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December 26, 2004
IN BRIEF
Journalism: Principles and Practice
By Tony Harcup
Vistaar/Sage Publications, B-42, Panchsheel Enclave, Post Box 4109, New
Delhi-110017, India
Tel: 91-11-2649 1290-7 Email:
marketing@indiasage.com Website: www.indiasage.com
ISBN 81-7829-483-4
179pp. Indian Rs340
With journalism being such a popular subject all over the world, there are hundreds of books written on the practice and its specialties that are available in the market. So another book on the topic of journalism is unlikely to merit special attention, unless is offers something substantial. This book comes across as being different than most. Written by a person who has been a journalist for 20 years and has spent a lot of time in journalism education, it has covered all the basic educational requirements of the subject and at the same time gives much more in terms of examples and references.
Unlike the drab theoretical stuff that is usually churned out by media academics, the book is written in such a manner that is shows the writer being in touch with the realities of the profession. To back up his work, the author has also taken interviews of and shared the experiences of some leading journalists from different areas of the profession.
After covering the basics that include theories of communication and the meaning of journalism, the writer moves on to more interesting and equally important areas. Under the subject of constraints and influences on journalists, he takes up issues like how staff at the newspapers which belong to media baron Rupert Murdoch operate. He gives real examples of problems faced by journalists in their work through interference from proprietors. The book talks about the commercial interests of the proprietors and how these impact the workings of a newspaper. This is a problem that many journalists face, including those in Pakistan.
Then there are some nuggets of information that only add to the understanding of the profession. The author poses the question in one of the chapters that “if journalists have a social role in informing society about itself, does it matter that journalists are not particularly representative of that society?” Quoting a senior journalist, the book says that in the UK for too long newspaper editorial departments have been dominated by white, middle-class staff. If newspapers want to truly connect with the community, they must strive to better reflect the multi-cultural nature of their audience.
The author then comments that the problem is not just with newspapers. “Witness the prevalence of Oxbridge types on the BBC, particularly on more prestigious programmes,” the book points out.
The book then goes on to talk about other journalism practices like interviewing, writing features, and adhering to newspaper style. On the topic of conducting interviews, the author quotes journalist F.J. Mansfield who instructed trainees in the 1930s that “personality counts for much. A reporter has to meet all classes of people who are sources of news. I am tempted to say on their own level, and to inspire in all the confidence essential to successful approach. The happy medium between the inferiority complex and cocksure audacity should be the aim. Journalism tends to breed cynicism and a hypercritical attitude, but good manners, and often diplomacy, forbid a display of contempt.”
In all, the book is a very good introduction to journalism for students at undergraduate level as well as people simply interested in understanding journalism. It is written in a simple and straightforward style with very little jargon to sift through. — Kamal Siddiqi
The Sunrise — An Autobiography
By Subhe Sadiq Hamid
Royal Book Company
BG-5, Rex Centre
Basement, Zaibunnisa Street, Karachi-74400
Tel: 021-565 3418, 567 0628
Email:
royalbook@hotmail.com
ISBN 969-407-306-5
342pp. Price not listed
There are probably not many autobiographies in English by Pakistani personalities. People penning their life stories usually feel more comfortable doing it in their mother tongue. Bearing this in mind, The Sunrise Subhe Sadiq Hamid’s account of his life, is an effort that needs to be mentioned with positive intent for a number of reasons — sincerity of thought, an urge to express oneself and the love for one’s own country and its people.
Subhe Sadiq Hamid is a banker, whose long association with the State Bank of Pakistan is known to all who may either be acquainted with him or are familiar with the bank itself. The Sunrise, is Hamid’s attempt at recollecting events related to him as and when they happened, and the people who influenced him throughout the course of his professional career and personal life.
He starts off by divulging information about his ancestral village in Jallundar and after reminiscing briefly about his grandparents, parents and brothers appraises the readers of how his family escaped the wrath of bloodthirsty rioters during partition.
From the point where Hamid’s professional career as a banker takes off, the memoir provides accounts of many a person who held key positions or were later destined to hold important places in society, and how Hamid himself was affected by their professional brilliance. A major portion of the book covers the author’s visits to various countries according to the requirements of his job.
Although it makes me sad to mention this, but gauging the sincerity with which the book has been composed, I wonder why was not enough attention paid to proof-reading. It appears, for some odd reason, that the entire book was published in a rush, which allowed quite a number of tiny, if not glaring, mistakes go unchecked. Also some of the characters and events deserved being fleshed out and further elaborated to give this book a consummate touch. Having said that, Subhe Sadiq Hamid’s effort must be commended for the urge and iclat with which it has been made. — Peerzada Salman
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
By Sidney Sheldon
Harper Collins. Available with Liberty Books (Pvt) Ltd, 3 Rafiq Plaza, M.R. Kayani Road, Saddar, Karachi. Tel: 021-5683026 Email: libooks@cyber.net.pk Website:
www.libertybooks.com
ISBN 0-00-719906-6
423pp. Rs250
Sidney Sheldon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark?” is a story about the evils of power and a scientific invention that will change the world. Man’s dream of controlling the world’s weather is about to come true. The ultimate machine that can bring welcome rain or devastating storms and tornadoes to any spot of earth, all under the control of one man, its inventor and the villain of the book.
The story starts with four people being killed, very efficiently, in different parts of the world. The wives of two of the men are targeted for assassination soon after, as the powers that be suspect them of knowing too much about their dead husbands’ work.
Running for protection to the one man who offers to help them — their husbands’ boss and owner of one of the largest think-tanks in the world, a very wealthy individual — they find themselves caught up in a game of cat and two very pretty mice, that forces them to team up to stay one step ahead of the assassination attempts on their lives. And all this time, they do not forget the essential things in life, like going shopping for new clothes and getting their hair done — yes, while fighting for their lives. It is only their instincts for survival and instincts about people and the few skills they have — one lady is a painter and the other is an international model — that saves them again and again. Often overcome by grief they nevertheless have it in them to teach a lesson to the ones who wish them harm.
The book is typical fast paced Sheldon. It is formula — predictable — but not disappointing. It has the usual healthy dose of international intrigue and knife-in-the-back situations. The characters are well written and not two-dimensional at all. The women are especially strong while having a fragile side to them.
Well worth a fast read. — Shahzad Hasan
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