National Herald: End of An Era

By John Cheeran
National Herald, the newspaper conceived by Jawaharlal Nehru, is preparing to put together its last edition.
And, I’m sure, none in New Delhi will miss the parting of this herald. Not even its employees.
No journalist in Delhi will feel the absence of this one-time legendary newspaper, for it had ceased to have any presence even in the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, from where it used to bring out the inky editions.
For seven years I trudged down the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg never once I bothered to step in that office, even when I wandering without a job.
Now that I’m reading AFP wire copy saying that Herald is ceasing publication, it amazes me that I have never seen a copy of this paper, which played critical role in the Indian Independence struggle.
Well, I have walked past history, without allowing, not even a particle of dust from that history to settle on my shoulders.
In the twenty first century, Soniaji’s Congress does not need National Herald, though it has continued till its last breath as the official newspaper of the party.
Today, Congress and Sonia have better mouthpieces than National Herald. So amidst dwindling revenue and falling circulation, the Congress chief’s decision to perform last rites to the newspaper seems a sensible decision.It is interesting to note the current editor-in-chief T.V. Venkitachalam.
“We do not follow the latest fashion and Bollywood trends. In all these years, the paper has adhered to the values Nehru espoused – objectivity and the tradition of independence. There has never been any interference from the Congress. But we never bothered too much about the business aspect of paper,” he said.

Harbhajan, Symonds, Darwin and Lord Hanuman!

By John Cheeran
Now the Australians are fuming, including Ricky Ponting, and all other media pundits.
The point is that there was not enough evidence against Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh as having abused Andrew Symonds racially.
It has been alleged that Harbhajan called Symonds monkey during the Sydney Test.
There is truth in the argument that the Indian cricket board’s financial clout and the BCCI’s threat to pull out the side from the forthcoming one-day triangular series in Australia played a major role in arriving at the Harbhajan verdict.
Aussies are enraged because an Indian could get away with his sharp tongue. It is also true that during Australia’s last tour to India, the local crowd abused Symonds by calling him a monkey.
According to Charles Darwin, a monkey, may be not an Australian one, is our granddad. So why is Symonds taking offence? And if at all Symonds felt offended, instead of acting a saint, he should have retaliated calling Harbhajan a double monkey.
Had he done that he could have avoided all these posturing from guys ranging from Mike Proctor to Sunil Gavaskar to Sharad Pawar.
To think of it, the Australians, the masters of the art of sledging, are taking shield behind umpires and match referee is absurd at best.
The infamous conversation that Glenn McGrath had with the West Indian batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, referring to Brian Lara is sufficient what sorts of gentlemen are the Aussies.
Certainly, Harbhajan erred in calling Symonds a monkey. Monkeys are more civilised than Aussies.
And it saddens me a lot that none of the characters who had a role to influence the outcome of the Harbhajan trial and ban, including that great Sachin Tendulkar had the nous to tell the Kiwi arbiter Hansen that in Indian civilization monkeys are venerated with specific reference to Lord Hanuman.
May be some Aussies should build a shrine for an anonymous monkey call that happened in Sydney, in Sydney.
May be Shantaram Gregory Robertson could explain it further to the Aussies.

Bharath Gopi: Abhinayathinte Kodiyirangi

By John Cheeran
Abhinayathinte kodiyirangi.
When I think about Bharath Gopi (V. Gopinathan Nair) that scene from Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Kodiyettam sticks out.
Gopi and KPAC Lalitha walks down the road on a monsoon-drenched day with puddles all around. A car goes through splashing dirt onto Gopi’s shirt and mundu.
Had I been in Sankaran Kutty’s (Gopi’s character) shoes, I would have cursed the driver of the car, and if possible, would have broken the glass pane at the back of the car.
But we have Gopi exclaiming in wonder “What a speed.”
Those frames capture Gopi’s quintessence as an actor.
Gopi’s hallmark was that he donned ordinary roles without heroism but gave them an extraordinary touch of realism.
In other words, Gopi was closer to you and me in flesh and bone. We are ordinary men and women, mere straws in the wind. Gopi too was one among us, but he showed us that despite his lean frame, and balding scalp, he could be accepted as the symbol of manhood.
Gopi was fortunate, and fortune favours the brave, to have got such roles as he done in Yavanika, Rachana, Ormakayi and Swayamvaram.
And what a polished performance he has given as the Shakespeare Krishnapilla in Bharathan’s Kattathe Kilikoodu.
It has to be noted that Gopi enjoyed success as an actor, director, producer and writer.
Not many know that he had authored the book “Abhinyam – Anubhavam” which won the award for the best book by the Central Government.
Gopi directed four films Njattadi, Yamanam, Utsavapittennu and Ente Hridyathinte Udama.
Gopi was born in 1937 in Chirayankizhu. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1991. Gopi was noted for his involvement in theatre group “Arangu” along with Kavalam Narayanapaniker before he entered the world of films.
Twenty years ago Gopi had suffered hemorrhage and that had curtailed his movements and involvement in films. Still he had won his many skirmishes to come back to act and react.
Gopi was renowned for his tough approach to life in general and it was not altogether surprising that he had drifted apart from Adoor Gopalakrishnan, the director who gave him opportunities during his formative years in movies.
Throughout the day, I was waiting for Adoor's tributes to this iconic actor.
But unfortunately such grace was missing.

