"Access" journalism
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Despite my disclaimers, I get into trouble here. Nevertheless, this is just mid-day musings, nothing in support or against anyone, anything :)
A few days ago Editors’ Guild apparently wrote a letter complaining lack of “access” with the new government.
Did we ever officially seek “access”? One joined the profession as a rookie reporter, was pushed into Dalal Street – neither did I have any knowledge of stocks nor Gujarati. None of my editors asked, BSE, MSE, NSE, SEBI etc, to give us an access.
Before the electronic security devices and punching cards, biometrics etc., one had the convenience of walking into any office, trying to meet mid-level officials, make contacts and that is how one survived.
Till the time you turned up with a tricky story, bosses never asked about one’s sources and once in a way a guidance, a contact was given by them to get a story completed.
Things changed, RBI and SEBI became a fortress. BSE after the bomb blasts hid under a security blanket and NSE except for the few years in the beginning decided to work in total secrecy.
It is just a few public sector banks, financial institutions and a few home grown brokers who continued to be sources after all the clampdown happened. There has been no torrent of exclusives ever, but even the trickling news flow stopped to be just a drops once in a way.
Private sector is a different story altogether. For over a decade now, ever since the Radias of the world set the rules for PR, there is more stopping of information than facilitating of information happening through corporate communications.
I cannot petition Mukesh Ambani, Prashant Ruia etc., and demand access, can I?
With oil&gas beat one visited New Delhi often enough to understand how easy “access” in Delhi was compared to Mumbai. With accreditation one can day in and day out hang around the corridors of power.
I was once openly told if you are in Delhi, you can also get it first (some information that one sought). Delhi has many, many events when one has the privilege of door stopping the mighty politicians to administrators of all ranks. Mumbai has virtually none, except for an occasional banking or mutual fund conference.
When one joined a start-up newspaper in 90s, a PR man from a large bully of an MNC said prove your circulation and come back to me.
Later, when one joined a start-up TV, hardly anyone was willing to show up. Most found it irritating to switch off a/c, fans and wait before the lights for the cameras to roll. Others thought, few watched the only business news channel and refused to speak. We had no way of ensuring those who we wanted would come forward to tell us stories on screen.
One was stopped shooting an automobile shopfloor, when a car was launched because the assembly line was not even completed. With no visuals to support, the editor in charge rightly denied airing the story. Several such episodes one witnessed during TV days. Many exclusives lost!
Politics, I thought was much easier. I have not a seen politician who was not willing to stop before TV cameras!
Also, there are still a lot of veterans around who with their reputation and hard work built up admirable contacts.
I wish an official way of creating “access” is established and me and friends are showered with exclusives often enough to get us decent increments!
A few days ago Editors’ Guild apparently wrote a letter complaining lack of “access” with the new government.
Did we ever officially seek “access”? One joined the profession as a rookie reporter, was pushed into Dalal Street – neither did I have any knowledge of stocks nor Gujarati. None of my editors asked, BSE, MSE, NSE, SEBI etc, to give us an access.
Before the electronic security devices and punching cards, biometrics etc., one had the convenience of walking into any office, trying to meet mid-level officials, make contacts and that is how one survived.
Till the time you turned up with a tricky story, bosses never asked about one’s sources and once in a way a guidance, a contact was given by them to get a story completed.
Things changed, RBI and SEBI became a fortress. BSE after the bomb blasts hid under a security blanket and NSE except for the few years in the beginning decided to work in total secrecy.
It is just a few public sector banks, financial institutions and a few home grown brokers who continued to be sources after all the clampdown happened. There has been no torrent of exclusives ever, but even the trickling news flow stopped to be just a drops once in a way.
Private sector is a different story altogether. For over a decade now, ever since the Radias of the world set the rules for PR, there is more stopping of information than facilitating of information happening through corporate communications.
I cannot petition Mukesh Ambani, Prashant Ruia etc., and demand access, can I?
With oil&gas beat one visited New Delhi often enough to understand how easy “access” in Delhi was compared to Mumbai. With accreditation one can day in and day out hang around the corridors of power.
I was once openly told if you are in Delhi, you can also get it first (some information that one sought). Delhi has many, many events when one has the privilege of door stopping the mighty politicians to administrators of all ranks. Mumbai has virtually none, except for an occasional banking or mutual fund conference.
When one joined a start-up newspaper in 90s, a PR man from a large bully of an MNC said prove your circulation and come back to me.
Later, when one joined a start-up TV, hardly anyone was willing to show up. Most found it irritating to switch off a/c, fans and wait before the lights for the cameras to roll. Others thought, few watched the only business news channel and refused to speak. We had no way of ensuring those who we wanted would come forward to tell us stories on screen.
One was stopped shooting an automobile shopfloor, when a car was launched because the assembly line was not even completed. With no visuals to support, the editor in charge rightly denied airing the story. Several such episodes one witnessed during TV days. Many exclusives lost!
Politics, I thought was much easier. I have not a seen politician who was not willing to stop before TV cameras!
Also, there are still a lot of veterans around who with their reputation and hard work built up admirable contacts.
I wish an official way of creating “access” is established and me and friends are showered with exclusives often enough to get us decent increments!
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
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