Deccan Chronicle Seeks Untalented Writer
This snippet from a job advertisement in the Chennai Chronicle (the inside supplement of the Deccan Chronicle that features classic columns like "Party Whirl" and invariably keeps me up to date about Paris Hilton's love life, is destined to be a classic. While some of my readers may be interested in such a job, my jaw is dropping over 1) that they don't really care about experience and 2) that their requirements of telling Gucci from Gap and to sight makeup-less stars are about as easy are boiling water for that morning's chai. And what is "a" Gucci, anyway?As far as I can tell the only talented writer at the Chennai Chronicle is Vinodhini who actually combines investigative research with well-written copy. The rest of the CC's rag tag bunch of feature writers droll on about obvious topics that most of us caught wind of a year ago. The one thing that I will give the Deccan Chronicle credit for is that they do seem to have great sources for news. Their reporters in the field get a lot of excellent facts, but often don't understand the story well enough to write something convincing.
But, should you be looking for a small freelance gig that might pay anywhere from 300 to 1500 rupees a shot, you have the e-mail address. Maybe you can help make the paper a little better. Just remember, I'll be watching.
posted by Scott Carney @ 9:19 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Interesting, interesting. I don't have any snark to add to this discussion, because, well, it's just too easy. However -- although there are some mighty incompetent reporters here, this seems to be a more macro problem.
I worked at a journalism school in Kerala that was actually fairly rigorous, and the man who ran it (who also set up the Asian College of Journalism, or ACJ, in Chennai) is a bulldog who is unafraid to tell the student that they're morons, that they don't understand news. Having remained in contact with many of these kids, it seems that even if they are versed in excellent style and fully uphold a more Western version of journalism, the editors they work under have no compunction about simply rewriting their stories.
Actually, come to think of it, when I was working in the media here in Delhi, they frequently edited my stores to sound more "Indian" -- which basically meant inserting lots of exclamation points and odd rejoinders, and perhaps a reference or two to Amitabh Bachchan.
Anyhow...if you're a crappy reporter and want to become better, take a class at a school that has been designed by K. Thomas Oommen. And Scott, if you are interested in taking a vacation in Kerala, do get in touch with KTO, who is the director of the Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM, run by the Malayala Manorama group). The school is really great, in Kottayam (which Roy's "The God of Small Things" is more or less set in), and they are always happy to host any journalist who will talk to the kids and tell them why Indian journalism, um, needs improvement.
(Also, sorry if this is a little incoherent or excited; my workplace had its monthly beer and pizza day, and instead of working, I am floating in the grip of three Kingfishers. Mm.)
how ironic a newspaper looking for writers says, "a gucci from a gap."
What this post and comments read like to me: "Stupid Indians. If only they could learn to write like us white people. Everyone knows our media is the best in the world. Look at the wonderful way that it informs the American public in a fair and unbalanced manner. How dare they use a different version of English than us. The way all Americans speak and write is perfect. Indians are stupid and savage."
Get over yourself you colonialist jerk. USA Today is as bad as the Deccan chronicle. We're not all stupid as your portray us to be. We don't need "Western" standards to improve anything.
Dear Bidi,
now where did I leave my pith helmet. It was right here a second ago...
a gucci from a gap.... that's perfectly fine english.... fyi :) no offence. no offense ;);)
For the Uninformed, Scott here is trying to say that "a gucci from a gap" is grammatically wrong and definitely not "perfectly fine" English.
And the irony is that The Chronicle is advertising for people who can write 'error-free copy'!!!
Abi.
Personally, having been around the world, I noticed that there is good and bad journalism everywhere. English is a language and no country can claim ownership for it.
However, as a corporate trainer of the English language, I dare comment that there is a methodology to everything and language is not an exemption.
Criticism can be taken, but not sarcasm. An average Indian can speak at least two languages well. I do not think that the same applies for Americans :)
You can keep watching, Scott. India is developing faster than you can hit that mouse button!
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