Bharath Gopi, 71, Passes Away

By John Cheeran
Celebrated Indian actor Bharath Gopi passed away today, Tuesday, in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 71.
He was ailing and had undergone an angioplasty at the KIMS Hospital.
Gopi won the Bharath award, the highest honour for an Indian movie actor, for his role as Sankaran Kutty in Kodiyettam in 1975.
His other remarkable roles were in Yavanika, Swayamvaram, Kallan Pavithran, Palangal, Ormakayi, Marmaram, Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback, Patheyam, Kattethe Kilikoodu, Aadaminte Variyellu, Panchavadi Palam, Sandhya Mayangum Neram, Appunni and Rachana.
Gopi directed four films -- Njattadi, Yamanam, Utsavapittennu and Ente Hridyathinte Udama.
Gopi was born in 1937 in Chirayankizhu. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1991. Gopi was noted for his involvement in theatre group “Arangu” along with Kavalam Narayanapaniker before he entered the world of films.
Twenty years ago (in 1986) Gopi had suffered hemorrhage and that had curtailed his movements and involvement in films.
Still he had won his many skirmishes to come back to act and react.

Gilchrist: there's more to life than cricket

By John Cheeran
In the beginning was Adam. And Gilchrist knew how to end it all.
I consider myself an expert in quitting and still I have to salute the Aussie’s courage and timing to go.
Gilchrist was the most exciting cricketer of the modern times, and in that he has even surpassed the Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar. In being an exciting player that is.
There was none to match him for the boldness of his strokes, may be Sanath Jayasuriya coming quite close to him. But Gilchrist had an unrelenting double role to perform, that of a wicketkeeper’s.
Keeping wickets in cricket is something similar to editing and much as they take sub editors for granted, keepers are taken for granted. To be lauded, to be acknowledged you have to do something more.
In fact in cricket it is simpler than journalism. In its equality, cricket offers everyone a chance to bat. And it is this chance that Gilchrist grabbed with both hands, and sometimes with the aid of squash ball, to clobber the bowlers.
Gilchrist’s biggest contribution as a wicketkeeper-batsman is not that during the Adelaide Test he established the world record for the most number of dismissals by a keeper in Tests.
I salute Gilchrist’s courage to tell himself that there is more to life than cricket. And it is no wonder that quite often he walked, when he believed he is out, without waiting for the umpire’s finger to go up.Definitely, cricket will miss Gilchrist.

It's all over in Adelaide-- Unless India...

By John Cheeran
After Australia’s resolute reply to India’s first innings total of 526, the Test series should go in favour of Ricky Ponting’s men.
An Indian victory is unlikely with final day’s play remaining and with Anil Kumble’s side enjoying only an eight run lead with nine wickets in hand. Anything done in haste will rebound on the visitors.
Yes, it is quite possible that India can collapse tomorrow and set up an Australian victory. After all it will not alter the course of the Test series.
Of course India has had its gains from the series. A redeeming win at Perth and Virender Sehwag’s return to form. Pretty impressive efforts from seniors including Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly.
And it is quite alarming that the young Turks such as MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh have come a cropper.
It remains to be seen how far India will progress in the triangular one-day series pitted against world champions and Sri Lankans.
Another kind of test awaits the Indians.

Tail wags to strengthen India in Adelaide

By John Cheeran
Help has come from unexpected quarters for India to go past the critical figure of 500 to put Australia under pressure in Adelaide.
It was not just Sachin Tendulkar’s 153 (off 205 balls) that gave flesh and bone to India’s first innings. On Thursday, India had missed big knocks from Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
But today India’s spin doctors –skipper Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh – did a wonderful hit and run job over Ricky Ponting’ s men.
Kumble and Harbhajan (63) put together 107 runs for the eighth wicket and Indian tail tickled the Kangaroos. Harbhajan’s pluck, whether bowling, batting or sledging, is legendary and it again came to the fore in Adelaide.
And skipper Kumble led from the front while cracking a pugnacious half-century (87) to take his side to 526 in the first innings.
These two spinners might have realized the importance of scoring pretty big in the first innings here, as they themselves are supposed to play big hands on the last two days on a spinner friendly track.
With rookie but canny pacer Ishant Sharma too joining in the twilight party at the batting crease, Indian innings has swelled to the size of Ponting’s ego.
Quite big that is.

