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It’s heartbreaking to follow stories done by others – newspapers or television news channel. That’s the way we grew up, in a two-newspaper town.

It was a matter of shame to be beaten by the rival paper on a story. And we were conditioned to deal with that shame by ignoring the news-break.

We were too big to follow. And if we were forced, we usually got some source or the other to counter the story, deny every detail in it.

That made us feel better. And readers? Did it really matter that between the two of us – the rival paper and us — we had confused them completely. That aversion to following up others’ stories has become a part of our DNA now. It’s difficult, sometime impossible to do that.

We have been following television channels from Day One on the BJP crisis. In fact, Jaswant Singh’s first interview was on CNN-IBN.

He told Karan Thapar that Mohammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, was a great man, demonized by India and that Muslims feel alienated here.

That started the fire that’s still raging. The first day, we didn’t have a choice. We carried the interview, didn’t feel too bad because we like the people there, and have worked with them jointly on some projects.

But that was only the beginning. Every day since, some channel or the other was breaking stories – as Jaswant Singh went studio hopping.

The next bomb was dropped by journalist-turned-politician Arun Shourie. And he chose NDTV to deliver his message to the BJP.

We soldiered on, breaking other stories, especially on judges’ assets. Most news channels picked up our story the next morning.

We felt better of course. And were wiser.

Why do we feel terrible about following stories done by others? If the story is good, and it survives the necessary checks and double-checks, they should be followed up. And let’s please give credit to whoever broke it.

It’s churlish to do the follow up and attribute it “one news channel” or “a local English daily”. That’s like saying here is a story good enough to follow, but, hey, we won’t tell you who broke it.

You will notice Hindustan Times doesn’t do that. We name the organization, even if it was the rival media house. When Jaswant Singh spoke to Times Now, our story said so. We named Times Now.

I don’t see any harm in it. What do you think?

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Posted by Yashwant Raj on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 9:25 pm 
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  • Rajat

    It’s good that you people name the organization but not every time.

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    yashwant raj Reply:
    August 28th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    we are trying to do that every time, it must become a rule

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  • Mohd Asim Khan

    There is absolutely no harm. In fact, it is imperative for healthy media practice. We must not forget that our primary aim is to inform people. I like the honesty with which you write your blogs sir. All the best.

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    Atul Reply:
    August 27th, 2009 at 11:17 pm

    No harm in naming the source.

    I would rather get the news from HT than xyz source, as I know that it would have been validated before being published.

    Better to win the race rather being first of the block!!

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    Rastogi Reply:
    August 27th, 2009 at 11:25 pm

    Many of us only have a single source for the news. I only read the HT online. I suspect even others who watch the news channels, fear that they may miss several of the stories in their limited viewing time. So, almost every interested news follower depends on any one major newspaper.

    So, when you report stories broken by other media houses, it reassures the reader that they are getting a broader view of the news. I, personally, prefer that.

    And again, to most of us it doesnt matter who broke the story. I dont understand the rivalry between media houses! Very few people would read BOTH the TOI and the HT. So if TOI breaks a story and HT would refuse to cover it, the loyal readers would miss it!

    Adn then, a common reader does not botehr about who is breaking what stories. What matters is who is giving more credible and more appropriate content.

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    yashwant raj Reply:
    August 28th, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    that’s exactly what i think; we are getting there

    Anil Reply:
    August 28th, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    I can see a ful-scale war between electrnic media-houses in near future like we see here in USA between Fox and the rest.. Given how electronic media colelctively is so boringly pro-congress sometimes they comes of as their spokesperson that it’s a matter of time that some FOX news kind of channel supporting BJP comes .

    Here in USA I don’t like many things about FOX btu one thign is sure media houses colelctively acting as democratic party’s mouthpiece have spawned FOX and FOX has to fight the battle alone and hence they go over the top.

    I can see that happening in India too this unilateral hosanna of one party is not going to last for long.

    For instance all channles have royally ignored Pradhan committe report ’s not tablign i assmebly and instead are busy with how mubai police is being moderinized diets reformed yada yda keepign totally silent of pradhan committee report.. this move could very well have been devised in congress head-quarters.. Had BJP erred on that front we wud be hearing day in day out how BJp is not serious about reforms since it has not tabled the report in assembly..

    Ironically only war or major mishap report that got tabled into parliament is Kargil and no points for guessing why.

    We still have not seen report on 1962.1965, 1972-Shimla fiasco..

    Mohd Asim Khan Reply:
    August 28th, 2009 at 10:18 pm

    Anil, they say it looks everything yellow to a jaundiced eye. It seems to hold good for you. I think your comment that all electronic channels are pro-Congress is ridiculous and funny, rather a simpleton comment. By the way, what is your take on newspapers and magazines?

