‘Feelgood journalism’ for the babu,of the babu

“Bureaucracy is one of the most powerful domains in our system,” says Suhaib A Ilyasi,promoter and editor-in-chief,Bureaucracy Today,whose magazine was inaugurated in March 2009 by T K A Nair,Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Another such magazine published from New Delhi,gfiles,claims to have put 29 Secretaries,including the Cabinet Secretary,on its cover. And it has not been too difficult,says editor Anil Tyagi. “We put them on the cover. That’s a big incentive,” he says.

Besides reports on the bureaucrat’s work and background,these magazines focus on their interests and hobbies as well and also have sections that list their birthdays and messages from family,friends and colleagues. Bureaucracy Today,for instance,did a cover story in December titled ‘Glitterati’,where the models were featured. Another regular feature in all these magazines are reports on transfers and appointments.

But don’t expect any adversarial reporting here. Says Tyagi: “We are a positive magazine. We do not look for scandals nor do we target any individuals. We do hard-hitting stories on the work done by the people in the area of governance.”

Journalist Suresh Malhotra,who launched a magazine called Whispers In The Corridor in September 2009,says there is demand for such news in the Capital’s market. Malhotra has been running a website with the same name since 2001.

While promoters of these magazines say it is only right that bureaucrats get their due in the public space,others disagree. “There was a time when seen in the public space was considered a negative trait,” says a former Union Home Secretary who did not want to be named. “I strongly feel bureaucrats are backroom boys and they should remain there.”

Some of his junior colleagues feel otherwise. “When nobody complains about the brickbats they (bureaucrats) get,why should they complain when they get bouquets for the good work they do,” says Amitabh Kant,CEO and MD,Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development. “Besides,there are issues,such as the transfer of 16 Secretaries in the tourism ministry in five years in UP,that need to be highlighted. Why should officers be not allowed to put their plight on record?” he asks.

Promoters say these magazines have a ready readership in corporate circles,too,especially among those who need to keep a close tab on developments in the power circuit.

Ilyasi,once a well-known television host,claims his magazine sells around 115,000 copies. Tyagi says gfiles sells 20,000 whereas Malhotra says Whispers In The Corridors currently sells only around 4,000 copies. All three are monthlies and are priced at Rs 50.

Their main revenue comes from advertising. No marks for guessing whom the big advertisers are—public sector companies run by the same people who figure in these magazines.