Help Wasim Jaffer

By John Cheeran
I’m sure every Indian cricket fan’s heart bleeds for Wasim Jaffer. The off-colour Indian opener is out of the XI for the Adelaide Test and that has been one of the decisions that the team management has got it right.
But the point is that how Jaffer has got it all wrong in six Test innings during India’s 2007-08 Australian tour?
Jaffer is not a dour opener, he has got some brilliant strokes on either side of the wicket. Jaffer loves to play his strokes though one-dayers are not his chosen field.
Only a few weeks ago he cracked a double century against Pakistan. Jaffer is not wont to run away from foreign tracks as he has got some solid runs in the West Indies and South Africa.
Now why this sudden affliction?
Rahul Dravid has been in all sorts of pressures in recent times—quitting captaincy and the tensions and contradictions in the Indian dressing room but what about Jaffer, the straight as an arrow Mumbaikar who generally stays away from the hunt for bigger games?
Well, Yuvraj Singh too has learnt a few lessons on how hard life can be, compared to cricket.
But Jaffer, never a flashy player on and off the field, is a trier. Not a foolhardy customer such as Virender Sehwag or Yuvraj. And that makes Jaffer’s struggles all the more harrowing.
Jaffer’s failure at the top has cost India the Australian series. The lack of solidity at top has taken the balance and rhythm out of the Indian batting lineup. And Australian bowlers have exploited such opportunities to the hilt.
I’m not a technical expert capable of advising Jaffer how to correct his stance, footwork and his grip. There are Sunil Gavaskars and Ravi Shastris of the world for such tasks.
But I’m naturally worried.
I have been fortunate to watch a young Jaffer in 1997 when the only time the Ranji Trophy final was played during the night at Gwalior and talk centered on how a boy from challenging economic background is knocking on the doors of the ultimate treasure in Indian life—on the doors of the Indian cricket team. Jaffer played some sublime shots on that night in Gwalior and those have not receded from the mind.
There are quite a few batsmen from the Bombay School of Batting who have failed to do justice to their potential including Sanjay Manjrekar and Vinod Kambli.
Help Wasim Jaffer.

Tendulkar on the rampage in Adelaide: And I cower!

By John Cheeran
Now that Sachin Tendulkar has hammered his 39th century at Adelaide my worry, along with thousands of other Indian cricket fans, is that whether India will lose this Test.
This is despite Anil Kumble winning the toss and batting first on a track that should favour spinners in the end game.
I remember what happened at Sydney -- India lost -- when Tendulkar murdered the Australian bowlers.
Tendulkar again was simply awesome on Thursday at Adelaide. He remains unbeaten on 124 at stumps on the first day with India posting 309.
There were many, including me, who had doubted whether an aging Tendulkar had lost that fizz in his Pepsi. Sydney indicated that he has not. And now Adelaide confirms it that Tendulkar has overcome nagging self-doubts to accumulate more and more runs. Whether India thrives in that progress is what remains to be seen in the coming four days.
But for India has done well mainly thanks to Tendulkar’s rollicking innings. More runs are to flow from the Master’s blade and let’s hope it will help the team at its hour of distress.

Irfan Pathan: Sacrifical lamb or genuine all rounder?

By John Cheeran
The value of an all rounder has come home to the Indian dressing room in the figure of Irfan Pathan.
Former Indian national team coach Greg Chappell was abused particularly for destroying Pathan as a bowler by encouraging him to become a batsman. Now what has Anil Kumble done at Adelaide?
Wasim Jaffer’s repeated failures made him a no-no for the Adelaide XI. Yuvraj had managed to fritter away his advantages in the first two Tests itself. Rahul Dravid was finally given his preferred No.3 slot at Perth after the wars of attrition at Melbourne and Sydney. And Dravid played a match-winning knock at Perth as No.3
Now to push Dravid again into opener’s slot would be patently foolish for a captain to do. Despite Virender Sehwag’s trudge back into form, he needs company at the top.
So who would be the sacrificial lamb? Pathan, who else?
I haven’t forgotten Sourav Ganguly’s statement after making his first Test double century against a feckless Pakistan bowling that coming lower down the order has denied him the opportunity to score centuries compared to others in the Indian side.
May be Ganguly should have walked up to Kumble and pleaded to spare Pathan and sent him to open the innings.
But, again, we are unlucky.

