A degree of mass media and mass communication from a reputed college, myriad relatives over – exaggerating my talents and Barkha Dutt is to be blamed for my entry in the Media. It’s been only 1 year, but I don’t need to be a veteran to say that Media is certainly not as glamourous as the young and restless believe it to be. The people are certainly not as ‘happening’ as they look on the screen. Satisfaction remains a distant dream. Levels of frustration remain high, tempers rise, fingers pointed, abuses hurled. It’s an ugly industry which has put up a good show.
Within a few weeks of my initiation as an intern in a renowned news channel, I swore to never work with one again. But as fate had it, a month after graduation I was working in, no prizes for guessing, the same institution which made me swear against news channels. As I became further acquainted with the industry, I realized that politics rule the news room. Partial bosses, inept appreciation and embarrassing salaries. But after cribbing and swearing and cussing for a day, you go back to work thinking that all this is not exclusive to media. This is true for most industries. But what makes it difficult is peoples’ perception about media. Some questions are most difficult to answer.
“Oh, you work with Zee News! What is it that you do there? Production? What exactly is that?”
Umm… Aah… Errr… It’s some background work, managing and umm… why don’t you try this besan ki burfi aunty, it’s low – fat!
“I saw you on TV yaar! Anchoring – shanchoring! You must be earning really well!”
Oh God please don’t ask how much… please don’t ask how much…
Media does have its plusses. It is a powerful profession. It gives you a sense of responsibility, makes you stronger in your head. It is still a young industry in India. And what people know less about, people fear. And fear leads to an awed respect or uncalled for criticism. I have often found myself defending my profession with passionate arguments. I have also submitted to criticism, even participated in them, because I know of media’s mixed nature. One day it can make you proud of the kind of work it is doing. And the very next day it can make you ashamed of being a media person.
But one thing is definitely true. This profession is not for the faint hearted or weak – willed. Everyone knows you crib and cry all the time, but at the end of the day, you still feel for the organization and give your hundred percent as and when required.
The on – air content isn’t the only sensationalized and dramatized thing. The atmosphere in the news room is equally charged and catchy. Watching it on screen and witnessing and participating in it are two different things. I hate it. But I simply can’t stop loving it.
So if someone tells me that they are entering the industry, I say:
Welcome to the jungle. Get over the shock early and you’ll survive just fine.
