A heart-felt tribute to a superstar of Indian television news...

...by Commitscion SOHINI GUHAROY (Class of 2013), who works with CNN-IBN in Noida:

When the
Newsman
becomes the
Newsmaker

POSTED AS A NOTE ON
FACEBOOK THIS MORNING

Life has its own way of teaching us humility. What begins always has to end. Career, power, efforts, money — all have their own way of winding up, but it startles us to accept the harsh reality at times even when it is right in front of our eyes.

We have been reading several articles, tweets about Rajdeep Sardesai quitting since the last few months. My inbox has several messages from various acquaintances asking me what the situation in office is like. Is Rajdeep quitting? Who next? I have somehow never liked these questions and often chose to ignore them. Somewhere there was a bleak hope, that these articles would just be rumours, and some months later he would again come out of his cabin and yell if something was going wrong on the ticker.

He is THE boss, and just not like any other boss. He is someone everyone in the newsroom looks up to. His inspiration, his stamina, his passion have always been the driving force. I have often envied the people who've got the opportunity to work closely with him for a longer time.

RAJDEEP SARDESAI SPEAKING AT THE COMMITS SEMINAR IN JANUARY 2012.

Rajdeep sir had come to my college seminar, Expressions 2012, in Bangalore. That's where I first saw him in person, heard him addressing a group of young minds who were ready to step into the world of journalism. With eager ears and twinkling eyes, we all sat in the auditorium listening to the man,who gave us goosebumps as he spoke.

He gave us some anecdotes about his journey from a print journalist to a television journalist, he told us about the days in 1994 when "news was a monopoly of the government". But, today, "we're in the best of times" where we have a voice that can impact many, he said. A remarkable orator himself, he almost transfused his passion and infectious energy to us.

Two years down the line, I consider myself extremely lucky to have worked in the same newsroom with Rajdeep sir as the boss.

Every time he came out of his cabin towards the editorial desk to say how a certain news peg should be different, or how a certain story needs to be packaged in a certain way, or even maybe to show some interesting images in his Ipad, all eyes would be at him. Among the lookers were many who had worked with him for as long as maybe 12 years or more. And trust me, the look in everyone's eyes towards him in the newsroom has always been of immense respect.

The tears that didn't want to say goodbye to him said it all on his last day.

As part of the news team in CNN-IBN, I've seen several raw unedited feeds of interviews or stories that Rajdeep sir did. The respect he gets off-camera as well as on-camera from the journalist community to politicians, economists, and people across the spectrum is unbelievable. 

Being the election season, on the counting day, he was in office at 5 am, inspiring the editorial team with his energy and excitement. The anchor schedule showed he would anchor from 6 am to noon and again from evening till the last bulletin roll.  And not a moment did we see him wear out. And covering the elections was not only a day's job.

The ground reports that he did by travelling across India, by talking to the people and getting a flavour of the election from the streets was as tiring as appealing it looked on screen. Working and observing a great mind like him has taught me a lot about life. That, at the end of the day, the deciding power is always in our hands. We might not realise it often, but we are the makers of tomorrow. 

On a personal note, thank you sir, for being a true inspiration and a silent mentor.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RAJDEEP'S TWEET, AFTER
READING SOHINI'S TRIBUTE:

• Meanwhile, Rajdeep's farewell letter to his staff was published on SaharaSamay.com on July 4:

"Forget the cynics; journalism

is a great profession"

My dear friends,

This is one of  the toughest letters to write. After nine wonderful years at IBN 18, it's time to say goodbye. I must confess it's not easy to leave a baby that one has helped create/build/grow and to leave such great colleagues. But I guess certain things in life are written in the stars. Editorial independence and integrity have been articles of faith in 26 years in journalism and maybe I am too old now to change!

I would though like to look at the brighter side, the many happy times we have all shared. I still remember when we decided to set up an English news channel: we had one chair and a table, and no one gave us a hope in hell.

I recall an advertising executive watching our pitch and asking why we were even attempting a new news channel. But madness and a passion for journalism as defined by the spirit of  "whatever it takes" can break many a wall: we eventually did it!

CNN-IBN was a remarkable success: in nine years, we achieved the seemingly impossible in the news business: ratings, revenue, but most crucially, RESPECT for our journalism. I am told that our awards tally is now over 200, more than all the other channels put together! This year's election coverage was a good example of what we have been able to achieve: a friend in CNN said he would have been proud to put together such a formidable line up of  programming.