Tough weather for journalists in Kerala

By John Cheeran
Journalists in Kerala face a tougher time than the much romanticized farmers and their suicides.
Salaries are low and journalism has been just that – a respectable profession.
Deepika, Kerala’s oldest living newspaper, has sacked a string of journalists without giving them the stipulated one-month notice.
Deepika has witnessed managerial earthquakes in the last two years thanks to dreaded financial bottom lines and the latest axe wielding can be again attributed to that.
It only goes to show how precarious an existence, journalists in Kerala lead, despite the state’s upsurge in newspaper circulation and readership.
Someone should intervene.

Vaikom Muhammad Bashir: Story and Life

By John Cheeran
Here is a bit of mathematics. What’s one plus one?
It is a much bigger one.
Vaikom Muhammad Bashir, whose birth centenary is being celebrated this year, challenged conventions and lived manfully.
Bashir, the celebrated novelist and short story writer, was a rare original in Malayalam literature. Bashir upended the upper caste dominance in Malayalam literature with his life and writings, both bore the mark of an inimitable style.
Bashir did not learn Sanskrit to be writer. Bashir did not have to write an autobiography, for whatever he wrote there was his own lifeblood in it.
His novel Balyakala Sakhi and short story Janmadinam are still read by the new generations and top the best sellers’ list.
And who can forget Bashirian characters such as Anavary Raman Nair, Ponkurishu Thoma, Ettukali Mammooju, Sainaba and Mandan Muthappa?
Bashir made us laugh. Bashir made us cry.
Bashir wrote without cover-ups. Bashir wrote with rare candour and he described his mad days as “pure and beautiful madness.”
Away from Kerala, in exile, I read the complete works of Bashir last year. There was much great stuff by Bashir. May be the tallest Malayalam writer so far. But there were great amounts of trash too, but those were rather insignificant when compared with the classics he gave us. Though the Scottish scholar E.M. Asher translated Bashir’s works into English, to feel Bashir’s bone and enjoy the flavour of his prose, you have to read it in Malayalam. I consider myself lucky to have learnt Malayalam.
Regrettably, there was a concerted effort by a section of Muslim community to appropriate Bashir, in his twilight, as a Muslim writer and mouthpiece. It is a tribute to Bashir’s genius that the Beppur Sultan managed to outlast their siege.
Equally important is to remember Guptan Nair’s and Raghunathan Nair’s ‘Mula’ criticism against this writer who quarreled with grammar and conventions.
Anal Haq, Anal Haq!

Ibsen, K P Kumaran and Akashagopuram

By John Cheeran
If you decide to read one book this year, let it be Henrik Ibsen’s Master Builder. I read this brilliant, psychological thriller of a play recently.
The Norwegian playwright Ibsen wrote Master Builder in his twilight. The play deals with the battles the Master has to fight with different demons in his mind.
The Master’s stubborn approach to issues --- for example he is not ready to pave the way for the young generation – forms the core of the play. This reluctance to accept young talent one can see in today’s Indian cricket, where seniors had ganged up against the young Turks. Well, not just in cricket. But the refusal to give way to the young is so prevalent in all spheres of our life.
I suggest the Board of Control for Indian Cricket, instead of running after cheap shrinks such as Sandy Gordon and thinking hats, give copies of Ibsen’s Master Builder to all its chosen players at the international level.
Ibsen also comes into my mind for reasons other than cricket.
K.P. Kumaran is directing a movie called “Akasha Gopuram” which is based by Ibsen’s Master Builder. K.P. Kumaran is one of the finest Indian filmmaker but remains largely unsung by the usual claptrap of movie critics.
I’m sure Kumaran is capable of handling the subtleties and complexities of handling a subject such as the Master Builder.
I have only watched Kumaran’s Neram Pularumbol (At the time of the dawn, which starred Mammooty, Mohanlal) and Rugmini.
And who can forget Neram Pularumbol, for it brought out the biting beauty of Ramya Krishnan. That was Ramya’s debut movie. She never appeared more beautiful in another movie though she revealed more of herself. But Kumaran had that rare ability that helped Ramya to reveal her heart in Neram Pularumbol.
Kumaran himself in a recent interview pointed out that his best movie was Athithi (Guest) made in 1974. A political film with gravitas, Athithi did not had to compete with G Aravindan’s Utharayanam for the award sweepstakes. But Athithi is still talked about and never parts away from our consciousness.May be ‘Akashagopuram’, which stars Mohanlal will manage to please critics and commoner. I hope Kumaran’s commitment to serious filmmaking will find its deserving recognition through Akashagopuram.
After all a Master Builder deserves his deserts!

