Someone pointed me to Karan Thapar’s piece today. No wonder ‘Lutyen’s media,’ has become such a reviled lot. The sense of entitlement he displays, the whining on being denied access confirms what us ‘provincial hacks,’ always knew: without access the privileged lot is lost
Access is all that matters in and around Lutyens bungalows and ministries. Reminds me of an incident almost a quarter century ago. Narasimha Rao’s PMO used to have a junior minister elected from Assam where I was based. One summer I was on a visit to Delhi. The minister knew me
One evening was sitting with a friend in the Delhi Press Club. Gradually, others who did not know me but were friends of my friend joined the table as the evening progressed. Then around 9 pm, a Delhi Police constable in plain clothes came looking for me.
‘Mantriji aap ko yaad kar rahein hein,’ he whispered in my ear after he found me. Perplexed, I asked which minister. He named the man. The moment the name was uttered, at least a couple of people around the table perked up. I thanked the cop and told him I will get in touch
The moment the policeman left, I was deluged with Qs by all around the table.”You know that man!” One exclaimed. Another guy, a political reporter with Delhi’s leading paper didn’t waste time. “Yaar introduce me to him. He is an important source. Can I come with you to meet him.”
For someone based in a small town and reporting from the ground, to me these political contacts or access to ministers was incidental. I didn’t commit and left the press club quite amused to see the sudden importance two-three of the guys around the table were giving me now
Next day, to my utter surprise, the political reporter landed up early at Assam House—where I was staying—and started badgering me for a meeting with the minister! Annoyed, I refused but deliberately spoke to the minister in his presence. The reporter left in a hurry.
Almost two decades later when I shifted to Delhi, I saw the practice of access journalism in full flow since TV channels couldn’t function without it. In TV, the reporter is generally judged by the access he or she has to the establishment. Btw, that reporter is now an analyst
The current regime, having largely cut off access, is highly unpopular among those media practitioners who depend solely on access to the high and mighty for their survival. Thapar’s lament therefore not surprising but is a sad commentary on what journalism is reduced to
As a privileged member of Delhi elite, Thapar’s pathetic attempt to curry favour does a great disservice to thousands of media personnel toiling away honestly and without much reward across the country. Finally, for the uninitiated, Thapar is NOT a typical representative of media
Those of us still pounding the beat as it were and enjoying every bit of the thrill of chasing stories (succeeding some times, failing many times) will continue to be the majority, thankfully.
