Of Izzack Peachman and the disaster that is Goan journalism

After Kolkatta, Goa probably has the highest concentration of writers per sq.km. in India. This singular fact could be due to the proximity to the sea, or all that fish. You would think that this proliferation of writers of all abilities (and from all over the world) would result in a very high standard of journalism.

Not so.

In my opinion, Goa's newspapers are pretty casual about their writing. Not only is the reporting amateurish, but the sub-editing is non-existent.

Pick up any edition of a local (English) daily. You can choose between the TOI Goa edition, the Navhind Times, the Herald and the Gomantak Times. I challenge you to find one that is error free.

Skimming through yesterday's Herald (it is too depressing to read through every 'report'), you'll find that page 14 had a half-page article on a young Goan violinist Chernoll Mendonca. The headline for the profile: ' A Musical Chernobyle called Chernoll'.

If I was Chernoll, I wouldn't be too pleased about being called a musical 'Chernobyle'. Do Herald's reporters/editors know what Chernobyl is? Comparing that poor boy to one of the world's worst nuclear disasters cannot, in any way, be a flattering thing. Having read the local papers, I can only justify this with the rationale that the reporter/sub-editor (or whoever was responsible for this disaster) thought they were making a clever play on the Chernobyle / Chernoll connection.

Bah.

If I were Chernoll, I wouldn't add this to my press cuttings file.

In the same article, the reporter writes:

Chernoll's...cell phone is home to the music of Enrique, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Fray, Eagles, Bryan Adams and various others in these categories. He is quick to assert the devotion for the Israeli violinist Izzack Peachman.

Izzack Peachman.

Seriously. It says so in black and white on Page 14.

Perhaps there is a famous Israeli violinist called Peachman, responsible for inspiring Goan violinists (which would explain certain things),but I doubt it.

With fact-checking apparently non-existent,the sheer laziness of our reporters is revealed to thousands of people every morning. How hard is it to do an internet search when you are faced with an unfamiliar name? How difficult is it to double check a spelling or what you think is a pun?

When people describe Goa as a writer's paradise, one needs to question why, despite literary giants living amongst us, is our standard of journalism (and professionalism in journalism) so poor?

Any answers?

Case study requests: Any tips, suggestions, anecdotes?

I'm looking for quotes, tips, suggestions and / or anecdotes for the following features that I'm working on:

- How to protect your privacy (and that of your kids) online

- Surviving in a younger world: career tips for older (open to interpretation!) people

- Have you got a job through Facebook, LinkedIn or similar sites? Or know someone who has? Please get in touch.

- Goa's markets: Have you been to one? Share your experiences.

Please email me at mumbaiwallah (at) gmail dot com

Case studies wanted: Reinventing yourself

Do you know of someone who has reinvented themselves completely? Perhaps a banker turned writer, a doctor turned artist, an architect turned musician? You get the idea.

I'm looking for people who have given up the careers that they trained for (or worked in for a long time) and went into something that they found more fulfilling.

Any ideas, please email me at mumbaiwallah (at) gmail (dot) com or leave a comment. Many thanks.

Wedding anniversary gifts: any ideas?

I've just been asked to write an article on a short deadline on wedding anniversary gifts, so any ideas, comments, tips will be appreciated.

Did you gift your spouse something special for an anniversary? Do you bother to check up on what kind of anniversary it is (paper, wood, leather etc)? Have you forgotten an anniversay and what were the consequences?

If you have something to share, please get back to me asap. Thanks!

You can leave a comment or email me at mumbaiwallah (at) gmail (dot) com

Water - what do you have to say?

I'm working on a story about Water, with a special emphasis on Goa and the issues here.

Whether you are in Goa or not, if you have a comment to make about water related issues, please get in touch.

Here's what I'd like to know from you:
- Do you face water problems where you are?
- If so, how are you tackling it?
- Do you know any activists, local people or groups involved with solving the water problem? Please point them to this blog or ask them to get in touch with me.
- Any other points, statistics, comments or anecdotes are welcome.
- Please feel free to forward this request to people who might be able to comment.

You can write to me at mumbaiwallah (at) gmail (dot) com

Many thanks.