India's Dwaitham: Cricket and Beyond

By John Cheeran
There are two Indias.
Political pundits have often stressed this point, an India of the urban middle class and another of toiling masses on shop floors and farm fields. It is always a sobering thought that there is a Nigeria within India. Now another sobering thought. There are two Indian cricket teams to mirror the nation’s unique Dwaitham.
The BCCI has finally yielded itself to the idea of having separate teams for one-dayers and Tests. Well, with the move to name Mahendra Singh Dhoni the captain for the Twenty20 World Cup such intentions were clear.
Now keeping Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble from the one-day squad for the triangular series in Australia, that division is complete.
Only Sachin Tendulkar has escaped the stigma of being senile.
Well, I have been a strong believer in the Greg Chappell’s philosophy of young minds and younger feet, but the national selection committee has made its progressive cut and thrust at a wrong turn.
Form too counts in choosing an XI. To take out Dravid and VVS Laxman from the vanguard of Indian batting just when they had drilled gaping holes in the Aussie armoury of arrogance and accurate pace bowling amounts waving the white flag at our formidable rivals.
And after his repeated failures in four Test innings on the current tour what’s the point of keeping Yuvraj Singh in the squad, leave alone retaining as the vice-captain of the side.
Unflinching faith, you might say. Meanwhile MS Dhoni too had a patchy tour so far. No doubt the skirmishes against two of the finest one-day sides – Sri Lanka and Australia – will help us to find out whether all that glitters (hitters) is gold.
India’s one-day squad for the triangular against Australia and Sri Lanka:
MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, S Shreesanth, RP Singh Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Piyush Chawla and Pravin Kumar.

India humble Aussies in Perth Test

By John Cheeran
David defeated Goliath not because how well David fought, but how well he believed he could defeat his enemy.
Just the same is true in the case of Anil-Kumble inspired India’s historic 72-run win over world champions Australia.
Yes, India played well. But after two morally and physically draining defeats at Melbourne and Sydney, to believe that they could outclass those arrogant Aussies at their strongest turf, you needed to believe as well as David.
And it has more than trivia value that Sourav Ganguly had little role to play in this refulgent win.
India’s victory was the result of a team effort. Still Rahul Dravid’s (first innings) and VVS Laxman’s (second innings) batting contributions bring back the memories of that celebrated win at the Eden Gardens against Steve Waugh’s Aussies.
Why is it that Ganguly, and to a certain extent, Tendulkar were pushed into the background by those mysterious powers sweeping through the pitch at Perth for the last four days?
Nobody knows. Or everyone knows.
May be those selfish giants were put to sleep by an unknown raga.
It was certainly a victory for Harbhajan. It was a victory that proved being gentle is not exactly as being feckless.
Here again, India has snapped Australia’s 16-Test winning streak. This win is all the more sweeter, considering the bitter and sordid experiences that the team went through thanks to the stupid umpiring of Steve Bucknor and Benson.
The way the young and inexperienced seam attack – RP Singh, Ishant Sharma and Irfan Pathan – hammered those nails into the coffins of Ricky Ponting and cohorts, augurs well for the future of Indian cricket.
Play on, India.

India poised to spoil Aussies' Sweet 17 party at Perth

By John Cheeran
Getting the basics right makes a lot of things easier. Like Indian captain Anil Kumble has found out in the third Test against at Perth.
Going into the fourth day of the Test on Saturday, India has a realistic chance of recording a historic win over the world champions of cricket and cussedness.
But how have the losers of Melbourne and Sydney bounced back in Perth, arguably the toughest turf for any touring side in Australia?
Crucially, Rahul Dravid was given his deserved slot, the No.3. Though opener Wasim Jaffer’s miserable form continued, Virender Sehwag clobbered some runs. Indian batting recovered some of its poise.
The last two Tests have contributed substantially to reduce the hype around Yuvraj Singh who has been hailed by Indian cricket writers as the best batsman in living memory after his
Sixer Show in the Twenty20 World Cup.
Kumble was under pressure to include Yuvraj in the playing XI for the first two Tests. He succumbed to that, (and naturally so) and India suffered.
Despite the brouhaha over Harbhajan Singh’s ban, the spinner was wisely left out in favour of Irfan Pathan. And those who were laying into Greg Chappell for teaching Irfan the basics of batting must be now eating their attitudes and words after the youngster proved himself as an all rounder.
Some things must be emphasized. You cannot pick a cricket XI based on TV channels’ oracles and so called SMS surveys. Yuvraj has great attitude, has expansive strokes but he should be given his chance without sacrificing the overall balance of the XI. Lesson learnt, and time for Kumble and company to finish the job at Perth.

