1. What are the three most radical changes you see in Indian journalism today?
a) Journalism in the last two decades, after emergency has an industry and a profession and not for social reason any more. There is more professionalism now a day.
b) Better technology, faster communication and world class printing systems are available today.
c) With more professionalism, journalists have become more courageous and investigative. They are exposing for the society.
2. According to the 2007 FICCI- PricewaterouseCooper Report, the Indian media industry is poised to reach the 1 trillion mark by 2010. What is your take on this? What in your opinion, are going to be the drivers of this growth?
This mark will go more in my opinion. India is a young nation and by the next decade 80%of the population would be youth. The literacy rate is going up, thus more readers are emerging. Even the budget is focusing on health and education, and people are trying to attain a world standard in education.
The driver of this growth will definitely be the youth of the nation.
3. Is journalism a profession or an industry?
It is still a profession even when it has all the traits to become an industry. But is has a social commitment. Anyways media is an industry and journalism will take time to become one. Today is the era of journalist activism. Only journalism saves democracy else wise corrupt MPs and businessmen would not have been behind the bars.
4. Is media still the Fourth Estate?
It should be considered the first estate now. But yes in a democracy like ours the structure should always be first the people’s representative i.e. parliament, then the judiciary and media should be the fourth pillar.
5. What are changes in the ethical standards of journalism?
Basic concept of social reforms in journalism has changed to professionalism. Now newspapers choose stories according to advertising and circulation. Earlier, it used to think of social development but now it thinks of salability in the market. But still journalism has social causes as prime focus.
6. To inform, educate and entertain – are the aims of journalism being redefined in favour of entertainment?
There main aim is to also to lead the society. The main aims have not been redefined. It can survive, if it is only entertainment. It is just like an adding up to the basic aims.
7. How do you think the traditional media is coping with the digital revolution?
Due to increase in interactivity and educational status, print readers are anyways going up even after electronic options.
8. How do you see the multimedia battle for news?
Electronic media-be it TV news, internet or sms, everyone is running after breaking news. Only print remains the one whose news reaches only in the mornings. This battle is detoriating the news standards and is also irritating the consumers. Print media will always provide authentic, well researched and balanced news to its readers.
9. How does awareness of technology convergence on the part of media persons influence content generation?
Technology increases the value of content and also decreases the time lapse. It increases awareness and thus the taste of consumers. “Good copy to good copy” is our motto which means good content will produce good work.
10. In your opinion, is interactivity an empowering phenomenon? What is guiding it?
Yes it is a very empowering phenomenon which is available worldwide. The readers or consumers are obviously the guiding force behind it.
11. How do you see citizen journalism as part of value co-creation in the media value chain?
Like every profession has sub-parts, it is also an emerging trend in journalism. It is an essential part but journalism will go on even without it.
12. With consumer dictating content, is the media still an agent for social change?
Yes, it was always be an agent, whether market becomes the driving force. Journalism is all about guiding, educating, leading people and fighting for social cause especially for deprived sections.
13. How do you see the trajectory of growth of business journalism in India? Does it provide adequate scope for in-depth analysis of the dramatic business scenario in the country or is it restricted to bulls, bears and speculation?
It depends on over all business growth in the economy. It is a part of growth on India. It is definitely the responsibility for providing in depth analysis of scenario, but it also cannot stop from speculation, bulls and bears.
14. What is your take on investigative journalism in India in light of the emerging sting operations carried out by the news media?
Investigation is still the spiciest part of journalism and sting is a new phenomenon which has a few drawbacks, which every profession has. Sting is all about bringing forth the truth which I think is correct. Otherwise we would have seen a MP calling up for college girls on his train journeys and a BJP leader calling zillions of time for a lakh of rupees.
But yes some ethical lines should be drawn otherwise an innocent teacher is declared a middleperson of girls wrongly.
15. What are the future challenges for Indian journalism?
Firstly it will have to face the market and governmental pressures. It will have to stay away from the obligations as well as money. It will have to fight out the black shifts of money as well. The ethics and value system should be well developed to face these challenges.