IBN 7 had a more difficult period in a highly competitive market, but again I can look back with pride on the achievements of  the channel. We had a fire in the belly as typified by the tagline "Khabar har keemat par". I remember in a small town in UP when an elderly gent came to me and said, "Sir, maan gaye, aap hee ka channel hai jo na Mayawati ko na Mulayam ko chhodta hai!" And thank you to the IBN 7 newsroom for helping me improve my Hindi to the point where I could maybe anchor in Hindi one day!

And then to my friends in IBN Lokmat: you guys in many ways are the real rock stars. You overcame every challenge to build a channel of  substance. You created programming that won awards at the national level and stories that made the people of Maharashtra sit up. "Chala Jag Jinkuiya": you showed what the true spirit of journalism can do. My dream was that one day we would have similar quality channels in every Indian language: that dream must wait another day!

None of all this would have been possible without the freedom one enjoyed at Network 18. For that I am eternally grateful to the leadership. Above all, none of  this would have been possible without the professionalism that each and every one of  you has shown.

Television news is the ultimate TEAM game: I know the hard work that every one of  you put to build this network: from OB drivers and engineers from video editors to video journalists to the newsroom, each of  you deserve the highest acclaim for being there 24 x 7, through winter mornings and summer evenings.

Forget the cynics; journalism, my friends, is a great profession. Good journalism makes a genuine difference to the world by offering a mirror to society. Our stories have exposed corrupt netas and forced ministers to resign; we did stories that got jobs for the disabled, land to the landless, justice to acid attack victims.

Hell, we even pioneered the idea of citizen journalism and of  India Positive and Real Heroes to showcase an India that otherwise is lost in the noise of  breaking news.

Yes, putting news above noise, sense above sensation and credibility above chaos must remain a credo forever: else journalism will lose its moral compass.

I hope the new management will always put journalism first and I wish them well.

I don't want this note to be too long (editors takes can get awfully long-winded) so I shall end here. I shall leave you with a Hindi film song which I believe should be a life philosophy: Aadmi musafir hai, aata hai aur jaata hai, aate jaate raste pe apne yaadein chhod jaata hai.

I hope, in my own small way, I have touched you on life's journey; you guys certainly have made me a better person. I will treasure the memories of  what must be nine of  the best years of my professional life. As I move on, I have no doubt our paths will cross: the friendships and warmth will endure forever.

Thank you for the memories,

Warmest,
Rajdeep

P.S. Am sorry if I would occasionally call at 3 in the morning. Blame it on being a news junkie. And remember, every time there is a spelling mistake on the ticker, my ghost will haunt you!

• ALSO READ: "Rajdeep Sardesai and Sagarika Ghose, interviewed together for Mint's 'Love Issue 2013'... and a lovely interview it is, too!"

"ONE YEAR ON, THE MANY LESSONS I HAVE LEARNT AS A REPORTER"

TAPASYA MITRA MAZUMDER (Class of 2013) has just completed a year as a reporter with Bangalore Mirror. Here she tells us what she learnt during the course of her journey:

I am not here to tell you about the many methods you can use to write good stories; you have RP Sir for that. :-)

Instead, I am going to highlight the many lessons I learnt in the course of my journey and the mistakes I made, from which I hope you will be able to learn.

TAPASYA AT HER DESK AT BANGALORE MIRROR.

My chemistry teacher in school had once told us that fools learn from their own mistakes while the wise ones learn from other people’s mistakes. Well, I have been both foolish and wise in the past one year. In the course of gathering more than 250 bylines (including more than 30 Page 1 stories), I have learnt that they do not define my success. I consider myself successful because I have evolved for the better since I graduated from Commits and completed one whole year in my profession.

Remember one very important thing: You have to figure out how you are going to survive in this profession. It will take no time for the management to chuck you out if you are an underperformer. People have bad days at work. I have had bad weeks, and sometimes bad months. For me, it was a challenge to go about doing city-based stories without knowing the local language. On top of that, I do not have a beat, a specific area or subject to cover. But I turned that around to do stories from every beat, and so far I have written on education, science, technology, health, crime, and youth issues. I have also highlighted some very important issues that have gone on to become national stories.

Stories can jump at you from anywhere, so always be on the lookout. My first cover story with Bangalore Mirror was published four days after I joined and I got it from Facebook.