Dubai newspapers (and the Middle East): An Inside Story

By John Cheeran
The most attractive media destination in the Middle East is Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE (United Arab Emirates). A major reason for this is Dubai's liberal approach to life in general. This is very important for media professionals who mainly move in from India, Pakistan and the UK to bring out the city-state's various newspapers.
Dubai Media City is home to a host of medium range publications which thrive by producing in house journals and freemailers for the city's shopping malls. Most of these publications do not last for more than three or four issues.
The key players in the UAE media scene are Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Emirates Business 24x7 and Gulf Today. 7 Days, the daily tabloid, is distributed free and is the bravest in reporting local trends and developments.
For a tiny nation such as the UAE four mainstream newspapers and a tabloid in English is a little too much. These English language newspapers target mainly Indian and Pakistani expatriates and now a growing population of Caucasians.
Khaleej Times is the oldest newspaper in the UAE but Gulf News enjoys the financial muscle to bring out what is considered as a slick newspaper.
Both Khaleej Times and Gulf News bring out a 72-page broadsheet edition daily. Classifieds, supplements and weekend magazines add to the girth of the papers.
For an average Indian journalist intent to earn quick bucks, this is great news -- a whole lot of pages to be made and vast spaces to be filled with news and views.
And more great news is in store. Abu Dhabi, Dubai's rival emirate and the UAE's capital, is launching its own newspaper by the end of April. Recruitment for the yet to be named paper is almost over and former Daily Telegraph, London, editor Martin Newland is the editor-in-chief.Four English language newspapers make Dubai print media an overcrowded place.
Financial Times, London, has a Dubai edition; it is printed and distributed in Dubai.
There are three Arabic newspapers -- Al Bayan, Al Khaleej and Al Ittihad -- that cater to local readership. Apart from this, a host of Malayalam newspapers are being edited and printed in Dubai. Malayala Manorama boasts of a Dubai edition, which is considered to be huge success in terms of locally generated advertising revenue.
And to consider that there was an evening daily -- Emirates Evening Post -- which folded within a year of its launch. ITP, another media group that has base in the Dubai Media City, had plans to launch a business broadsheet, but failed to get the required license from the Federal Ministry of Information.
How vibrant is the journalism in Dubai, and in the Middle East
Khaleej Times and Gulf News are undoubtedly success stories when you look at their revenue. Emirates Business 24x7 is backed by a division of the Dubai Government, but this paper has just survived an identity crisis. It was launched as a quality compact newspaper in 2006 but a few months ago it was redesigned and relaunched as Middle East's first business newspaper.
Gulf Today is being published from Sharjah, the third significant emirate in the UAE. But is just there. You could call it the Free Press Journal of the UAE.
In all these newspapers, local reporting is nothing but a PR exercise. Front pages are always dominated by happenings elsewhere and the most preferred headlines are disaster stories from Baghdad and Lebanon. Railing against the United States and Israel are a must to prove your gravitas.
The majority of the editorial team in the UAE newspapers comes from the Asian subcontinent. So, the quality of the editorial team is as good as you may get in India. Though admitting that all newspapers make mistakes, Gulf News seems to make a few more than others. It comes up with headlines such as Its kick off time instead of It's kick off time, and Tendulkar Celebrates A Quite Birthday instead of Tendulkar Celebrates A Quiet Birthday.
Gulf News was redesigned by Mario Garcia of the Garcia Media in 2004. And it gives Gulf News the cutting edge among the competitors.As for career opportunities you can grow within the organization but the attrition rate is one of the lowest. That reduces your chances of moving up.
Also unlike India, you cannot switch your jobs easily in the Middle East. Your organization has the rights to impose a two-year ban on you from working for any of the competitors within the UAE, whenever you quit. You can work around these rules, but most often it is not worth the effort.
Also, several employers in the UAE keep the passports of their employees though this is against the UAE Federal Law. Gulf News a few years ago wrote against this flouting of the Federal Law but still the practice continues.In the newsroom, attention is paid to getting the protocol of the rulers right.
You can get your facts wrong, grammar wrong, but not the names of rulers or their titles.
How much money you must ask
If you are getting an offer from any of the UAE-based newspapers, you must ask for a monthly salary of Dh 12,000. Converted into Indian Rupees, this may sound a huge amount.
But beware. Dirham is pegged to the US dollar and these days 1 Dirham fetches you Rs 10.6. In 2001, 1 Dirham made you richer by Rs 13. Dollar is predicted to fall further and the UAE is in no mood to break free from the dollar shackles.
And inflation is raging in the UAE.With Dh 12,000 as monthly salary you will have a family visa. But any newcomer to Dubai will have to shell out to the tune of Dh80,000 as annual rent for a one bedroom kitchen flat (1 BHK).
Most of them move to the neighbouring emirate Sharjah where real estate prices are cheaper compared to Dubai. In Sharjah the rent for a 1BHK is Dh 40,000.
To live in Sharjah and work in Dubai you need to drive or rely on patchy public transport system. Buying a car is easy in the UAE but getting a driving license is next to impossible.
Even if you manage to get the driving license, your progress will be stalled by traffic congestion. It takes roughly two and half hours to reach Dubai from Sharjah, which is 30 kilometers.
Your minimum grocery bill will be around Dh 2000. A cylinder of gas costs you Dh 92. Till six months, it was only Dh 76.You will have to pay extra for your water and electricity and which are highly reliable. (on an average Dh 200 per month).
Thank god, there are no power shortages.
Healthcare is highly expensive if you have no family insurance coverage. Sharjah does not have nightclubs and it is no liquor zone. You can rely on your apartment's watchman to get your booze.You can enjoy your life in Dubai with its hundreds of nightclubs and bars. (A mug of beer costs Dh 20.)
In Dubai, if you are a non-Muslim, you can get a liquor permit to buy the booze from official outlets.
If you have a school going child, you will have to shell out minimum Dh 500 per month.
Roughly, this is how your average monthly expenses will add up:
Monthly Salary Dirhams 12,000
Monthly Rent Dh 7,000
Water and Electricity Dh 200
Monthly Grocery Bill Dh 2000
Cable TV Connection, Internet (Monthly) Dh 350.
Phone Bills (Cell phone plus landline) Minimum Dh 300.
School Fees Dh 500 Entertainment, Eating out Dh 1,000 per month
Expenditure Total Dh 11,350.
Income Total Dh 12,000.
(Note: These figures are based on 2007 prices)
Still, if you want to dig for gold in Dubai and the UAE, good luck to you.(Originally published at www.ocms.in)

