"I have never lost faith in the power of journalism"

[IT IS AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH R. POORNIMA (ASSISTANT  EDITOR OF MAYURA MONTHLY MAGAZINE) FOR OUR SUPPLEMENT MEDIA WATCH]


 What inspired you to enter into the field of Journalism?
I never dreamt that I would become a journalist some day. I entered the field by chance. In 1973, I passed my master’s degree in Kannada Literature with First Rank and two Gold medals. And the decade of 1970- 1980 was filled with different democratic movements. There was that big JP movement against emergency. Its cascading effect shook the society. There were Bandaya (rebel) Literary movement, Samudaya People’s Theatre movement, Democratic Women’s movement, Farmers’ movement etc.in Karnataka. As a student and a young writer I identified with all of them. One day, I applied for a job in Prajavani and became a journalist. I found that working as a journalist would be an extension of my involvement in cultural, social and political movements.  I can not imagine journalism without social perspective and social responsibility.

What was the actual condition of women journalists when you entered the field? How was their representation compared to these days?
Kannada Journalism developed along National movement for Independence like in any other language. Women in Karnataka were attracted to Journalism since its beginning, as early as 1920. But 1950s and 1960s saw many women starting there own monthly and weekly magazines. It was more a passion than profession. But in 1970s few women entered weekly magazines published by big media houses.  But there were hardly any women working in newspaper offices. It was the conscious decision of K.N. Hari Kumar (editor of Deccan Herald and Prajavani at that time) which made history. The 1980s saw few women like us working in the newsroom as subeditors. We never begged for exemptions from late night duties and night shifts.

What were challenges you personally faced in the beginning of your carrier?
I entered Journalism with great enthusiasm. And there were no role models. We had to prove ‘double’ than the boys. The male dominated field was watching us, with a pinch of suspicion. But as a tough girl ‘shaped and seasoned’ by movements, I viewed all challenges as opportunities. ‘Prajavani’ had enlightened leadership and the company always stood for social justice in letter and spirit. Nobody dared to humiliate us. I personally did not face much discrimination. I did not wait for reporting beats or assignments to write; I created my own. I could write on more than ten subjects and my growth as a journalistic writer was cool. I firmly believed that if we work with dedication and conviction, recognition (inside and outside) would naturally follow. After all, all our work will be in ‘black and white’!

What are the challenges women journalists have to face today?
Today, women in media have lot of opportunities. The challenge before them is to recognize them. Those who do will get recognition. Another challenge to overcome, as well as fight is the ‘attitude’ problem. I feel that women should challenge discrimination at workplace through their good work.

Do you think that you have achieved what you had thought of at the beginning?
I have never lost faith in the power of  journalism. But I have miles to go before I sleep!

Could you tell us some of your most interesting and passionate work in your career?
To name a few, my writing on the problems of rural areas, female foeticide, health care, HIV, communalism.

How you define the present journalism with a comparison the journalism of yours initial days?
Passion and Fashion- today there is remixing. And there is addition of Corruption.

Does patriarchy get manifested in the field of journalism, may be in terms of discriminations in salary, promotion, assignments etc? If yes, how to tackle it?
Discrimination if any depends on the policy of the media house. The best way to tackle that is through excellence.

Do you think that the explosion of visual media is threatening to the growth of print media?
The explosion of visual media has forced the print media to set its priorities right. In Asia, the growth is not very much affected. The real challenge before print media is to groom its future generations of readers. Today’s children should be today’s readers- for a safe tomorrow!

How do you see the future of print media in the face of growing internet and visual media?
Newspapers will not die; they live long- on the net. We should see that the internet, the new technology, every new gadget will serve the print media. Only difference is the printing will be on LCD screen. But still, at least in Asia, there is no good morning without a newspaper.

What do you think of editorial sanctity in the backdrop of increasing reports of paid news, trade interests, castism, favoritism, corruption in the media?
Paid news, trade interests, casteism, favoritism and corruption are rapidly increasing types of cancers affecting the media. They are both institutional and individual.  Excepting in a very few media houses, the editorial sanctity is in ICU. Media is demanding and getting its ‘scoop’ in the loot. This is really a heart-breaking news.

Women are projected as either sex objects or a tool to sell the products and services of corporate firms, particularly through advertisements? How do you see the trend?
This is not a new trend. Advertisements always reflected the society. Now the curve is more visible and downwards.

How you state your dream journalism?
Dream Journalism! -  By fair people, for the welfare of the people.

Yours tips to budding journalists?
Be on the information highway, to be on the right path.

Brief  Note about Dr. R. Poornima

Dr. R. Poornima has over three decades of experience in Kannada Journalism (18 years in Prajavani, 11 years in Udayavani and now again with Prajavani). She is a well-known Development Journalist and also writes on Culture (Literature, Music, Cinema and Arts). She has worked in daily newspaper, weekly and monthly magazines and all sections of the news room. She is the first woman in Kannada Journalism to get an opportunity to work as Bureau Chief (Mangalore Bureau of Prajavani) and Editor of a daily newspaper (Udayavani Bangalore Edition). She is recognized as a trend setter in many ways. She has earned more than a dozen awards for excellence in media.