    Anil Reply:
    August 29th, 2009 at 12:07 am

    I have backed my comments with daily occurance mate and you are merely ponmtioficating and castingf asperson on my character..

    if you want I can provide you daily commenatry on what was ignore and what was highlighted by media.. for instance Sugar price rise now a just fair media would have takne congress to task too but these guys are very adriotly making ti problme due to Sharad pawar as if Pawar was a minster under NDA..

    They are so going over the top with Advani lied and all that bla bla but nobody bothers about how Manmohan lied about releasing quttrochi’s money. Every time some guest brings that up anchors will shrug it off..

    Any inbiassed person can see what these are doing as I mentioend earlier right now media is FOX network-less pro democratc chorus that one used to see in usa media………

    yashwant raj Reply:
    August 28th, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    that’s a huge responsibility, and we try not to disappoint

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    yashwant raj Reply:
    August 28th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    thanks asim

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  • Sana

    Whats the harm in mentioning the source, I think its good and really honest on your part. As far as the readers go they would find it even more authentic if they read it thru a trusted newspaper.
    Its true that bringing in a first hand account is great but then everthing cannot be published this way.
    Instead of running to 30 other sources one would defi pic up the right one and feel contented.

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    D10 Reply:
    August 28th, 2009 at 10:03 am

    Frankly, I feel that it is the news which is more important – rather than the source. In my opinion, it matters little who covered the news first. What I, as a reader/viewer will remember will be who covered it better. Which is why, the CNN-IBN adverts about them being the number one channel because they broke XYZ news first really puts me off. Is that how the worth of a media organization is to be judged?? Simply by who broke the news ‘first’? It shows how low quality, content and analysis are on the priority scale then!

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    yashwant raj Reply:
    August 28th, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    channels are in a very different, and a difficult, race; therefore, the rush to be the first ….

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    Deepan Joshi Reply:
    August 28th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    I think the most important line in your blog sums it up, “If the story is good, and it survives the necessary checks and double-checks, they should be followed up. And let’s please give credit to whoever broke it.”
    The necessary independent checks sometimes are the most important; a lot of big international media giants have sometimes in the rush picked up a hoax just because it has been reported by another credible rival; and in such cases not giving the source doubles the pain.
    As there is always a committed readership; so not following up a big story is denying your readers of information for which they depend only on you. Attributing it to the media house that broke the story raises your credibility; and it also tells people that HT competes but is also large-enough to acknowledge the good work of a rival media house.

    yashwant raj Reply:
    August 29th, 2009 at 11:18 am

    exactly deepan, that’s what it is all about

    yashwant raj Reply:
    August 28th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    it sounds so normal now, there was a time people could be lynched for suggesting this

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  • http://none me

    Number one n two don’t but its always quality which matters .

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    yashwant raj Reply:
    August 29th, 2009 at 11:15 am

    right on

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  • Al4nwz

    Honest as hell, Mr Raj. Appreciate it. HT hasnt really been at the forefront as the jaswant-bjp saga unravelled. It was disapntng. Express (like most times) has been da best. ToI kinda caught up wid MJ’s review of da gorkhaland mp’s book. HT has lacked a clear-sighted vision. Ashok malik’s piece 2day was too calibrated. Bt am sure u guys wil bounce back. Gr8 piece though…

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    yashwant raj Reply:
    August 29th, 2009 at 11:16 am

    we have done quite well, in my opinion — we lost out on the interviews but our reporting has been on target, day after day

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  • http://www.gonewiththewindies.blogspot.com Som

    I think if any newspaper nurses the ego that it’s way too big to follow a story, it has its day numbered.

    You expect such rigidity only in corpses and not in any buzzing organization.

    It’s foolhardy to expect rivals to sit idle and let you have field day, every day. They are bound to lay hands on some big/good story and if you chose not to follow that, you are doing a great disservice to your readers.

    Let’s face it, you don’t follow each and every story that appeared in a rival newspaper. It’s only when the issue is of great interest and can snowball into a massive thing that you put yourself on its trail.

    And in such cases, you often find new angles which can be potentially bigger than the initial news-break and it has happened in the past.

    Instead of pretending as if it has not happened at all, news organisations should rather take it as a challenge to do so well and dig out so many interesting angles that the original story pales in comparison and people forget who actually broke the news!

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    yashwant raj Reply:
    September 1st, 2009 at 4:20 pm

    liked ur last para — who knows what may come up — stories change, and, it’s just possible that the follow-up may be bigger than the break

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  • http://www.sumita-mythoughts.blogspot.com Sumita Yadav

    i think dere is no harm in giving the name of the respective news channel…..in fact i feel it gives credibility to your story….also d name wd nt in ny sense reduce the worth of ur newspaper..
    carry on d gud work!!!

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    yashwant raj Reply:
    September 1st, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    thanks. and keep reading HT

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  • manish

    every dog has a day….

