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Journalism has always been a calling more than a job or a profession to me. Hyderabad gave me a sense of confidence that has always remained with me. The key is to focus on the quality of journalism, be it in Telugu or any other language. Studying journalism in a formal way is also a good way to expand one's sphere and opportunities. The Internet will always have a wider reach while print journalism fits in more with people's current media habits. Says Raju Narisetti, Hyderabad born NRI and one of the highest-ranking South Asian journalists working in American media, has been the named managing editor of The Wall Street Journal Europe and assigned to run the paper's operations across the Atlantic. Narisetti will assume the new post, on 1 February 2003. Born in Hyderabad, India, Narisetti came to the Journal in 1991 as a summer intern in Pittsburgh. He joined the news desk as an assistant news editor in 1999, became a news editor later that year and then acting deputy national editor in October 2001. Since April 2002, he had been a deputy national editor, directing daily news coverage in all four sections of the U.S. paper. Economic Times in India laid first foundation for his journalistic career. He joined Indiana University in Bloomington for the Masters Degree in Journalism in 1990. And then continued his wonderful journey on the realm of international journalism and now in Brussels to take the charge as Managing Editor. Inspite of his busy schedule, Mr Raju has spared his valuable time in giving email interview to khojhyderabad.com |
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Some of the excerpts from the interview are: In your long journey from Hyderabad to Brussels (till now) via Bloomington, Pittsburgh, Ohio, and New York which aspect inspired you to be the most successful journalist? Journalism has always been a calling more than a job or a profession to me. As a result, I have focused on enjoying reporting and writing, leaving any career rewards and promotions to simply follow. This has allowed me to do what I chose to do many years ago, when I gave up a career in business management to pursue journalism. Along the way, I have been inspired by many, many people both in India and in the U.S. My parents--whose love for education and learning and whose liberal attitudes helped shape my career over the years have always been the big reason as to why I am where I am. Then some wonderful teachers, such as Ananadhi Sundar, who taught English in Chaitanya Kalasala (my junior college); Thomas Oommen (who runs the Manoroma School of Communications in Kottayam and who taught me all the basics of journalism in New Delhi) and TN Ninan (the current editor of Business Standard who gave me my first journalism job at The Economic Times) have all been great sources of inspiration along the way. From the Everest of the financial journalism how do you feel towards Hyderabad? It will always be home, however infrequently I visit. After all, I was born there and spent the first 19 years of my life there. I doubt I will ever spend that long a period in any other city. Plus my parents still live there and I have numerous close friends from school and college days. It is a city that continues to be vibrant and always amazes me in its vitality and progress. What from Hyderabad has contributed to your immense success? Hyderabad gave me a sense of confidence that has always remained with me. As I said it will always be the place where the fundamentals of my education came into place, be it at St. Georges Grammar School, Chaithanya Kalasala or Nizam College. Communication, being an all-important aspect of life, why is the emphasis on communication skills low in Indian education system as compared to the Western world? It is probably a function of stereotypes that encourage young people to go into hard sciences plus the lack of opportunities to explore careers and professions in communication. Not everyone may have the opportunity to attend good schools. What action plan do you prescribe for those already in early college (first/second year degree) to improve their language comprehension, analysis and presentation skills? Read newspapers; read lots of different books both fiction and nonfiction. Try to make friends from different languages and cultures so that you are trying to speak and understand other languages, especially English. Is it the flair for Journalism or the academic qualification in the particular field makes a successful journalist? A sound understanding of the language is important but all good journalists fall in love with reporting/writing and ultimately that is what distinguishes them from their peers. It is always good to understand economics and business, if your interest is in business journalism. You have to not fear numbers or data, even if you are not too comfortable with it. What kind of personality traits one needs to nurture to succeed in the media such as financial journalism? An ability to get along with a variety of people; think on your feet; an appreciation of frequent deadlines and a willingness to stick to such time commitments; an ability to listen and listen well. To what extent the "Independent journalism as a functioning reality" is an instrument of creating awareness among the people? Journalism organizations may have varied interests and pulls but independent journalists can and should be a functioning reality. Everyone has biases. The key is to know what your biases can be and try to systematically balance them in your reporting/writing. Of the two, Internet Journalism & Print Journalism which one do you prescribe for "Global Village"? Is Internet Journalism a substitute or complimentary towards Print Journalism? They will always grow together and can complement and support each other if done strategically. The Internet will always have a wider reach while print journalism fits in more with people's current media habits. After having attained highest status in the International Journalism what are your future plans? I don't necessarily consider this new assignment in terms of status. Its a big, challenging job and one that will keep me busy for some years to come. As I said, my focus has always been on good journalism. Other rewards are almost incidental. What message do you have for vernacular functional journalists aspiring to extend their sphere of activity to International journalism? As you have said in one the interviews, "There has been a hidden wave of professionals in many areas, and journalism now has a lot of Indians". English or international journalism is not necessarily the only way good journalism. Vernacular press is significantly more powerful in India in its ability to reach and influence ordinary people. The key is to focus on the quality of journalism, be it in Telugu or any other language. Studying journalism in a formal way is also a good way to expand one's sphere and opportunities. “My son always stood on top” says Prof. Komala the proud mother of Raju Narisetti who recollects his childhood in Hyderabad. Infact “I wanted Raju to be an IAS officer”, when he was in his eighth standard, but at that time itself he was very firm in selecting journalism as his career by saying, “It is beyond doubt that I would definitely top even in Civil Services, but at the same time I don’t want to bow myself to the tunes of “Political Leadership”. So, this firm & rationalistic attitude of an Eighth Standard Georgian of Hyderabad made his way to take up the managing editorship of The Wall Street Journal Europe. khojhyderabad extends its warm wishes to Mr Raju a great success in all his future assignments -- Jhansi Paladugu |
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