As RP Sir has always stressed, social media networks are often a good news source and I have produced stories based on what I read on Facebook, web feeds, WhatsApp messages, adverts on the back of autorickshaws, circulars posted on national websites, and even from comments on the micro-sites of some educational institutions.

THIS STORY BY TAPASYA, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED ON PAGE 1, WAS RECEIVED WARMLY.

But at this point I should warn you that it is not a good idea to warm the seat of your chair by “Facebooking” all day; go out in the field instead.

Which brings me to my next point: networking.

I get a kick from going out in the field and meeting people. It is the best part about my job, but I make sure they remember me too once the event we are attending is over. So I give everyone my card when I am attending, say, industrial conferences. One day I got a call from a person I had met at one such conference. He had called to tell me about a story and the next day the paper carried my article on Page 1.

But you have to be able to sift the grain from the chaff to know which items can be developed into newspaper articles and which ones are simply not worth pursuing. Initially, I would run to my boss for every small story I could grab but my effort would often get spiked. Over time, though, I learnt to distinguish between what readers would find interesting and relevant and useful and what they would ignore.

It is also very important to mention here that you need to know how to pitch a story to your boss. I have learnt now to highlight only what’s necessary and also point out sometimes what section of the paper it would be suitable for.

Now that you have pitched your story, learn to defend it. If you think it is a good one, make all-out efforts to persuade your bosses to see what you see in it. Don’t be disheartened if your idea is rejected; sooner or later you will learn why it wouldn’t have worked. I have sometimes fought heated and emotional battles with my boss over my story idea, but most times wit and tact will do.

TAPASYA WITH HER BANGALORE MIRROR COLLEAGUES (FROM LEFT) HM CHAITANYA SWAMY, PRAKRUTI PK, SRIDHAR VIVAN, AND SHAMAYITA CHAKROBORTY.

I have a habit of writing lengthy pieces (as RP Sir will confirm) but the news desk staff, who edit my stories, have not complained. Their reasoning is that it is better to trim a long piece than try to chase the reporter for more information. I try to give them comprehensive stories that need to be adjusted for length.

I also never take the subs for granted by giving them shoddy copy which they will have to spend hours editing. Their job is to check the facts, not straighten out your poor grammar all the time. Have respect for what they do.

I want to add here that no journalism school, however high its standards, can replicate a newsroom nor can it provide the experience you need to survive in a profession that requires interacting every day with people, both colleagues and outsiders, so here I would like to roll out a few points.

Working in an office with almost 50 people and being the junior-most staff member, as I am, it is impossible to avoid getting involved in office politics or in so-called healthy banter. But know your limits and, without seeming too aloof, keep a safe distance from controversy. For example, if two senior colleagues are pulling each other’s legs in a sarcastic manner, it would be a good idea to quietly disappear from the scene.

Don’t ever involve colleagues in your personal life unless you trust them absolutely. The consequences of that can be dangerous.

At all times, watch your back because if you don’t, there will be no one to catch you when you fall.

P.S. Before I started writing this piece, I put together some points on a sticky note. That is a good practice to institute. Try it out yourself.

TAPASYA SAYS SOMEBODY ADDED THIS ARTICLE TO A WIKIPEDIA ENTRY ON CYBERCHONDRIA SO NOW "EVERY TIME YOU GOOGLE MY NAME, THIS ONE SHOWS UP".

• Two years ago, Tapasya travelled to Dubai to work as an intern with Gulf News. Read about her experience here: "DUBAI DIARY: COVERING HOT EVENTS, DISCOVERING COOL STUFF".

What it takes to produce video reviews of Hindi and English films for a movie website

From The Commits Chronicle, April 17, 2014:

A DREAM JOB THAT JUST KEEPS 
GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!

In January, SHIKHA BHATNAGAR (Class of 2014) joined PK Online in Bangalore as a content executive and her primary role then was to do voiceovers (read about her first month’s experience here). But today Shikha has been given many more responsibilities and, as she writes below, her job has become not only more challenging but also more interesting:

I once mentioned to RP Sir that I can’t believe my luck because, career-wise, I have surely landed in the right place: with every passing day I love more and more what I am doing.

RP Sir’s response: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”

That simple comment made me feel so proud of myself. I had started off as a voiceover artist but today I not only face the camera but also edit videos. Each week I face the camera at least once, either for the box office predictions or for a movie review, and I am told that I am only getting better with each effort.

What else can I ask for? No doubt this is turning out to be something more than a dream job.

