News Worthy!

I,ME,MYSELF: The three words missing from Sir Mark Tully’s two-hour interaction with students of the Chitkara School of Mass Communication. ‘Vanity is vain in the ‘field’,remember,it’s not your story,but the story of the people you’re writing about,personal glorification will only make you unhappy,you will make mistakes,but learn to accept them honestly,do your job as a journalist like a service,act as watchdogs and inform without bias…’ some things never change,irrespective of the time and place and these are integrals that Sir Mark Tully practices and preaches. Renowned BBC journalist and author,the 73-year-old looks back with fondness and looks ahead with hope,talking about his favourite medium,radio,which needs more autonomy,the trivialization of news on television,misuse of technology. Peppered with personal experiences from his long career,his memorable assignments,highs and lows,inspirations and influences,Sir Mark made everyone sit up and listen…

LEND AN EAR: I believe in the power of voice and I would not be well-known if it were not for radio. But in India,radio is still shackled. News is one of the staples of radio and ironically it’s only on AIR that you can tune in to news. The popularity and power of the radio is unimaginable,for it reaches places and people that television can’t and no,television hasn’t killed the radio. Just listening is such an awesome feeling,the pictures are better on radio,for they are your pictures,in your head. A good radio person helps listeners see these images. Another beauty is that you can listen to radio while doing other things,on you own,that’s the extraordinary intimacy of radio. It’s strength,glory and impact is its sound.

INDYEAH!: The influence of this country on my work and being is manifold,it’s my karma. It’s India’s unity in diversity and the ability to cope with diversity that makes it so unique. India has the potential to be a great power,but the babu system cripples its functioning,we need a constitution which functions in a balanced way,with checks. And as journalists,it’s our responsibility to act as watchdogs,inform people,support and improve systems,for journalism is a multiplier and courage its mainstay. India’s people are its strength.

I BELIEVE: There have been trying times in my career,but I have learnt there are no ultimate or absolute truths. No one can say I know it absolutely,I am right. In life,there is no complete black and white…It’s the middle-way.