Quite by accident maybe, journalists have taken the lead on this oral history initiative
Once a month, on a Friday evening, I steal a little time, finish writing early, and rush off to the Shram Shakti Bhavan in Panaji. For those who might not know, this quaintly named place (isn’t a Konkani equivalent name available?) is the home of the Labour Commissioner’s offices. It is also the location of the Employment Exchange, chambers related to the RTI (Right to Information), and some other government departments at Patto.
“The only non-government office is the Goa Union of Journalists,” as Rajtilak Naik, its president, mentioned as we spoke informally.
From the 1980s, the GUJ has been known for its annual (or biennial) elections. But in the last 12-14 months, it has come to be known for a series called ‘Behind The By-Line’. In this set of monthly programmes, “senior” journalists share their reminiscences about their life and times in journalism in Goa.
It is not true that praise in this column comes up because this columnist was featured in the last programme held in this series (in mid-July). In fact, one has been closely following this set of talks for some time. For good reason too: it is insightful, educational, and really something to learn from.
If you’re interested in understanding how the media works, or even if you just want to know more about Goa, this should be essential attending for just about anyone. Maybe journalism students should attend. Fortunately, the GUJ has kept this programme open to all, no questions asked. Like many pro bono programmes in Goa, there’s also no charge to attend. On the contrary, if on time, you could even expect biscuits, patties, and a cup of warm tea on a possibly rainy day.
Quite by accident maybe, journalists have taken the lead on this oral history initiative. They have shown others what can be done. Goa needs much more of this. Such narrations help us to understand ourselves and the place. When recorded and archived, over time, this could be a useful tool for studying the media history of Goa.
But not just that. Journalists talking about their experiences are also telling you about Goa itself. Its politics. Its sociology. Its history. Its controversies. Even its hidden histories. Or how we shape an understanding of these many subjects.
No doubt, there’s some amount of ‘talking shop’ going on here. If you’re part of the ‘fraternity’ (currently, journalism has a little more of a gender balance than in the past), you might be able to understand things more closely. But even otherwise, there’s enough to learn from.
Frankly, I do not believe in terms like ‘senior’ (used before the noun ‘journalist’) to describe anyone. We are only as good as our last story, or our current work. Just because someone has put in a lot of years, it doesn’t make them more knowledgeable or endowed with a greater amount of talent or wisdom.
My first impulse, when invited to share my experiences at a Behind The By-Line programme, was to somehow evade the event. Since I consider myself to be in learning mode, it makes more sense to listen than to talk at programmes like this.
But then, while by chance glancing through some old papers and files, one came upon alternative newspapers from the 1980s. Going through that was such a trip down memory lane (anyone remember ‘The Goan Weekly’?). It brought on a rethink.
Maybe there’s something that needs to be shared, recorded and kept for future generations? And why not. The journalists have been doing a good job in recording these events. While I might have differences, the fact is that people like Rajtilak Naik (with his team), also an excellent photographer, are great organisers. He has an eye for detail when it comes to organising such events. Only someone who has been into organising events knows what it takes. Apart from that, he’s also very polite. Too polite, maybe....
But from the programmes held so far, one got a chance to hear about Marathi journalism in the 1960s, editors who made a difference, some ‘scoops’ and how these were obtained. (Of course, some journalistic ‘scoops’ can end up being political plants, but that’s another matter....) There were insights into what it took to enter journalism then, whether one could earn a living from it, and the many diverse individuals who shaped the field.
Each one is telling the story from their own perspective. So there is an element of personal bias coming up here. But still, those who have also lived through those times would be able to sift the grain from the chaff. Also, looking back on one’s career makes it easier to speak out, rather than when one is still in the rough and tumble of the media world.
In hindsight, it is true that journalists should not be overpraised. After all, journalism is a profession, not a priesthood. More praise can also lead to less accountability. Then too, both the media industry and journalists are not immune to corruption and market pressures.
Too much praise can only boost elitism. Let’s also keep in mind that not all forms of journalism are “noble”. (We also have tabloids, clickbait, paid news, planted stories, biased coverage and the like.) Praise for mediapersons surely should be earned, not assumed. It should be measured and critical. Last but not least, beware of co-optation through praise.
The media has changed a lot over the past few decades, particularly in recent years. Maybe we should work to restore the balance between speed and accuracy, and rethink the impact of shallow reporting and sensationalism. Above all, the media and journalists need to regain the trust of the public and experiment more with constructive journalism. The last is not a suggestion that we avoid criticism of the powerful.
The recordings of past programmes are here. Worth checking out: facebook.com/watch/goauj/