16. What are the new skill sets an aspiring journalist should possess?
He should have a very good knowledge of latest technology specially the computer skills. He should have an online reading habit and should be able to write according to the latest trends.
17. What is the impact of the liberalization of the press on content?
As market opens it gates to newer opportunities, newer needs arise which develop into habits later. Global educated youth has come up thus the content is also focused towards young generation. The best newspapers in the country be it TOI, ET or DJ, they all are trying to attract the youth.
18. Is online journalism the print media’s friend or foe?
It is a friend as most of the print publications have their counter assets available online.
19. Are newspapers abandoning the Ivory -tower format due to the pressures of interactivity?
It has to change with time. But yes it has always been consumer driven, now may be pressure is more. But with changing time consumers have changed needs like now mass involvement has increased. People are commenting and suggesting through sms, door to door campaigns etc.
20. From editorials to advertorials, is the impact of the market forces on journalism questioning the authenticity of the profession?
Media houses understand this impact but yes journalism can never be so market driven that it looses its credibility among consumers. This is always taken care of.
21. Is the print media still a monopoly industry?
No, because other options are widely available to the people.
22. How is print journalism dealing with the challenge of grabbing eyeballs?
By increasing the interactivity, it is reaching more and more people. And it is also maintaining its authenticity, thus retaining the confidence of its consumers.
23. What can the English press in India learn from its vernacular counterpart?
In the changing scenario, markets are reaching to rural areas and if they do not come out of the paradigm, the markets will leave them. In fact ivory tower format still exist there. And it is because of this Dainik Bhaskar and Dainik Jagran are way ahead in circulation from there English counterpart of TOI.
24. The 2006 NRS report states that rural readership is almost equal to that of urban readership. What is the potential of the rural print media market?
It is growing day by day. Big multinationals are grabbing the opportunity, as it is a potential market. Government is working continuously on rural upliftment in its 5-year plans.
a) Journalism in the last two decades, after emergency has an industry and a profession and not for social reason any more. There is more professionalism now a day.
b) Better technology, faster communication and world class printing systems are available today.
c) With more professionalism, journalists have become more courageous and investigative. They are exposing for the society.
2. According to the 2007 FICCI- PricewaterouseCooper Report, the Indian media industry is poised to reach the 1 trillion mark by 2010. What is your take on this? What in your opinion, are going to be the drivers of this growth?
This mark will go more in my opinion. India is a young nation and by the next decade 80%of the population would be youth. The literacy rate is going up, thus more readers are emerging. Even the budget is focusing on health and education, and people are trying to attain a world standard in education.
The driver of this growth will definitely be the youth of the nation.
3. Is journalism a profession or an industry?
It is still a profession even when it has all the traits to become an industry. But is has a social commitment. Anyways media is an industry and journalism will take time to become one. Today is the era of journalist activism. Only journalism saves democracy else wise corrupt MPs and businessmen would not have been behind the bars.
4. Is media still the Fourth Estate?
It should be considered the first estate now. But yes in a democracy like ours the structure should always be first the people’s representative i.e. parliament, then the judiciary and media should be the fourth pillar.
5. What are changes in the ethical standards of journalism?
Basic concept of social reforms in journalism has changed to professionalism. Now newspapers choose stories according to advertising and circulation. Earlier, it used to think of social development but now it thinks of salability in the market. But still journalism has social causes as prime focus.
6. To inform, educate and entertain – are the aims of journalism being redefined in favour of entertainment?
There main aim is to also to lead the society. The main aims have not been redefined. It can survive, if it is only entertainment. It is just like an adding up to the basic aims.
7. How do you think the traditional media is coping with the digital revolution?
Due to increase in interactivity and educational status, print readers are anyways going up even after electronic options.
8. How do you see the multimedia battle for news?
Electronic media-be it TV news, internet or sms, everyone is running after breaking news. Only print remains the one whose news reaches only in the mornings. This battle is detoriating the news standards and is also irritating the consumers. Print media will always provide authentic, well researched and balanced news to its readers.