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  • Ashok M Vaishnav

    Metaphorically or philosophically it would certainly true to say the richness or poverty – which ultimately means happiness- is the state of mind.
    But in real life, person and his family not going hungry, have a decent dwelling, have access to quality education and health care such and so much that one can follow one’s conscience without any fear or coercion or greed can possibly said not to be poor.
    Economists, Politicians Academicians or Intellectuals have spent their lives in writing volumes on the theories on the subject , but have miles to go to arrive at consensus.

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  • Anonymous

    I think Anil Kapoor is simpleton about nature of man. His observation of rich of western countries and poor of India is superficial.Can anybody study deep deep unconscious mind of man.What man speak or tell in interview is mostly lie.Man id s hypocritical animal he never disclosed his true nature mostly he also don’t know what he want. He changes his mind moment to moment.In this circumstances how can anybody read the mind of others?

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  • http://www.blurbpoint.com/ Internet Marketing Company

    Great article for inspiration. According to me hope is the all things which can be the medium for the success in the life. The person who continuously fails in doing something but if he/she has the hope and strength to happen good to him/her , then with the efforts they can win the world also. As for this example of the ant is the best. And beauty of the Indian’s are that they never lost the hope.

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  • Sock Monkey

    Just stumbled upon this and it was a great read! It must have been tough to have experienced this but you know what they say: what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger — You now know what to look out for, which is invaluable, and a lesson that thankfully you did not have to learn the hard way.

    Personally, I would have sort of had a few red flags go up when a guy / man doesn’t seem to be asking questions about my life — it shows that they take an interest in you, sort of like how during an interview, interviewers want to feel the gist that they are being appreciated. First impressions are everything, and the fact that it was all about himself from the get-go means that it would have been exactly that if you had married him (really proud of you that you didn’t give in). I think he was a little too much of a businessman, so much so that he didn’t know how turn it off on the dating scene with the way he was trying to propose and strategize — make a sales pitch basically — about settling in the UK because its closer to India, and him buying adjacent houses for you all and his parents. Sure looks like he had spent way too much time sweating the small stuff that he had completely forgotten about the big picture–the chemistry.

    Posts like these are so enlightening but I worry that every time I read about such an experience, it convinces me that Indian men may just be too rigid for me. I’m an NRI, left India when I was 4 and have never felt the need to look back (although I do wonder about what life would be like). I’ve always been very western-oriented / white-washed, but still have my priorities in order. Ugh, dating such an Indian man would surely put an end to life as I know it. Not that all Indian men are bad or anything, but the socially inept and overly family-oriented traits would be a hindrance. Of course, such men also exist in other races but Indian men more so given that its attributed to our culture and upbringing. I feel like I have forgotten and lack the patience / tolerance for even beginning to deal with such men. Like you said, I would rather struggle — atleast it would give me some hope for survival.

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  • Anil Dubey

    It is a shame that Vir Sanghavi considers Nira Radia as his friend. Does he have any moral ethics ? Don’t know we know Nira Radia involvement is many controversial dealings ? Does he not know that she is a political lobbyist ? Nira Radia tape controversy is still actively fresh in my mind. May be Vir Sanghvi is also a political lobbyist in his other job to have friends like her.

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  • Rajesh

    Please explain to me why there is no violence against Christians, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists, Sikhs, etc. Please don’t come up with argument about violence against Sikhs in 84 which was completely driven by one party which calls itself secular. In fact, I ask you why is there always a provocation by the Muslim minorities against the majorities? What is the reason for the minorities to throw petrol bombs on religious processions by Hindus if it passes through a street where a Mosque is located? Why is the violence and threat against a Hindu man if he intends to marry a Muslim women? Why did the so called tolerant minorities burn a train full of Hindu women and children at Godhra? How come people like Owaisi – a representative of minorities come up with speech that if the police is taken out for 15 minutes then the 25 crore Muslim minorities will annihilate the 100 crore Hindu majorities? So long as the Quran has three rules for infidels – 1. Submit to Islam; 2 Pay Jijya tax 3. Be prepared to be killed, and the common Muslim continues to believe in this hypocrite religious bigotry the Muslims in India will have problem assimilating. The fact is that the common Muslims don’t want to be part of this secular democracy because it is against the basic tenets of Islam. So instead of barking here, people like you and Zia need to stand up in front of the mirror and ask yourself why why why and you will get the answers to the stupid article written above.

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  • sdx

    What a horrid moneydigger this woman is, if her account is true and not fictitious. It is better a man stays single than wed women who look at how deep your pockets are rather than love and companionship.

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  • vinodh

    Hi,
    I trust this is true. If not its not an uncommon thing .
    This happens now and then with the help of matrimonial ,dating and face book kind of sites.
    Why you wanted to date a “millionaire”?.
    Consummation is the last thing of course.
    It will happen only if minds meet.
    regards
    vinodh

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