Letter to the Reporters - May You Stay Forever Young
'Young Witty & Scurrilous'

Gautam Sharma *

Collection of Press card in October 2009

Sir,

My hunch, it's not ridiculous to write 'Letter to the Reporters' because it can be happen, it happened today and it's not an unethical one. Because ethics are not law but moral principle and values, that govern the action and decision of an individual or a groups or a union. So the point is that, this is all about moral sociology. As, many laws and regulations are put into force to what is not legitimate in Journalism, however, not every issue and need are controlled and looked after by law. So, I did it! You read it, and you love it, too.

Whenever I listen to Boby Dada's (Bob Dylan, as they usual calls with love) 'Forever Young', it reminds me of you and my inclination to express gratitude for you growing stronger, bigger and larger.

Firstly, I would like to express my deepest appreciation towards your strength and courage to survive with 4-Digit remuneration/salary/honorarium, in the reign of 6th Pay commission, which you never asked for a gratuity or fringe benefits or even never put a grievance to your authority.

And secondly, I would like to show my intense gratitude for the roles that you have been playing to make our press vibrant. Today, our democracy is so vibrant because of our vibrant press. This is because of your ruling passion in this profession that you turned to vocation, in the situation of this lofty location. May You Stay Forever Young!

Oftentimes I heard people saying, "Your editor is great", but heard never of saying by your editors, "Genuinely, my reporters are awesome"; "My good editorial has lots of contribution from my reporting staffs". Seriously, not ironically saying, few-times I had a hunch that you don't expect any compliment for your ruling passion.

And you don't give a damn staying without compliment or desire living unnoticed of your dedication. This is OK. Men! The civic will internalize that, if the Third World Wars happens, 'YOU- Mr. Pao-Mee" are the backbone of news media. You are real warrior; you fight to quench the information thirsty people, and you mouthed for oppress & official people. May You Stay Forever Young!

With you restless feet, you wander on and on and still wandering to strengthen not only the Fourth-estate but the Fifth-Estates of Democracy, too (CSOs, NGOs, Pressure Groups, other bodies et cetera and other similar things). As they have understood now that 'news-media is powerful'; 'media can set our agenda'; media can turn 'our concern to people concern'. This is a unique understanding and education they have acquired more than the media personnel. And, you deserved the credit for this, as you were the sole educator for them. May You Stay Forever Young!

Before starting the press conference, press meet or media - communiqué sessions for Fifth-Estate, please remember that among them, few are also fighting to win some Space & Attraction. So cut the sh*t and speak straight, 'what do you want'? Because, they don't know what is advertising, what they know is advertorial, press release, press meet.

Before they try to cool you down with Frooti-fast, Samosa second, say them directly that "Tamo, let's turn it to Ads, only then we can put it into the front page". If denied, say them that there is no "EMBARGO" in advertising. Only then, the provision of gratuity would come naturally.

You know, more Ads revenue means more Free Presses, more exercise of article 19 (1), then NO "Pao-Mee Watch Club" and finally, no buzz of paid news topics amongst by your colleagues, even in Radio-Disco, I mean that 7:30 Integrated Morning News of 'Voices from the Sky'- Akashvani.

Look, on other side, gratuity means your personal & family benefit, which ours press doesn't provide: a fresh Insurance Policy, another Heath and Accident policy, during and, for news- gathering process. So before owning an insurance policy, please don't go now for your favorite pick-up program for any person or organization.,

As you know, these days are frequent with road accidents, leave aside the life-ways, all the byways are quite slippery due this monsoon rain, and even you can also see the busy road-traffic now, tight with Boys in Khakhis & white. For this kind of petty-petty matter, your pals of Lok Pal may not help you out. Well, we don't want Headlines like, "Journo lifting Tata Magic Turns Turtles". So that, May You Stay Forever Young

You are the real- life hero but don't fight to hard to open the enveloped of the current journalism, like "Burma VJ reporting from the Close" [it is Doc - film; I suggest our journo should watch]. Methinks this can create insomnia if you happen to receive the anonymous calls & letters.

So the feedback is, doing decide -- 'to publish or not to publish' after a psychological Impact Analysis. So 'forget not' and 'remember always' that 'Strong 4th Estate not possible with 4 Digit Remuneration' and those journo who practices considerable amount of freedom of speech and expression won't be able to owned a car. [Whispering: Hey, Mini Cooper is arriving Indian Streets].

This is the state unwritten press law or you can even consider it as a new local adjustment or GLOCALISATION of NEWSMEDIA or INSTITUTIONALISING d' Context, as you have seen vividly with your own eyes. Just try to be everyone's friendly neighborhood journo, then no complaint, no attack from both sides, then many, many Kudos. Try to deserve it, this is not uncouth. May You Stay Forever Young!

Oftentimes I heard, but not seen, some sub-editor & copy-editor don't considered and few-times even ignored your efforts to gather news. My men! Please don't mind about their usual utterances: "your Lead of the story is buried, with full of holes"; "You think this is news"; "You went whole day for this new. Yaihey, Nungsey!"(You are amazing!).

Please don't mind b'cos they won't understand how you brought the news from which situation, they are not like your Chief Bureau/ Senior Reporting staffs who'd understand the field situation. You know, they are just like gate keeper for your news; they only filtered your news and improve some of your grammatical errors, punctuations, few spellings.

May be, they have a little sense to smell news but may not have the 'Eyes for News' like you had. My men! You are the real Watch Dog! They are they Watchdog's Gatekeeper. Is it, OK? Happy! May You Stay Forever Young!

By Jove, if someone happens to write a big 'Kanglei Journo History', I believe you have high possibility to be included. Because so far I discover no comprehensive written state press history, may be because my exploration was less. So just Work Smart not Hard, and don't believe in the old idioms "You can't teach an old dog new trick".

P.S. Hey, carry your follow-up story, there's limitation on 'Contempt of Court- Act, 1971', Explore it!
Tag Line: Ah...Next I pick-up story is "Meritorious students feted", Kuku, it is your?
Newsperson: AUNG TAMO!