Opportunities in Dubai newspapers and the Middle East

By John Cheeran
The most attractive media destination in the Middle East is Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE (United Arab Emirates). A major reason for this is Dubai's liberal approach to life in general. This is very important for media professionals who mainly move in from India, Pakistan and the UK to bring out the city-state's various newspapers.
Dubai Media City is home to a host of medium range publications which thrive by producing in house journals and freemailers for the city's shopping malls. Most of these publications do not last for more than three or four issues.
The key players in the UAE media scene are Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Emirates Business 24x7 and Gulf Today. 7 Days, the daily tabloid, is distributed free and is the bravest in reporting local trends and developments.
For a tiny nation such as the UAE four mainstream newspapers and a tabloid in English is a little too much. These English language newspapers target mainly Indian and Pakistani expatriates and now a growing population of Caucasians.
Khaleej Times is the oldest newspaper in the UAE but Gulf News enjoys the financial muscle to bring out what is considered as a slick newspaper.
Both Khaleej Times and Gulf News bring out a 72-page broadsheet edition daily. Classifieds, supplements and weekend magazines add to the girth of the papers.
For an average Indian journalist intent to earn quick bucks, this is great news -- a whole lot of pages to be made and vast spaces to be filled with news and views.
And more great news is in store. Abu Dhabi, Dubai's rival emirate and the UAE's capital, is launching its own newspaper by the end of April. Recruitment for the yet to be named paper is almost over and former Daily Telegraph, London, editor Martin Newland is the editor-in-chief.
Four English language newspapers make Dubai print media an overcrowded place. Financial Times, London, has a Dubai edition; it is printed and distributed in Dubai.
There are three Arabic newspapers -- Al Bayan, Al Khaleej and Al Ittihad -- that cater to local readership. Apart from this, a host of Malayalam newspapers are being edited and printed in Dubai. Malayala Manorama boasts of a Dubai edition, which is considered to be huge success in terms of locally generated advertising revenue.
And to consider that there was an evening daily -- Emirates Evening Post -- which folded within a year of its launch. ITP, another media group that has base in the Dubai Media City, had plans to launch a business broadsheet, but failed to get the required license from the Federal Ministry of Information.
How vibrant is the journalism in Dubai, and in the Middle East
Khaleej Times and Gulf News are undoubtedly success stories when you look at their revenue. Emirates Business 24x7 is backed by a division of the Dubai Government, but this paper has just survived an identity crisis. It was launched as a quality compact newspaper in 2006 but a few months ago it was redesigned and relaunched as Middle East's first business newspaper.
Gulf Today is being published from Sharjah, the third significant emirate in the UAE. But is just there. You could call it the Free Press Journal of the UAE.
In all these newspapers, local reporting is nothing but a PR exercise. Front pages are always dominated by happenings elsewhere and the most preferred headlines are disaster stories from Baghdad and Lebanon. Railing against the United States and Israel are a must to prove your gravitas.
The majority of the editorial team in the UAE newspapers comes from the Asian subcontinent. So, the quality of the editorial team is as good as you may get in India. Though admitting that all newspapers make mistakes, Gulf News seems to make a few more than others. It comes up with headlines such as Its kick off time instead of It's kick off time, and Tendulkar Celebrates A Quite Birthday instead of Tendulkar Celebrates A Quiet Birthday.
Gulf News was redesigned by Mario Garcia of the Garcia Media in 2004. And it gives Gulf News the cutting edge among the competitors.
As for career opportunities you can grow within the organization but the attrition rate is one of the lowest. That reduces your chances of moving up.
