The hunt for soundbites and 'exclusives' has turned many budding tv journalists into slobbering piles of goo. Here's one example - On the day the Indian bowler Anil Kumble bagged 434 wickets, equalling Kapil Dev's record - one 'reporter' managed to corner Chetana Kumble (Anil's wife) for an 'interview' at the airport. The following is a literal transcript - so all the typos are because our reporter spoke that way. All the italicized comments are mine.
Reporter: Ma'm big day for you as Anil keeps sayings that you have supported him. How big a day is it for you?
Chetana: This is a very big day for me and I'm really very happy that Anil broke the record.
Now, the first question doesn't yield a juicy enough answer so here we go again.
Reporter: Now that Anil is the best bowler in India, how does it sink in to the wife of the best bowler in India?
Chetana: (Polite bewilderment) It really hasn't sunk in yet. (Smiles)
It isn't long enough, answer needs to be atleast 20 seconds long.
Reporter: Was he tense like he was not getting wickets in the last three days and like he was very close to the record but yet so far...
Chetana: No he was very calm, he was really not thinking about the record. (she runs out of things to say) He's just thinking about making India win...probably.
Reporter: How you inspired him? (other reporter butts in)How you inspired him after a long 13-14 year in international?
Chetana: (Suddenly realises she has something clever to say and starts jerkily) I mean I don't know how I have inspired him, you have to ask him that.
Reporter is bemused; usually people are happy to speak, speak and keep speaking, but this one's just sticking to monosyllables. So he tries again.
Reporter: But he always kept sayings that while and during the shoulder injury you were a big support to him. Can you tell us something about that time to us?
Chetana: No, I mean, I've just made it known that I've been I'm going to be with him that's all. I don't know...
Chetana seems to have misunderstood the question - and anyway the innocuous questions are getting uncomfortable; she's awkward and unwittingly sheds light into Anil and Chetana's life before marriage (she was getting out of an unhappy marriage)
Reporter: Were you happier today, or when he took the 10-wicket haul?
Chetana: No each moment is different so you can't compare one with the other.
Reporter knows he's got something, but here's one last question just for luck's sake.
Reporter: When did you come?
Chetana: Ah. I came about a couple of days ago.
Reporter: Thank you.
This 'interview' was edited into one 24 second bit after the reporter filed it. It consisted of three chunks interspersed with white flashes.
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2 comments:
So much for being in the race of getting more exclusives without making an iota of sense. The questions were really sad and the answers of course couldn't have been any better. It just highlights the extent to which 'Journalism' has these days got reduced to.
Btw, it was great to read ur blog today after ages...Neha
Love that entry venks!
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