Post Info TOPIC: Media: A flunky's last resort
GVK

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Media: A flunky's last resort
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This piece refers to the status of journalism in early 1960s. There were exceptions even then. Mr. T S Satyan, for instance, was neither flunky, nor was photo-journalism his last option. He was already well established. in Life, when I was a sarkari journalist struggling to gain a toehold in mainstream journalism.


It was during my stint at the photo publicity unit (1961-64) I had occasion to come in contact with well known photographers, T. Kasinath, who headed the Photo Division of the I & B ministry and T.S. Satyan, who worked for Life magazine. Now settled in Mysore, Mr. Satyan is working on a book recalling his days as news photographer in New Delhi. Not many photographers of those days had familiarity with English of the grammatical kind, let alone a flair for writing....Though I was lucky to have landed a government job I was not happy there. I wasn't among those who fancied a secure 10-to-5 job Not when you were in your early twenties. To Read More click on..'Recycled writings'



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Capt. Anup Murthy

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Can we be treated to a sequel? Or a series? Your article is fresh, gives us a feel for the times that you lived in and it speak volumes about your humility. Last but not least, you are anything but a flunky! I'd love a series based on your recollections.

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GVK

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For Capt. Murthy's attention, 'To London, with 12 shillings in pocket'.

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Gouri Satya

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Media: A flunkey's last resort is interesting. Tells the young journos of today how hard it was to get a job of a reporter those days. Even with a good degree and excellent command of English like you have, it was certainly difficult to become a reporter. However, I was lucky in the same 1961, Narasimhan of Indian Express, Bangalore, offered me a part-time job of a sports reporter in Mysore and later the job of reporter in Kannada Prabha and asked me to report for its dummy editions as well.


The other item on London, reminds me of late Ramani of the Statesman, how he stole a gold necklace of his mother and made his trip to London in a ship to become a journalist there. I still remember his adventurous as a journalist, which he had narrated to me when he lived in Mysore during his last days.


I feel you should write more about your experiences. Very few journalists have left their reminiscences in print format.


 


 



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Capt. Anup Murthy

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Thank you Sir, this is not just for me, this is for everyone. I enjoyed reading it and as I mentioned as a comment, Yeh Dil Maange More!

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Vijendra Rao

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Now that Captain has clarified that it is not for his consumption alone, let me have a bite, too! As newball bowler, it is not easy for me not to have the first bite of the cherry that GVK's pieces are to me.


There is a significant shift in selection of candidates for journalism from GVK's days as a cub reporter: http://press-distrust-india.blogspot.com/2006/05/mediocrity-as-news-filter-noam-chomsky_08.html


 



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