NaBloPoMo 2008

Giving up my attempts at annual fiction writing, I am participating in November's NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). This is an attempt to write thirty posts in thirty days, and keep the words flowing. Hopefully, most of it should be good.

******
November's here. Far too soon, it seems. I'm still missing England a bit. Discovering my scarves and woolly bits (yes, we brought them with us - we'll need them for future winter trips, won't we?) in one of the boxes made me nostalgic for being bundled up. With warm weather, you can only take off so much. What do you do with skin?

The 52 boxes have been mostly unpacked, inventoried and repacked. Mr.R and I meticulously went through the most important ones - the ones marked 'Books' and 'DVDs'. With limited storage for our 600+ books, most of them remain in their temporary cardboard shelters. I hope they will stay safe there. Each box has now been labelled so we don't have to re-open ten to find what we are looking for.

The most important books have now been taken out, kissed and welcomed to Indian shores. They now rest in their new home, in temporary shelving or ancient cupboards. With the familiar spines (and mess) around us, it's beginning to feel like home.

Writing full-time: I have good intentions

If I had known that internet connectivity in India was going to be such a pain, I wouldn't have grumbled about AOL while in the UK. BSNL has ruined all my plans to freelance full-time - how on earth is one supposed to have an international career with no connectivity? And all this, after paying a minor fortune for an annual subscription. I'd like a refund, please.

This full-time freelancing is coming along, much slower than I planned, though. By now, I'd have liked to have been up and running, sending queries by the dozens, exploring local ventures to cover. Two trips to Bombay in Sept / Oct effectively delayed a lot of that work, but it was a good break - so no complaints there. We're back now and things seem to be progressing. My queries for this year have reached 99,close to that 120 queries goal I had set myself. Will I get that done before December? I think so.

Writing wise, lots of assignments in the pipeline, some have been commissioned already. I love deadlines. And the checks that come in after that.

I *will* write full-time. Soon. November 1 sounds like a good date to wrap up all pending issues (not that far, gulp) and get down to work. I have good intentions, but the universe (or Goan infrastructure) conspires against me. Editors, please note.

Articles on Goa

What would you like to know about Goa?

I'm writing a series of articles on this lovely little state. If you were a reader who picked up a magazine with Goa on the cover, what would you like to find inside? An insiders guide to the best places to eat, shop, relax? Sightseeing recommendations? The people? History?

If you've visited Goa (or read about it) and said to yourself, " I wonder what's the story behind this", share that thought with me. Maybe there's a story waiting to be told.

I'd love to hear about ideas if you have them! Leave a comment or email me at mumbaiwallah at gmail dot com .

Many thanks :)

Do you make the most of your commute?

I'm writing an article on how to make the best use of that empty time between leaving home and getting to work (and the reverse journey). Any tips or ideas?

I'm on a deadline, so any replies could be sent to mumbaiwallah (at) gmail (dot) com. For those who know me personally, replies through FB or LinkedIn are welcome, too.

Wanted: DNA paper - Sunday, Sept 7

Got it. Thanks, P.

I have an article in last Sunday's edition (Sept 7) of the DNA newspaper. If anybody has a paper copy, please let me know. I'm happy to reimburse postage charges. Thanks!

Case studies wanted

I'm writing an article (on a seriously short deadline)for a Mumbai newspaper to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept 10). The article will talk about emotional distress and how we so often miss basic signs in people around us.

If you know anybody who might have been depressed or expressed suicidal thoughts etc, please get in touch. I can use your point of view and not mention the other person's name.

Alternatively, if you have experienced emotional issues at any time, contemplated calling a helpline or sought help from a mental health professional, please get in touch.

All comments will be treated sensitively. Promise.

Deadline middle of next week, so please feel free to forward this to any body who might be of help. Thanks!

Email: mumbaiwallah at gmail dot com

Case Study Requests : Brides (and grooms) wanted

I’m looking for couples of Indian origin (either one or both partners) to feature in an Indian bridal magazine. They can be based anywhere.

Please feel free to tell your friends or anybody who might be able to help.