The first movie I reviewed was Gulaab Gang. I sat through the screening feeling extremely uneasy; the thought of having to face the camera afterwards and talk about the film was making me really nervous, even though I had had some exposure to television anchoring, thanks to Commits. After the movie got over, I raced back to work and wrote a long script, which I then tried to memorise and deliver verbatim in front of the camera.

That day I learnt two things. First, never try to mug up a movie review, and second, act like the camera is a person and you’re talking to it in a casual manner about the film. Today I am much more confident, and I actually look forward to the experience: I watch a movie (for free) almost every Friday, jot down key points, and, later, in our studio, simply talk to the camera.

JOTTED DOWN: SHIKHA'S FILM REVIEW NOTES.

There came a day when my video editor needed a four-day break from work. During my job interview I had mentioned that I can do some basic video editing. My boss remembered that and she asked me to step in and edit some videos using Final Cut Pro (which is the software we used at Commits, too). I did a decent job and so, today, I also edit my “filmi gossip” videos. At Commits it is compulsory to learn editing and we had to edit all our video projects. It’s true I never took the editing classes seriously — I thought editing was not something I would have to do in the future — but I am grateful now that we were forced to learn how to use Final Cut Pro. Now just four of us in my team are producing enough content for our channel.

This is why I will always maintain that Commits provides a complete media education package. I am not just saying it for the sake of it, but because every single thing that you are taught helps you later in ways you won’t even realise while you are being taught.

So once again, thanks a ton, Commits!

What it takes for young people to build successful companies

Last month we received an upbeat e-mail from Kriti Mahajan (Class of 2012), who wrote to inform us that she, along with her fiancé, Vinish Vijay, and fellow Commitscion Hana Iqbal, had started a media company in Bangalore.

Kriti told us that Communique Culture, which is the name of the company, offers "complete communication solutions, be it in the fields of PR, social media, content writing, brand consulting, or media marketing".

That is when it struck us that, over the years, quite a few Commitscions have decided, after gaining a few years' experience working for others, that it was time to work for themselves.

Here we learn about the journey undertaken by not only Kriti and Hana, but also by Barbie Jain (Class of 2012) and Divya Jaising (Class of 2008), as well as Victor Mukherjee (Class of 2007).

Other Commitscions who now manage their own enterprises include the husband-wife team of Kallal Kumar Das and Sanidhi V.J. (both from the Class of 2008), who run a flourishing Bangalore-based event management company, and Nishal Lama (Class of 2009), a well-known wedding photographer. At a later date, we will hear from Gaurav Momaya (Class of 2005), whose private venture is at a nascent stage.

Now it is over to our entrepreneurs:

COMMUNIQUE CULTURE

By Kriti Mahajan

There was a time when, as employees, we used to talk “media planning”, breathe “radio”, and think “advertising”. At that time “entrepreneurship” was the last thing on our minds.

Today, looking back, the only reason why it never dawned on us to strike out on our own was because of the jobs (and job security) our peers and seniors were ensconced in. We too were in a comfort zone and we never felt the need to move out of this zone; after all, we were receiving good appraisals and being offered better positions.

THEY MEAN BUSINESS: HANA IQBAL, KRITI MAHAJAN, AND VINISH VIJAY.

However, since the three of us (Hana Iqbal, Vinish Vijay, and I) were good friends who travelled, ate, hung out, partied, and did practically everything together, I guess it was only a matter of time before we became business partners. 

On a regular working day while we were out meeting the media and pondering over how else we could become better professionals, we realised that the only way we can feel more passionate and be sincere is when we treat this as our own baby — that we do everything in the best possible way but on our own.

Yes! We were thinking “entrepreneurship”. 

When you can reap immediate financial benefits by working extra hard, why should you wait for a year just to get that appraisal?  Who needs it, when you can work for your own appraisal?

Also, this is the right age to take a risk; if we fail we can always rely on our degrees and work experience and go back to our conventional jobs. 

It is with these thoughts at the back of our minds that we decided we were going to take communication to another level. From meeting over 15 clients on a summery day to working on projects like the Farhan Akthar show and the Kapil Sharma show, and managing media functions for a designer in addition to holding on to our regular jobs, we have done it all.

As professionals we have a combined experience of more than five-and-a-half years in PR, internal communications, content management, analyst relations, and social media. We also bring to the table four years of experience in production and in sectors such as information technology, retail, education, art, lifestyle, and hospitality.