Also unlike India, you cannot switch your jobs easily in the Middle East. Your organization has the rights to impose a two-year ban on you from working for any of the competitors within the UAE, whenever you quit. You can work around these rules, but most often it is not worth the effort.
Also, several employers in the UAE keep the passports of their employees though this is against the UAE Federal Law. Gulf News a few years ago wrote against this flouting of the Federal Law but still the practice continues.In the newsroom, attention is paid to getting the protocol of the rulers right. You can get your facts wrong, grammar wrong, but not the names of rulers or their titles.
How much money you must ask
If you are getting an offer from any of the UAE-based newspapers, you must ask for a monthly salary of Dh 12,000. Converted into Indian Rupees, this may sound a huge amount. But beware. Dirham is pegged to the US dollar and these days 1 Dirham fetches you Rs 10.6.
In 2001, 1 Dirham made you richer by Rs 13. Dollar is predicted to fall further and the UAE is in no mood to break free from the dollar shackles. And inflation is raging in the UAE.
With Dh 12,000 as monthly salary you will have a family visa. But any newcomer to Dubai will have to shell out to the tune of Dh80,000 as annual rent for a one bedroom kitchen flat (1 BHK). Most of them move to the neighbouring emirate Sharjah where real estate prices are cheaper compared to Dubai. In Sharjah the rent for a 1BHK is Dh 40,000.
To live in Sharjah and work in Dubai you need to drive or rely on patchy public transport system. Buying a car is easy in the UAE but getting a driving license is next to impossible. Even if you manage to get the driving license, your progress will be stalled by traffic congestion. It takes roughly two and half hours to reach Dubai from Sharjah, which is 30 kilometers.Your minimum grocery bill will be around Dh 2000. A cylinder of gas costs you Dh 92. Till six months, it was only Dh 76.You will have to pay extra for your water and electricity and which are highly reliable. (on an average Dh 200 per month). Thank god, there are no power shortages.
Healthcare is highly expensive if you have no family insurance coverage. Sharjah does not have nightclubs and it is no liquor zone. You can rely on your apartment's watchman to get your booze.
You can enjoy your life in Dubai with its hundreds of nightclubs and bars. (A mug of beer costs Dh 20.) In Dubai, if you are a non-Muslim, you can get a liquor permit to buy the booze from official outlets.
If you have a school going child, you will have to shell out minimum Dh 500 per month.
Roughly, this is how your average monthly expenses will add up:Monthly Salary Dirhams 12,000Monthly Rent Dh 7,000Water and Electricity Dh 200Monthly Grocery Bill Dh 2000Cable TV Connection, Internet (Monthly) Dh 350.Phone Bills (Cell phone plus landline) Minimum Dh 300.School Fees Dh 500Entertainment, Eating out Dh 1,000 per monthExpenditure Total Dh 11,350.Income Total Dh 12,000.(Note: These figures are based on 2007 prices)Still, if you want to dig for gold in Dubai and the UAE, good luck to you.
(Originally published at www.ocms.in)

Do you want to become a journalist? log on to Online Centre for Media Studies

By John Cheeran
Are journalism schools worth the hefty fees they charge?
Are you satisfied with the quality of Indian journalism? Would you like to communicate better with your colleagues?
Do you want to go beyond mere blogging?
Do you want to master the crafts of editing and reporting?
Well without leaving your desktop or laptop, now you can become a better editor or reporter.
http://www.ocms.in/ offers you the right kind of courses whether you are a student or professional of whatever background.
With a course that lasts only 12 weeks, Mr Sunil Saxena, the man behind the Online Centre for Media Studies, has ensured that what you learn is what you must.
You get all the meat, no bones.
With a course fee of Rs 15,000 one should point out that what http://www.ocms.in/ offers is value for money.
India’s first and finest online journalism college could give shape to your ambitions of a news breaker and newsmaker.
Go, log on to http://www.ocms.in/ now.