the Navoi orchestra (which played for the Bolshoi ballet), performed a few pieces as entertainment at some of the after-parties. Their music fell on deaf ears apparantly.
“…our people are decades away from learning to appreciate Western classical music. As they played piece by piece, it was disheartening to see not even a single Indian soul listening to the music….Though there was mild applause after the completion of every piece, what’s the point in appreciating when you can’t listen to their performance? It needs to be noted that it was only our Chennaiites who were making the hall echo with their conversation, while the other performers of the ballet group were maintaining their silence. “
My thoughts exactly.
At IBN: excerpts from my internship diary
January 12, 2009 at 3:37 pm | In IBN, Slumdog Millionaire, internship diary | 1 CommentI spent about an hour just looking through the various newspaper the office gets, reading up on Chennai news, trends, etc. Then the entertainment reporter came in and said she was off to a shoot, to get a reaction from percussionist Sivamani and rapper Blaaze because Rahman had won 4 Golden Globe awards for his work in Slumdog Millionaire. At first when she said it she said, “Yeah, I may also get blase’’” and I thought she meant the WORD blase’ so I wondered: “Why would she get bored, indifferent, casual about her job?” and then later she told me Blaaze’ wasn’t a word, but the name a of a person, a rapper.
So we drove over to the Taj Connemara hotel. It was gorgeous. It took a few minutes to arrange a shooting location that was both pretty, had good lighting for camera and that didn’t have a lot of people around, because I think this drum player didn’t really want too much attention. He finally came out carrying a wooden box with a hole in it. I didn’t understand what it was until we started rolling and he started drumming his fingers on it making music. He made up a little jingle sort of thing, congratulating AR Rahman on his Golden Globe award. We asked him a few questions about what it was like to work on Slumdog Millionnaire’s soundtrack with Rahman. yada yada. He was really easy going and that always makes it so much easier to interview someone.
From there we went to an apartment complex. It would like any ole’ Indian anybody would leave there. We went up to the third floor where the rapper Blaaze’ was staying. Again, we asked him the same kind of questions.
He was dressed like a rapper. I’m talking, major BLING BLING. He had on the baggiest chaddis (shorts), a sweatshirt. a cap….and yet, he was wearing kumkum on his forehead like a traditional Hindu. He had his family there, his two little kids running around, photos of Hindu gods and goddesses all over the house, the smell of traditional south Indian food wafting through….everything was so normal, and meanwhile there was this guy looking like an American rapper free styling for the camera. It was crazy. I was struck by the stark contrast.
The icing on the cake: Blaaze told us he would soon be working on an album to popularize the Thirrukurral verses. He said the weight of the words written by poet Thiruvalvar, although written as early as the second century B.C., are still relevant today.
The bling-bling, baggy shorts rapper plans to popularize (don’t worry, not desecrate) the Thirrukurral. I walked out of there speechless.
A culture steeped in timeless respect for the divine– now that’s what I love about India.
At IBN: excerpts from my internship diary
January 8, 2009 at 4:31 am | In Carlos Moya, Chennai Open, IBN, internship diary, tennis | Leave a Comment*tweet* Awesome. So my day just got better:
Tennis player Carlos Moya is going to talk to some kids at a youth tennis tournament this afternoon and I’m going to be covering it. 
At IBN: excerpts from my internship diary
January 6, 2009 at 4:29 am | In IBN, internship diary, newsroom, story ideas | Leave a CommentThe political news reporter had apparently already set off an a shoot early this morning around 7 or 8, so I guess I missed her. But the CNBC correspondent, was in the office. Basically, she spent most of today teaching me and the other interns how things work and what we should be doing and how to do it. It started when I handed her a list of about 10-11 story ideas I had with descriptions. She said they were good ideas, but she emphasized the need for a hard news peg of national relevance. After I handed her my list, she went through and explained to us, point by point, why some ideas could and work and why others wouldn’t. Finally, I concluded that these were ideas with which I could follow through:
1) PMK party in Tamil Nadu is pushing for prohibition laws. So, what will this mean for liquor stores and liquor store owners? What will be the implications for the state since liqor IS taxed heavily? How much money will they lose and how do they plan to make up the money lost in taxes?…etc. Basically, the economic impact if prohibition were to go through. Will probably also get a reaction from the Tamil Nadu Trade Market Coproration about how liquor salesmen feel etc. What they’re doing to stop the law from being implemented
2) South Indian actress Namitha came up as like the number 9th actress Googled. and she’s well…hefty. Meanwhile north Indian actress Katrina placed 6th. So what is it about south Indian culture/perception that makes the heavier women more attractive, cuz it obviously wouldnt fly in the north.
3) recession and jobs: what are the 5 safest jobs right now? Are students changing their career choices because of the recession? which are the 5 least safe job right now? Many people are cutting corners and tightening their budget…but who’s still safe and actually making money during this recession?
She also showed us some of her previous work to give us an example of the kind of information we should be looking for, the kind of clips we need to shoot, and the kinds of bites to pull, etc.
