25 August,2009 10:18 AM IST | | S Suresh Kumar
When I read the papers, I find what I think are good stories buried deep inside. Why? Do reporters and editors assume readers aren't interested in good stories about ordinary people?
TV channels last week flashed the number of swine flu casualties like some sports or election score. The same evening a victim's brothers assaulted some media folks. Similarly, when a channel did some irresponsible reporting about polio drops, thousands of mothers rushed to hospital in panic. That's the kind of stories we pursue when we aren't following the stars and the celebs.
Two weeks ago, I noticed the story of Kathiresan, a newly appointed lecturer in Anna University, tucked away somewhere as a single column item. I felt bad that an inspiring story had been buried inside instead of being displayed on Page 1 in the national dailies. I managed to get his number and made a journey to Attur in Tamil Nadu, after finishing my night shift. Our car tyre had a puncture and we had great difficulty reaching Kathiresan's college by morning. Vinod Kumar T, our senior photographer, and I took a bus and somehow made it in time.
Kathiresan is an ex-army man and a high school dropout who, in his 47th year, became a lecturer. He was inspired by Abdul Kalam, for whom he was a driver for some time. His story should inspire young kids. After a four-hour chat with him, we left for Bangalore. When I filed the story, my editor appreciated and it made it the national lead. The next day I received innumerable calls from fellow journalists and they wanted to follow the story. Even the news agencies followed it up.
Most aspiring journalists I come across want to interview film stars, promote their own friends and relatives, party, eat out, and generally have a good time.
Many established journalists get away with printing what their friends in PR tell them. Where is the true spirit of journalism? I believe it is time we journalists returned to it. There must be hundreds of Kathiresans around us.
We must tell their stories even as we tell the stories of our movie stars and politicians.