So yes, we are entrepreneurs today! All it took was a thought and a little convincing. And now we are raring to go!

*

By Barbie Jain

BARBIE JAIN

When we were scouting around for a name for the marketing solutions company we wanted to launch, we hit upon “Über”, denoting an outstanding or supreme example of a particular kind of person or thing. That was it!

We strive to be “Über” at everything we do — and we knew we wanted our services to be top-notch. So, after a series of brainstorming sessions, we finally agreed upon “Über Marketing Solutions” and here we are now, a fantastic nine months into our energetic start-up!

After I graduated from Commits, I wasn’t too sure about what kind of career I wanted. Which company did I want to join? What kind of growth path did I want to chart out for myself? These were the questions that were uppermost in my mind. And the answers were hard to come by. So, like everyone else, I signed up for a stint in the corporate world.

A 9-to-5 job with big, established companies is not bad at all; for most people it's an easy choice to make, and so it was for me.

However, the zeal to do something I never thought I'd be able to do, and then to finish a complex task in less than an hour — what an adrenaline rush that is! In addition, it is such a confidence-booster and so satisfying that it becomes a source of great happiness.

It was in order to experience that adrenaline rush on a regular basis, and also to fulfil the big dreams we had in terms of marketing, branding, etc., that my friend Nadir Shah and I decided to leave our fancy jobs (at SAP and George P. Johnson, respectively) to start this venture of ours.

And trust me it wasn't easy! Time was of the essence because time is money to the organisations we wanted to work with, and every second counted. Next we had to answer our fair share of difficult questions from prospective clients, mostly focusing on how a start-up like ours could help a large company like theirs. But then again, this was only till we got the opportunity to show our mettle!

ÜBER IN ACTION.

Currently we are a team of six people working across Bangalore, Mumbai, and New Delhi, handling clients such as Mindtree, Evangelsoft, and many more.

I believe that what I have learnt over the years has made me what I am today. And with Über Marketing Solutions, I will progress and grow not only personally but also professionally, which I reckon will shape what I will be tomorrow.

As I finish writing this article, it occurs to me that I would not be completely honest if I said this was a one-person effort. None of what I have achieved would have been possible if I had not had the support of the many brilliant teachers at Commits, who have been no less than great leaders and who helped me in crafting my career. I also owe a great deal to my beloved parents who have always guided me. It is from them that I acquired my watchword: Fearlessness.

Wasn’t it Helen Keller who said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”? What an apt quote that is for the story of Über!

*

DIVYA JAISING

By Divya Jaising

I’d like to believe I was always cut out to be an entrepreneur; the truth, however, is that I never really had the courage to take the plunge. A safe job with a fixed salary at the end of each month was too comfortable to pass up.

Ultimately, it was a call from a long-time friend who had a business idea that persuaded me to change my mindset. After a lot of thought and contemplation, and quite a few convince-me sessions later, well, here I am: an entrepreneur!

Having been part of the corporate events industry for close to seven years, I had gotten to a point where work could be said to have become akin to “plug-and-play”; it was difficult to get excited about what I was doing. So when Kirti Samant, who is now my business partner, came to me with a plan to start a wedding and party planning company, I was thrilled.

I was a bit hesitant at first but the more we discussed it, and the more I thought things through, I realised this was the first time in a long while that I had become genuinely enthusiastic about something. After some serious discussions with various people on how to go about starting and sustaining a business, we decided to go ahead.

A TRADITIONAL STAGE FOR A WEDDING RECEPTION IN COIMBATORE.

A MEHENDI STAGE WITH A PINK, PURPLE AND ORANGE THEME.

A PHOTOBOOTH WITH A PINK BICYCLE AND OTHER PROPS SUCH AS TURBANS, POTS, FAKE MUSTACHES, SUNGLASSES, ETC. THESE INSTANT PHOTOS MADE FOR A FUN GIVEAWAY.

The journey so far has been great! The day we finalised our company name “Marigold Diaries”, we got our first wedding planning assignment. Because each is a special occasion and involves personal relationships, weddings and private celebrations are very different from corporate events. We have been woken up in the middle of the night for the most inane things, had some crazy client requests, but we have had a blast getting it done. After all, what’s life without a little craziness?
 
After starting Marigold Diaries, we have gone back to the basics: we are now part-time strategists, designers, executers, drivers, office boys, and anything else the company needs, and PROUD OF IT!

