Though Hindustan Times shed the image of a 'Sarkari Akhbar' long ago, the new editor-in-chief appears to shake it up again to get the lethargy off the staff and bring a lot of changes (mostly internal and not visible to outsiders as yet).
Chaitanya Kalbag, who was earlier Reuter's Asia boss, had taken over as HT's Editor-in-Chief (Vir Sanghvi remains Editorial Director) recently and soon after joining the paper, he has stirred the hornet's nest by scolding the sleepy subs, rapping the reporters and giving earful to the editors all over the country (of various editions).
This is something new to HTians and no wonder many are complaining. What does sound strange to most staffers was his instructions of not availing any junket, no new recruitment and keeping cell phones on 24x7. 'Quote the person or at least give a hint about the source', is the direction to stop the 'planted' stories. Couchpotatoes who hadn't worked for ages appear shocked.
Some say that the changes are visible and mistakes are no longer tolerated. The UK English is back in vogue and sub-editors wary of consulting dictionaries are back to basics, learning the language. Initial days though a few months later we will be in a better position to comment.
3 comments:
ya, heard about him taking the subs to task.
Hyderabad based urdu newspaper siasat editor mr amir ali khan and mr mazhar and mr alamdar were involved in a sex racket today as exposed by MIM floor leader in the state assembly in which a young girl was sold to alleged sex racket after being brought in a trap by offering her a scholarship and then taking her to a farmhouse and raping her which are seirous offenses and even forcing her parents not to file a police complaint and threatnig them with dire consequences.Even the National Law Trust has sent a letter dated on 14-09-2006 signed by its Chairman Mr Khalid Nishu to all the Newspaper editors to take up the story as it damages the reputation of the media and the victim Mrs Mariam Fatima had even met the President of India seeking justice and the State Home Minister has appointed a team led by deputy Commissoner of police Mr Madhu Sudan Reddy IPS to investigate the case as promised by the Minister in the Assembly .The Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen on Tuesday took the Congress government to task for its alleged failure to control kidnappings and trafficking of young girls in the State, particularly Hyderabad.
Chaitanya is a man who has always left his stamp of quality wherever he has gone -- and he has roamed the world during his 23-year stint at Reuters.
Lazy bums at HT, be warned that when confronted with recalcitrant inefficiency, Chaitanya can cut through rocks of rubbish like hot knife through butter. And be aware that the HT management would have known his abilities and style before hiring him. Take care.
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