Book review: Between the Headlines

'Between the Headlines' by Shweta Ganesh Kumar is a slice of life story of a TV reporter, Satyabhama Menon, as she struggles to come to terms with the harsh realities of her cherished career. Lured by the thrill of being on national TV, driven by the altruism of journalism - she takes up an unconventional career path and works hard to finally become a TV reporter. The 'travails' that follow are well narrated, well paced and just about long enough to keep the reader hooked on. The fictional new organization NEWS India is a chaotic place, with all the chaos associated with a mismanaged organization. Reporters don't look like the most valuable assets of the organization, but instruments to used at the whims and fancies of the senior editors at the top. 

Is that the state of the TV media today? The book does paint a very gloomy picture. We have got a taste of that earlier with 'Peepli Live', the paid news cover-up and the Radia tapes, and the book only reinforces that image. The TV media has anyway become the butt of jokes in many living rooms, office and cafes around the country. But it is sad to see that many reporters understand this, feel ashamed of it but can do nothing just like Satyabhama. Truly, the news channels have becomes advertising and propoganda channels for corporates with 'filler' news thrown in. 

I don't know if the truth is as harsh as potrayed in the book. There seems to be nothing positive in the potrayal of the TV media. Even within Satyabhama's bureau, there seems to no sense of purpose or camaradrie but just office politics as usual. This forces Satyabhama to do make a tough choice - whether to endure all this purposelessness for the thrill of being in front of the camera or put her skills to do something that may make a difference -  but where she wouldn't be in the limelight. She chooses the latter.