Opinion - Readers' Editor : Online & Off line   

Scope for exploring new areas

The scores of messages that have landed at the office of the Readers’ Editor from across the country following the announcement of the retirement of K. Narayanan (KN), the first Readers’ Editor of The Hindu, are testimony to the impressive work my learned predecessor did in the three years he held the post (2006-2009). One of the readers has rightly pointed out that KN has done a “splendid job of responding to the sharp, critical and, at times, embarrassing interventions of readers.” Another has observed that KN set high standards for the post, created “an excellent base”, and formulated “good guidelines.” A reader has confidently stated that the new incumbent “will continue to uphold the high standard of rectitude, politeness and courtesy which his predecessor brought to bear on a highly demanding job.” Many others have echoed his expectations. I greatly respect their views and hope to do my best in my two-year tenure to be worthy of their confidence.

The messages, some of them highly emotional, have also revealed that the institution of Readers’ Editor, the first of its kind in India, has come to stay, thanks to the pioneering efforts of KN and the overwhelming support he enjoyed from significant sections of the people, many of them long-time readers of The Hindu. This, however, could not have been possible without the sustained support extended by the 130-year-old newspaper organisation. No less important is the cooperation of the journalists in the newspaper, who often had to bear the brunt of the Readers’ Editor’s investigations into complaints of omission and commission in respect of reports, articles, and photographs published by the paper from 12 (now 13, adding Kolkata) centres in the country. Of this KN said in his farewell column: “Generally the editorial staff are committed to accuracy, the cornerstone of a newspaper’s credibility. Sometimes they did feel readers were a pain, and the Readers’ Editor a greater pain, but they were supportive nevertheless. The daily corrections caused discomfort to many and anger in some, but we carried on with the effort to promote professionalism among journalists and trust in readers about the paper’s honesty and openness.” (“Online and Off Line”, June 29, 2009)

That his three-year effort as Readers’ Editor to ensure “high standards of accuracy” has made a positive impact on the newspaper’s editorial operations should be a matter of satisfaction to him. In his farewell column, KN quotes a senior staff member as saying: “Your labours are highly appreciated by colleagues. We feel kept on our toes. The institution of the Readers’ Editor as fleshed out by you has earned enormous respect for the paper from readers ... (It) is seen as a very democratic bow to the readers’ constituency.”

A problem confronting newspapers is the increasing occurrence of language-related errors, despite all efforts to avoid or minimise them. Minimising spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in the course of producing newspapers, with hundreds of journalists racing against deadlines under high tension and stress, is acknowledged by the print media here and abroad as a tough task. One answer to the problem, which has recently been talked about, is the revival of the system of proof-reading, which requires professionals with not only proven language skills but also reasonably good grounding in current affairs and general knowledge. Newspapers should think of appointing at least a dozen proof-readers who could keep a vigil until the final stage of printing. Newspapers did have proofreaders and not even minor mistakes would escape their watchful eyes. This system prevailed until the mid-1990s, when technology edged them out.

Although there cannot be two opinions about the need to make the newspaper error-free and accurate in terms of language, there are other important factors that make a newspaper readable and reader-friendly. For many readers, the content is as important as the style of presentation and layout. Over the years the newspapers’ role in the society has extended to several fields. Their function is not confined to providing information. Readers expect more. The composition of the readership has also radically changed. More and more of the newly educated, with different socio-economic profiles and priorities, join the ranks of readers. Newspapers cannot afford to ignore any more the socio-economic problems confronting the deprived sections of people such as women, Dalits, and tribal people across the country.

For The Hindu, a nationalist daily with a century-old history and a vision of public service from its very inception in 1878, championing the causes of these sections of society is continuation of a tradition rooted in pre-Independence nationalism. The newspaper’s 125th anniversary, celebrated in 2003, gave it an opportunity to rededicate itself “to its larger societal and public service mission.”

The paper’s editorial on August 27, 2003 observed: “Within that framework, it has set itself the goals of upholding and strengthening quality and objective journalism in respect of both news and opinion, and continually achieving higher standards of journalistic performance in an increasingly competitive milieu.”

The editorial added: “The long-term strengths of this newspaper have been independence, seriousness, newsiness, credibility, fairness, balance, and critical spirit. It has become clear to large numbers of readers as well as to those within the organisation who bear responsibility for the newspaper’s future that these traits needed replenishment and reinforcement.”

The editorial further said: “In keeping with the values of India’s historical civilisation, which has respected, cherished and conserved diversity and pluralism, and the universal modern values of enlightenment, democracy, secularism, and justice, The Hindu has worked out for itself a set of five principles as a template for socially responsible and ethical journalism.” These five principles were listed as truth telling, freedom and independence, justice, humaneness and contributing to the social good.

Further: “The Hindu believes that a journalism of social responsibility must make its commitment to the principle of humaneness more explicit, more immediate, more wide-ranging and more nuanced.”

It is the last two principles, humaneness and contributing to the social good, that stand out as the most significant of the five core principles, which differentiate it from other newspapers. This assertion in the editorial was significant: “It is the social responsibility of a serious newspaper constantly to remind political leaders that the politics of hate, bigotry, communalism, and chauvinism is guaranteed to produce a vicious cycle featuring violence, tension, and instability in society.”

Any serious reader could have noticed that in the last few years there has been a spurt in features and articles in the newspaper on issues relating to deprivation, development, the environment, the agrarian crisis, and so on, written mostly by young journalists.

Keeping in view the theoretical framework The Hindu has set for itself, its socially responsible readers could turn their attention to such articles and analyses. Positive thinking on such issues will take the newspaper further in its chosen path of championing the causes of the deprived and underprivileged in society. Readers can also share their views with the Readers’ Editor and suggest connected stories to widen such coverage in the public interest. The readers who have been alerting the office of the Readers’ Editor on the errors, shortcomings and lack of clarity in the reports and articles with the commendable objective of taking the newspaper further on the road to excellence are welcome to continue their valuable contribution. They can also explore new areas to make our interaction more fruitful.

readerseditor@thehindu.co.in

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