Journalists do have envysome friends

Ten years. It has been 10 years since my association with journalism. I still remember how exactly I felt when for the first time I entered a Newsroom. Back then even entering the lift corridor of a news house used to be thrilling for me. I am glad that it remained the same till date. I come from no- news background but with a clear head about what exactly I wanted to do as a journalist. I could visualise it and I feel extremely lucky to lived it up thoroughly. I met people. We journalists do meet people who belong to the power and influencial class. Then we remain friends with many of them. I wish I could take their names whom professionally we call as sources but they are the real friends or mentors for whom we could survive our respective jobs. At the same time I am tired of listening that reporters are chipku. They make friends who come with benefits. Is it ? You know guys how we work? No Superman really does not return to the world to help the poor Lois Lane (s). We visit offices. We train our eyes and mind as source detector. We read our prospective sources and stick to them. They also try their best to throw us away. But we source detectors just stick around. And finally the day comes when we both shake hands and sign an invisible deal of information. So the bridge is built. Now? People who call journalists opportunists please have some patience. Now that the source and I have shook hands so I get back to him for any kind of assistance from his departmet. Imagine who is the fittest to do this for me ? A top boss right? Yes gradually the professional relationship evolves. This is utmost natural. You know we are hardworking as well! Like the top man, we become friends with chaiwala, paanwala,liftman and so on. The intention remains the same- information. But you know you guys will not recognise these relations because most of you are unabl to see it. We try to keep equal respect for our both sets of sources turned friends, believe me. I too have those friends who have given me their back. They are excellent in their respective fields and hold some key positions. But how is it justified to call us opportunists in a very general way? Please think twice. It is our job and with time and tide things become personal. It is not our habit of name dropping but we actually do not have other options. Trust me most of the journalists live in a very sharp edged square room. The four pillars are the editor, family and a few friends,sources and himself. So the next time you interact with a journalist and hear him taking somebody's name, have some mercy on him. He is not flaunting anything, most of tbe times. It is his/her boring life that evolves around these people. Yes lucky I am. I have made those friends who will remain friends keeping the sanctity alive of human relationship. This is one of the most valuable take aways by me from the profession.