Everybody has a story -2

I wrote a few days ago asking if you have any inspirational stories to share. In case you are wondering what fits in to this category, here are a few hints:

* People who are doing something positive and making a difference in their communities.
* People who have overcome great challenges or difficulties.
* 'Ordinary' People who have started businesses and thrived.
* Unusual businesses or enterprises.
* Real life Bollywood - people with unusual life stories and/or romantic love stories.

I am also interested in writing about:
* Houses with a history / Houses with interesting decor or furniture.
* NGOs making a difference.
* Teenagers doing things that are out of the ordinary.

PS: These stories could be anywhere in the world.

The US Writers Strike : An update

The other day, Mr. R asked me about the writers strike in the US. It's been going on since early November and if you've not seen new episodes of your favorite TV series, you know who's responsible.

The end may be in sight. Negotiations scheduled for today (Saturday) might be the breaking point.

If you want to learn more, read my post here.

Everybody has a story.

Do you know someone who has done something interesting, exciting, out-of-the-way? Perhaps you have. It doesn't have to be massive like climbing Mount Everest or volunteering in Africa. It can be something simple or (in your mind) inconsequential like teaching your maid to write or fighting for a cause in your neighbourhood. Perhaps you've had a difficult life and you've survived to be happy and tell the tale.

Whatever the story, how about sharing it with me? I'm looking for stories to write about in magazines and newspapers. If you would like to tell the world about the good things you've done or point me to someone else who the world should know about, just let me know and we'll take it from there.

Everybody has a story. Just ask yourself: what makes you different from the person you're sitting next to? The story's in your answer. Share it with me.

Any newly married NRIs out there?

I'm looking for a newly married Indian couple to feature in a magazine. If you're keen, email me asap.

An Early Birthday Present

My essay, 'Greenery, Uninterrupted', appears in the Winter 2007 edition of the Countryside Tales

Inspired by Mridu - My Writing Dreams

A post on Mridu Khullar's blog on her writing dreams prompted this one. 'Dreams' are different from 'goals', as you may have realised. Here are mine :

1.Write for international publications for a living.
2. Finish a book.
3. Write fiction.
4. Start a 'writers in schools' program in India.

Easy peasy.

Woohoo! - 14

Lots of new stuff in print while I was away -

Articles in an Indian in-flight magazine - September (1), October (3)

The same magazine commissioned me, while on holiday, for the December cover story which I've submitted, hopefully to the editor's satisfaction.

Also submitted for the same mag, under request, were articles for the December 2007 and Jan 2008 edition as the mags are going to press early.

Then, Dignity Dialogue re-printed an article in their November 2007 issue.

And the Guardian emailed to inform me of an acceptance of an essay for the Guardian Abroad section.

Will Not Work for Free

Seeing your work in print has got to be one of life's greatest pleasures for a writer. Better still is having your work solicited and editors thinking of you when they want a feature written. Shoefie's savouring her first published/paid for story. Her columns are very well-written too. Watch out for more work from her.

What is it about writers and writing that makes publishers think that they can get away with asking people to submit their work for 'free'? Or the eternal 'gives-you-great-exposure' scam?

It's a question I ask myself (and Mr.R, and writing forums...) just because one is a novice, does it mean that one should not be compensated for work? Would you not pay a novice carpenter, plumber, electrician or maid no matter how untrained or inexperienced they are? So why the double standards for writers?

With the rapid rise of the Internet, everybody is a writer. Maybe that accounts for the drop in standards as most people equate being literate as being able to write. Publishers and editors, however, have been kanjoos much before the days of the Web. How does one tell them that work, even for free, takes time, effort and a lot of brain power? How does one make the point that even writers have families that have to be fed, children to put through school and a life to be run?

While most newbie writers are advised not to give up the day job, some people DO manage to survive somewhat with the strength of their words alone. Staff writers aside (those on the payroll of magazines and newspapers) freelancers are still going strong, which is cause for celebration.

Breaking into the Western press is hard, because there is so much competition from fantastic writers the world over who have discovered the Internet and new markets as a result.

If I was back in India, I know I will do well with writing alone. It's just a question of being committed to coming up with fresh ideas, angles and carving a niche for yourself.

September / October sees five articles in an Indian in-flight magazine. Every one is paid for.

Seeing your name in print is wonderful. Holding a cheque for those words is heaven.