In the era of real time news defined by the “breaking news” syndrome, there is
still a demand for long form journalism that not only relays information, but
also compels the readers to think and question, said Vice- President Hamid
Ansari on Thursday, at the re-launch of the news magazine, Frontline.
The Vice- President, who
was a regular contributor to the news magazine, before taking oath of office in
2007, noted that despite the incursion of audio visual media, the demand for
serious journalism, as personified by Frontline remains.
“In today’s age, the
audio-visual media has emerged as a dominant medium for quenching the thirst of
the target audience for real time news on current affairs, culture and
entertainment. Despite this, there remains a real and popular demand for serious
publications on topical issues which cannot be substituted by the ‘breaking
news’ culture and short-attention span snippets in the domain of the electronic
media,” he said.
While he commended the
editorial stance at the Frontline of retaining relevance in changing times for a
newer readership, Mr, Ansari said he was initially a little sceptical about the
Frontline’s re-launch. “I may be forgiven for admitting that I am moderately
conservative and tolerably radical – conservative in habits and radical in
thinking. For this reason, I was less than enthused with the suggestion that I
attend today’s re-launch function. I could not help recalling the old maxim
don’t fix what is not broke. To me personally, ‘Frontline’ has always been a
stimulant to the mind apart from providing good reading on most matters that I
care to spend time on.
The need for a remix in
Bollywood terms therefore did not arise. Nor was there a need to replace
persuasion with titillation. I was assured that the change would be
conservatively radical rather than explicitly so!” the Vice-President
said.
Referring to the
editorial policy and the content of publications like The Hindu and Frontline,
Mr. Ansari said: “The ‘Hindu Group’ has a rich legacy, and current practice, of
sustaining its foundational motto of ‘fairness and justice’. ‘Frontline’
subscribes to it in full measure and will, I am confident, continue to do so.
The theme of the debate scheduled for today, on some of the core values of our
Constitution, is sufficiently serious, focused and relevant, and testifies to
it.”
N. Ram, former
Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu and Frontline made mention of Mr. Ansari’s
contribution to the news magazine on West Asian affairs and assured that the
magazine will continue to give voice to issues that affect the lives of people
and remain committed to serious journalism, unaffected by marketing
blitzkrieg.
“Frontline was launched
in December 1984 as an all colour fortnightly with plenty of visual content. The
trigger for its publication was the acquisition of a colour printer from Japan
and the then editor of The Hindu G Kasturi was clear that newspapers in India
had to raise the game and no take readers for granted,” he said.
Over decades, Frontline
has evolved as a progressive, critical fortnightly that has focussed on issues
like deprivation, culture, socio-economic aspects rather than lifestyle, leisure
and feel good, he said, pointing out that the absence of long form journalism is
a “serious deficit” that needs to be addressed.
“The news magazine has
focussed on issues that affect the lives of people in India, the eighbourhood
and the world. The content of the magazine has never been diluted in the
blinkered pursuit of numbers,” Mr. Ram said. Frontline, he said has always tried
to be different, it has space for long form journalism, interviews, essays,
picture features, strong content on key issues related to political, social and
economic aspects that matter in the long term. It is secular, pro people and
seeks to create space for contrary views through arguments, criticism,
interviews and analysis, Mr. Ram pointed out. On the changes that the readers
will see in the news magazine, he said: “Over the years even the serious readers
have commented that we are too heavy. We want to be lively while being
serious.”
The
Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari re-launched the
“Frontline” magazine at a function
here today. He commended
the editors
and publishers for this initiative aimed at retaining relevance in changing
times for a newer readership. He wished ‘Frontline’ continued
success in the service of discerning readers.”
Addressing on the
occasion he said that to him personally, ‘Frontline’
has always
been a stimulant to the mind apart from providing good reading on most matters
that he care to spend time on. The need for a remix
in
Bollywood terms therefore did not arise. Nor was there a need to replace
persuasion with titillation.
He said that in its new avatar the
magazine would have attractive photo essays on art, culture, heritage, wildlife,
environment and land & people. It will also have new columns on media and
literature, snapshots on developments in India, a science notebook, apart from
in-depth analyses of the social, political and economic issues of the day.
The Vice President said
that the
‘Hindu Group’ has a rich legacy, and current practice, of sustaining its
foundational motto of ‘fairness
and justice’. ‘Frontline’ subscribes to
it in full measure and will continue to do so. The theme of the debate scheduled
for today, on some of the core values of our Constitution, is sufficiently
serious, focused and relevant, and testifies to it.
He opined
that in today’s age, the audio-visual media has emerged as a dominant medium for
quenching the thirst of the target audience for real time news on current
affairs, culture and entertainment. Despite this, there remains a real and
popular demand for serious publications on topical issues which cannot be
substituted by the ‘breaking news’ culture and short-attention span snippets in
the domain of the electronic media.
Following
is the text of the Vice President’s address :
“I may be forgiven for
admitting that I am moderately
conservative and tolerably radical – conservative in
habits and radical in thinking. For this reason, I was
less than enthused when the Shri Venkitesh
Ramakrishnan met me with the
suggestion that I attend today’s re-launch function.
I could not help recalling the old maxim
don’t
fix what is not broke. To me personally,
‘Frontline’
has always
been a stimulant to the mind apart from providing good reading on most
matters that I care to spend time on. The need for a
remix
in Bollywood terms
therefore did not arise. Nor was there a need
to replace
persuasion
with
titillation.
I was assured
that the
change would be conservatively radical rather than explicitly so! The presence here of
Mr. N. Ram
and
Professor Romila Thapar provides further
reassurance.
Having jettisoned my
misgivings, I am happy to be here today for the re-launch
of the ‘Frontline’. I understand that in its new
avatar the
magazine
would have attractive photo essays on art, culture,
heritage, wildlife, environment and land & people. It will also have
new
columns
on media
and literature, snapshots on developments in India, a science
notebook, apart from in-depth
analyses of the social, political and economic issues of the day.
This audience knows
that
the ‘Hindu Group’ has a rich legacy, and current
practice,
of
sustaining its foundational motto of ‘fairness
and justice’.
‘Frontline’ subscribes to it in full measure and
will, I am confident, continue to do so. The theme of the debate
scheduled
for today, on some of the core
values of our Constitution, is sufficiently serious, focused and
relevant, and testifies to it.
In today’s age, the
audio-visual media has emerged as a dominant medium for quenching the thirst of the target audience
for real
time news
on current
affairs,
culture and
entertainment. Despite this, there remains a real and popular demand
for serious publications on topical issues which cannot be substituted by the ‘breaking news’ culture
and short-attention
span
snippets in the domain
of the
electronic media.
I commend the editors and publishers
for this
initiative
aimed at retaining relevance in changing times for a newer readership.
I wish
‘Frontline’
continued
success in
the service of discerning readers.”
