In the last of three articles looking at the state of the UAE newspaper industry, Bikram Vohra says journalists are becoming little more than publicists
“Most young journalists keep a white steed in their mental stable when they first ride out into the big, bad world. The desire to mount that steed and go on quixotic and often brave crusades, ostensibly to change the world, is overwhelming.
Sooner or later it all comes unstuck and the tilting at windmills turns more to sloth and cynicism along with abject surrender. The lance splinters and only the slivers are left to be used as a crutch for survival. The ‘hi ho Silver and away’ idealism at the beginning would be comical if it wasn’t s
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It isn’t just journalism Mr.Vohra. The real world we live in does a fantastic job of killing the white steed long before it gets a chance to make it out of the stable…and if it does get out, kill it instantly.
The dreamers survive by compromising what means most to them. And though the dreams of doing things differently are there….the “bills to pay”, the fear of repurcussions & a worse future ..sort of get in the way.
Obviously, you have felt the bruising,too.That comment was from the heart. But however heroic and self indulgent it might be some of us would rather take the consequences and stand for what we believe in…even if it means the 5 o’clock letter from HR…in my 43 years I have 12 of them, my pet peeve being I never got a farewell speech, soggy sandwich or a pass that hat around collection of some frightful gift. It was always ‘on yer bike’ in five minutes and I feel the richer for it.Perhaps it is tough trying to be an eagle in a world of pigeons. After all, they make more guano than anyone.