9. How does awareness of technology convergence on the part of media persons influence content generation?
Technology increases the value of content and also decreases the time lapse. It increases awareness and thus the taste of consumers. “Good copy to good copy” is our motto which means good content will produce good work.
10. In your opinion, is interactivity an empowering phenomenon? What is guiding it?
Yes it is a very empowering phenomenon which is available worldwide. The readers or consumers are obviously the guiding force behind it.
11. How do you see citizen journalism as part of value co-creation in the media value chain?
Like every profession has sub-parts, it is also an emerging trend in journalism. It is an essential part but journalism will go on even without it.
12. With consumer dictating content, is the media still an agent for social change?
Yes, it was always be an agent, whether market becomes the driving force. Journalism is all about guiding, educating, leading people and fighting for social cause especially for deprived sections.
13. How do you see the trajectory of growth of business journalism in India? Does it provide adequate scope for in-depth analysis of the dramatic business scenario in the country or is it restricted to bulls, bears and speculation?
It depends on over all business growth in the economy. It is a part of growth on India. It is definitely the responsibility for providing in depth analysis of scenario, but it also cannot stop from speculation, bulls and bears.
14. What is your take on investigative journalism in India in light of the emerging sting operations carried out by the news media?
Investigation is still the spiciest part of journalism and sting is a new phenomenon which has a few drawbacks, which every profession has. Sting is all about bringing forth the truth which I think is correct. Otherwise we would have seen a MP calling up for college girls on his train journeys and a BJP leader calling zillions of time for a lakh of rupees.
But yes some ethical lines should be drawn otherwise an innocent teacher is declared a middleperson of girls wrongly.
15. What are the future challenges for Indian journalism?
Firstly it will have to face the market and governmental pressures. It will have to stay away from the obligations as well as money. It will have to fight out the black shifts of money as well. The ethics and value system should be well developed to face these challenges.
16. What are the new skill sets an aspiring journalist should possess?
He should have a very good knowledge of latest technology specially the computer skills. He should have an online reading habit and should be able to write according to the latest trends.
17. What is the impact of the liberalization of the press on content?
As market opens it gates to newer opportunities, newer needs arise which develop into habits later. Global educated youth has come up thus the content is also focused towards young generation. The best newspapers in the country be it TOI, ET or DJ, they all are trying to attract the youth.
18. Is online journalism the print media’s friend or foe?
It is a friend as most of the print publications have their counter assets available online.
19. Are newspapers abandoning the Ivory -tower format due to the pressures of interactivity?
It has to change with time. But yes it has always been consumer driven, now may be pressure is more. But with changing time consumers have changed needs like now mass involvement has increased. People are commenting and suggesting through sms, door to door campaigns etc.
20. From editorials to advertorials, is the impact of the market forces on journalism questioning the authenticity of the profession?
Media houses understand this impact but yes journalism can never be so market driven that it looses its credibility among consumers. This is always taken care of.
21. Is the print media still a monopoly industry?
No, because other options are widely available to the people.
22. How is print journalism dealing with the challenge of grabbing eyeballs?
By increasing the interactivity, it is reaching more and more people. And it is also maintaining its authenticity, thus retaining the confidence of its consumers.
23. What can the English press in India learn from its vernacular counterpart?
In the changing scenario, markets are reaching to rural areas and if they do not come out of the paradigm, the markets will leave them. In fact ivory tower format still exist there. And it is because of this Dainik Bhaskar and Dainik Jagran are way ahead in circulation from there English counterpart of TOI.
24. The 2006 NRS report states that rural readership is almost equal to that of urban readership. What is the potential of the rural print media market?
It is growing day by day. Big multinationals are grabbing the opportunity, as it is a potential market. Government is working continuously on rural upliftment in its 5-year plans.
Comments
every one must read this interview because it tells what is Indian Media all about in present scenario, even most of the journalists doesn't know about it. Everybody can not get opportunity to work with him, he is an institution itself.
he can be found active on Facebook as well.
https://www.facebook.com/rameshwarp?ref=ts
@Asteetva: I am sorry, I do not have his phone no.