Every step in setting up a business becomes an accomplishment, whether it is getting the registration done, setting up the website, bagging a new project, or even creating a Facebook page; everything is a little celebration. We are still novices, stumbling along the way to get our bearings, but with a hunger to learn.

Setting up and sustaining a business is no easy task; it takes a lot of conviction, hard work, and determination to keep the business going. But when our hard work pays off and we have a happy client at the end of the day, we realise it’s all worth it.

• ALSO READ: DIVYA JAISING ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN EVENT-MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL.

*

By Victor Mukherjee

The name “Mango People” came to us in July 2009. That was when the film Love Aaj Kal was released and we heard the term for the first time. Actually Neha Anand, the other half of Mango People, insisted that we use this name for whatever entrepreneurial ventures we started. And that is how, three years later, once again in July, Mango People Media Network Pvt. Ltd. came into being.

Why did we launch Mango People? That is a question I have been asked by many people (including, especially, my mother, and other relatives). They were wondering why someone would quit a big brand like Red Chillies, where I was in a position of authority and power, with a paycheck to match, and start again from scratch.

My answer was simple.

I was putting a lot of effort into what I was doing at Red Chillies. I thought it was time to put that same effort into a company of my own creation and concentrate on building it and securing my future.

Why a media company? That’s what both Neha and I specialise in. But, somewhere in the near future, given my interest in cooking and given the fact that I am a foodie, I will obviously open a restaurant to showcase my culinary skills. (I may name it “Mango Pickle”, for all you know.)

MANGO PEOPLE MEDIA HAS MANY HIGH-PROFILE EVENTS TO ITS CREDIT.

The journey so far has been a mixed bag.

Starting something from the ground up is never easy. The competition is ferocious sometimes, but our strengths are our efficiency and effectiveness, our people skills, our familiarity with the music and showbiz industry, our insider knowledge, and also the hardworking nature of the people in our team. That’s why the big names have come to us and continue to stay with us; big names such as the Marriott Group, Bacardi, Coca-Cola, Hard Rock Café, Forevermark Diamonds, Durex, and Group M.

Our motto is “Entertainment for all”. And we are here to keep people entertained in every way possible.

• TO KNOW MORE ABOUT VICTOR MUKHERJEE, CLICK HERE: "FOUR thought-provoking short films. THREE brilliant music videos. ONE magical week."

• TO VISIT MANGO PEOPLE MEDIA'S FACEBOOK PAGE, CLICK HERE.

12 questions media students must ask themselves when they are working as interns

1. Have I been able to get rid of the student mindset and develop a professional mindset? Will I be able to continue to think like a professional even after the internship ends and I return to college?

2. How important is it for me to read newspapers? Magazines? Books?

3. How important is it to have good speaking and writing skills?

4. How important is it to have people skills?

5. How important is it to be able to make intelligent conversation and develop genuine friendships with co-workers? How easy is it?

6. How important is it to be curious and ask interesting questions?

7. How important is it to take the initiative?

8. How important is it to be able to work under pressure?

9. How important is it to be able to meet deadlines?

10. How important is it to have breakfast every day (because I have no idea when my next meal will be)?

11. Has this internship helped me to discover my true calling? Or has this internship helped me realise that this particular field is not for me?

12. How has my college helped prepare me for this internship?

And perhaps the most important question of all (so let's make it a baker's dozen): AM I DOING ENOUGH TO ENSURE I GET A CALL-BACK WHEN I AM READY TO BEGIN WORKING FULL-TIME?

• ALSO READ: "How to have a successful AVC-related internship" and "How to have a successful MMC-related internship" 

***

UPDATE (April 29, 2014)

Commitscion ATREYI DASGUPTA (Class of 2015),
who is in the midst of her internship
with Shree Venkatesh Films in Kolkata,
answers 12 questions media students must ask
themselves when they are working as interns 

1. Have I been able to get rid of the student mindset and develop a professional mindset? Will I be able to continue to think like a professional even after the internship ends and I return to college?
This internship has enabled me to shake off my student mindset and develop a professional mindset. Now I am sure I can work with a professional mindset even after the internship ends.

2. How important is it for me to read newspapers? Magazines? Books?
Reading on a regular basis is very important; it helps us to stay updated. Reading a newspaper every day is of paramount importance. It is reading that helps us to communicate with people intelligently, which, in turn, will help create a good impression about us.

