A sneak peek into a journalist’s life

A room filled with furniture, paper and books lying on  tables, reporters on their toes ready to go reporting, some busy typing on their laptops, others at the phone, everyone rushing to meet the deadline….this is what our newsroom looks like and I am sure other newsrooms look pretty much the same.

I just wanted to share a few funny, odd or mysterious incidents that have happened in The Bhutanese newsroom since we started.

To talk about my own experience first, I attended one day of a two-day conference and did a story. The next day was a Saturday when we are off and I went to office in casuals to attend the editorial meeting. Half way through the meeting and the media focal person calls up saying why I have not turned up on the second day. The tone of voice is threatening. She asks for our CEO’s number who assures her that we have already done a story on the meet. Luckily for me she is convinced.

In my colleague’s case, she had to receive a hundred and one calls from an interviewee asking her if she had quoted him rightly. At the end of it all, he asked that a draft copy of the story be sent to him. Since this is unethical by journalistic rules, she refused, only to receive a long tirade. After she hung up, she went towards the washroom and came out a few minutes later, eyes full of tears and ready to burst into sobs.

Another got scolded by the Thrimpoen when she went out for “familiarization”. At that time our paper was not yet launched and he felt she was wasting his time. “You have come at the wrong time while we are freezing in the cold,” he snapped (since it was a cold winter day). But my friend laughed it off sportingly.

Sometimes seeking an appointment takes ages and after we get an appointment the person concerned seems to disappear into his office room from where he/she never comes out. But what makes a reporter’s day is the fact that when our byline and story comes out in paper we feel well rewarded for our efforts. The realization dawns on us that we are making a difference for the better.

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2 comments

  1. This is non-sense ya……….journalistic ethics……..and you all write what others want right? No ethics at all………….you scribes have no ethics. If your enemy is involved in some dirty shits you write tonnes of it exaggerated………..Am I right?

  2. I support author. he/she has rightly mentioned ground realities related to Bhutanese attitude/ego etc. We Bhutanese (mostly Govt. servant) does not have sense to deal with negative comments with civil manner. Our official meetings are always remain as formalities , I mean. we listen to the boss..and agenda is/are already decided by the concerned authorities and the juniors/participants who dares to put questions on doubtful agenda is/are being victimized.

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