Journalism is probably the only profession where an entry could be made without submitting to a regulator. This had led to people with extremely different levels of intellectual capacity entering the vocation. This has also affected the teaching of mass media as the journalism courses run by different universities and media schools do not follow uniform syllabus. Their levels vary hugely creating a big gap in equipping the students with necessary attributes to be a successful journalist. In addition to this is the lure of gathering superficial information through the click of the mouse. I have always told my students in different media schools and colleagues training with me that mouse-work cannot be a replacement for leg-work.
Journalism over the past few years has also been chosen by some for the scope of glamour it provides. The lure to get an access to the powerful and the successful is overwhelming. Then there is also the desire to be famous by being a show anchor or a television reporter. However, the question is, does success come that easily? Can somebody ensure one sustainability in the competitive environment by just depending on a research team? There could be a few aberrations but that's not the general trend.
Journalists should remember that however small or young in the profession, they enjoy a position of pre-eminence in the society. The challenge for a journalist is to live up to that position of pre-eminence. This could be only achieved through getting a command over language and acquiring knowledge. And how does one equip with fluency in language and eloquence in knowledge? This is best done by developing the habit to read; and read voraciously. Knowledge is necessary not just to write a report but also to create a greater acceptance of oneself as a person of pre-eminence.
Since those opting for careers in journalism come from diverse backgrounds, it is a foremost requirement for them to have an understanding of the media history. The Indian media history runs parallel to the evolution of the nation's history and politics, which has had its impact on the fourth estate and vice-versa. This is true for media history of almost all the nations.
The inspiration to write this book essentially came from a large number of my students and colleagues who appreciated my attempt at introducing them to less mundane topics of history, politics and language in addition to focusing on the daily chores of journalism. It's their love that they have always made it a point to find time from their busy schedules to attend my less journalistic and more academic pursuits. The response which I have received in classrooms from as diverse a group of students as those of journalism department of Ranchi University, Jharkhand to National Taiwan University, Taipei has given me the confidence to make this attempt.
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