3. How important is it to have good speaking and writing skills?
In the professional world, good speaking skills, I think, are much more important than writing skills. At every stage we have to communicate with our superiors as well as with those who are our subordinates. We have to learn to keep calm whatever the situation may be and sort out things using our communication skills. 

4. How important is it to have people skills?
We have to know how to talk to people and, when required, “manage” them and get them to do what we want, so people skills are essential.

ATREYI DASGUPTA STRIKES A POSE AS A "COMMITS TV" REPORTER.

5. How important is it to be able to make intelligent conversation and develop genuine friendships with co-workers? How easy is it?
If we are able to understand what will make our co-workers interested in talking or what topics they like to discuss and if we have a sound knowledge of the subject, then it becomes very easy to strike up an intelligent conversation. I would like to add here that if you can talk from your heart, making genuine friendships is not that difficult. 

6. How important is it to be curious and ask interesting questions?
It is imperative to be curious. Unless we ask questions and show our interest in relevant topics, no one will take us seriously. This is what I have learned during this internship. 

7. How important is it to take the initiative?
Taking the initiative is very crucial. We should always ask for work and complete the task assigned to us properly and in time. We should never lose hope and remain enthusiastic about all kinds of jobs given to us.

8. How important is it to be able to work under pressure?
Working under pressure can be fraught with peril. We not only have to complete our projects in time but we also have to ensure work quality. This is something that we can learn to do with experience. 

9. How important is it to be able to meet deadlines?
We should never miss a deadline. “Missing a deadline is like a crime” — this is what my boss told me in the very first week here. 

10. How important is it to have breakfast every day (because I have no idea when my next meal will be)?
It is very important to have breakfast every day because the work schedule keeps changing from time to time.

11. Has this internship helped me to discover my true calling? Or has this internship helped me realise that this particular field is not for me?
This internship has made me more determined to reach my goal. It has taught me that the path to success is not easy. I know now that I have to learn many more professional skills. And I also know I have a long way to go to achieve my ambition.

12. How has my college helped prepare me for this internship?
Commits has taught me to take the initiative, communicate clearly, treat work seriously but at the same time enjoy my work and not grumble about it. Commits has also taught me the importance of professionalism and the value of time (we should never be late at work). In addition, it has taught me to keep my cool at all times and deal with every situation calmly and with patience. Without Commits I could never have been what I am today. Commits has taught me not only how to survive in a professional environment but also how to thrive in it.

How to write an e-mail that will get you your dream internship (Hint: You need the three I's: interest, initiative, imagination)

Commitscion Tia Raina (Class of 2015) got a call back from India's top digital agency, Webchutney, three hours after she sent this e-mail:

From: Tia Raina
Date: 1 March 2014 8:34:25 IST
To: contact@webchutney.net, careers@webchutney.net
Subject: Do you need an awesome intern?

Good morning!

My name is Tia Raina and I'm a master's student at Commits, a media college located in HSR Layout. 

I've been looking to intern for 4-6 weeks this summer at an awesome digital agency (preferably in Bangalore, but Mumbai is great, too!). I DO have about 5 years of work experience as a writer (Journalism, Advertising, Marketing, you name it!) and my latest crush is digital. I've also recently volunteered for Social Media Week and was part of the top 20 tweeters, while juggling being a hub owner (emcee+organiser) at one of the locations.

I was wondering if you'd have any openings for interns anytime between 23rd March and June 15th?

I'm attaching my résumé, but just in case you need a quick link: here's my LinkedIn Profile.

Also, my Twitter handle and Blog link.

I'd love to intern at Webchutney, so do let me know as soon as you can! I'll be watching the phone (No. Really.).

Thanks for reading this email!

(Mobile number and other contact details)

TIA RAINA

Tia, who is the editor of the college newspaper, says, in all modesty, that the quick response "may have partly been because I followed all the guidelines they mentioned on the website. :)"

Yes, but I happen to think that other, perhaps more important, factors were at play here. Her e-mail indicates that she is media- and tech-savvy, she has good writing skills, and she is someone who likes to take the initiative.

Tia also comes across as a smart young woman, a fun person, a self-motivated worker. In short, every company's dream employee.

Who would not want such a lively, intelligent personality on board?

• It will be worth every job-seeker's while to also check out the Webchutney guidelines that Tia is referring to. Here are the important points from the "HowTo" page on the agency's website (What a sassy come-on: "Work for us. Join the debauchery."):

Covering notes are cool

The art of the résumé

Social, woshal and all that!