At IBN: excerpts from my internship diary
January 4, 2009 at 4:28 am | In Chennai Open, IBN, Leander Paes, internship diary, tennis | Leave a CommentApparently there’s a Chennai Open that’s been going on for 14 years. It’s the first tournament of the year, always, right before the Australian Open, so it brings in some European and Asian players (rarely any Americans…). The morning press conference was about heightened security at the tennis match in the aftermath of 26/11. I was a bit surprised they held a press conference for this content, because it seemed like information that could have been distributed through a press release. I don’t know why they had a press conference for it.
The second part of the press conference was a drawing to select the players in each round of play. Some of the tennis players were actually present to talk about their expectations for the outcome fo the tounament, including noted Indian tennis player Leander Paes. That’s when I remembered, sometimes there are perks to a job in journalism, and that’s what makes it fun….
At IBN: excerpts from my internship diary
January 3, 2009 at 3:54 am | In IBN, Medha Patkar, internship diary, newsroom, protest | Leave a CommentThe office is smaller than the AM850 newsroom. When you enter there is a little sitting (reception?) room. From this room you can enter four other rooms. To the left is a “studio” The next door, going clockwise, is the editing room. It’s the smallest I believe. The next room to the right is the editorial room, the only room I stepped in today besides the bathroom, and then to the very right is the marketing room. The editorial room has four computer cubicles
I was told a few days ago to come in around 10:30/11ish. My mom wanted to drop me off at 10 because it was my first day, and she wanted me to reach the office before Rahu Kalam.
That first day, I tagged along with the political news reporter, who was scheduled to report on a protest by some residents in four counties (comparable to counties) by the airport. These locals were protesting the construction of a second airport runway, saying it would infringe on their property and would cause some other hazards such as flooding, etc.
It was a peaceful protest, just people just speaking about why they shouldn’t build the runway and how it would be detrimental to sustainable efforts in the region, etc.
Social activist Medha Patkar showed up to speak about sustainability and green initiatives. She argued against the runway construction, illuminating its detrimental effects to the lives of local people.
As cool as it can get in Chennai
January 1, 2009 at 1:17 pm | In Chennai, life | 1 CommentRight when the monsoons have passed: that’s when Chennai is most hospitable. Music rings through the city, with kutcheris at every corner, people buzz through shops trying to take advantage of Margazhi, New Year, and Pongal sales. The city is teeming with life.
Moreover, Chennai’s weather is also bearable this time of year. The crisp morning chill usually only dispels around lunchtime, and because of that there are fewer mosquitos to dodge. Cool January breezes beat excruciating summers any day.
But I’ve started to notice that it isn’t just the weather that’s breezy. At the home and in the office, life in India is just more relaxed, less scripted. Indians don’t wait for an invitation to call on relatives and friends — they just stop by. After all, the houses are literally kept open, welcoming not only that cool Chennai breeze, but any passersby who wish to stop in for a cup of tea or perhaps a simple chit-chat. As a child, I thought it quite rude that someone would barge in without giving any advance notice, but now I see that life without formalities between close friends is an ideal, not idiosyncratic, relationship.
Worklife, too, is laid back. Indians work hard, but they take their time working. When I started the internship about a week ago I was startled and downright peeved at the casual demeanor in the office. “This is a NEWSROOM,” I thought “what lazy reporters!” No. Not true. When it’s game time, these reporters know how to play. But knowing there are busy days and slow days, they take advantage of their time in the sidelines. I see that it’s just that people are in no rush. They take their time to savor the simple pleasures in life. They live each day by the “take it easy” policy.
A repairman said he would come to fix our tv at 10 am……he showed up at 7pm. That is India. The cook says she will make an orka dish for the next day’s lunch. She makes eggplant instead. That is India. I’m sent on an assignment to cover the Prime Minister’s arrival in Chennai only to be held up in traffic (even after leaving 2 hours early) on the way there and not make it on time. We borrow another station’s tape instead. This is India.
Indians don’t waste time stressing over circumstances out of their control. They come up with alternatives, work with what they’ve got, don’t complain about it and move on.
Just a few months ago when I emailed a former IBN intern about what I was to expect from my internship and if I needed to be proficient in any video editing software, her email response to me read “Chill out. It’s really relaxed here. Don’t worry about any of that stuff. You’ll learn it all, so just chill, man.” If there’s one thing that can fire a person up faster than a match to a fuse, it’s someone telling an already calm person to “chill out.” Great. So now I was the uptight American to-be intern who had a slight case of neuroses. I did not understand why a complete stranger was telling me from across the world to “chill out.” I was enraged.
Now, after actually seeing for myself how people work, talk, visit, laugh, eat, — in short, LIVE — I finally get what she means. We, in the U.S. are always rushing: to class (professor will yell), to work (boss will yell), to parties (friends will yell), to dates (girlfriend will yell)….perhaps the Indians are on to something when they take “chill out” for face-value. If there’s one thing I hope to take back with me to the U.S. it’s that calm, stress-reduced, “chilled-out” approach to life. Hopefully, I’ll just take my time enjoying that Chennai breeze.
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