We are like those attention seeking whores

Subject Lines can make or break you

Apply for a position that's (at least) related to what we do

Read the complete document here: "HOWTO: Careers".

And here you can read Tia Raina's blog post on her favourite city: "My Love-Letter to Mumbai".

• ALSO READ: "How's this for INITIATIVE?" 

• PS: Elaborate résumés and job applications are all the rage. Read this instructive and inspiring feature in AdWeek: "Designer Creates Delicious Résumé With the Winning Ingredient Baked Right In — How she scored an instant interview and the job".

EXPLODING STEREOTYPES: A Commits alumna (and mother of a two-year-old boy) shows the way...

...in exactly 454 words. This is classy writing on a touchy subject.

SANAA A'ESHA

Classy because she does this with such style that she stands out as an unusual young person in a world where there are few standouts.

Touchy because too many people believe in stereotyping and not enough people believe, like she does, in exploding stereotypes.

But classy or not, touchy or not, what she has written deserves much wider coverage and so...

GIRLS

By Sanaa A'esha

Class of 2008

There are so many people talking about bringing up girls. Raise them strong, raise them independent, teach them to play with trucks, don’t read fairy tales to them, throw away the Barbies, learn to throw a punch.

‘You don’t need rescuing, my baby.’

‘You can be anything you want to be.’

‘My girl is not at all girly, she loves her carpenter tools.’

‘How dare he buy her a kitchen set!’

Well, I want that abandoned kitchen set. For my son. I think it’s wonderful that he loves the world of food. How he loves his cousin's shiny shoes and wants the butterfly hair clip she has on her pretty head. 

WANT TO WATCH THE VIDEO? CLICK HERE.

‘No, don’t take that. That’s for girls!’

‘Why are you wearing a clip on your head? Are you a girl?’

‘But that’s pink!’

‘No, put Dora down. Here’s The Hulk!’

I want people to talk about raising sons as daughters. To stop saying ‘be a man’. To let them shriek with the girls, and want their purple tutus. They are going to be chasing skirts in a few years, why not wear one now?

My boy loves to wear pretty beaded chains. And I am always asked if I wanted a girl and if that’s why I let him wear the pink beaded chain for as long as he wants to. Yes, that’s exactly what it is, you genius waste of space. I wonder if mums of daughters are asked the same when their babies are in a pair of jeans instead of frilly skirts playing in the dirt with their trucks. 

Why wouldn’t you let your son cry when he gets hurt? Why is hanging on to mamma’s leg such a bad thing for a boy? I am all for fist fights and dirt puddles, but is it so bad that he let the girl beat him up in school? He has probably already figured out that’s how you get the girls.

I want him to be tough and strong and be a rockstar at every sport. I want him to be able to charm his way into everything he wants. But I also want him to know it’s okay to cry when he gets slapped for being an ass. It’s okay to wear an apron and cook that special meal to impress someone. To know it’s okay to be sensitive to all the drama hormones bring to this world. 

He’s only 2. And he doesn’t realise he’s being judged for a string of pink beads. But it works out, because at all of 2 he can cook and eat his silly version of peas and buttons rice in a real rice cooker, because nobody let me buy him that darned kitchen set.

----------------------

“THE COOLEST SUPERMOM I KNOW”

Here are some of the comments Sanaa's post attracted on Facebook last week:

• ARCHANA ABRAHAM: I don't have a son but I'd like to believe that if I did, I'd have the same attitude towards raising him as my firecracker of a friend Sanaa A'esha.
• ASHWIN SHANKER: Very well-written. I was thinking on the same lines as well... I always wonder: Why can't boys cry? Why is it cowardly to run away when you sense danger? Why can't men who cook be seen as 'cool'?
• ELVINA DAVIS: Banishing gender stereotypes by encouraging one sparkly clip at a time. Penned by my friend and the coolest supermom I know, Sanaa A'esha.
• DAVID D'SOUZA: A mother's angst crafted well.
• PAROMITA CHAKRABORTY: So brilliantly written... I agree with every word. Raising girls to be strong and 'manly' will not help... Unless boys are taught to stop acting tough. Sharing.
• MRIDULA SWAMY: It's all this and more... I never realised the intense pressure I'd face bringing up two boys... or having to explain and justify your actions to everyone. I was a tomboy and did nothing "girly" except Bharatanatyam in my childhood, and no one found that odd 30 years ago. But even now there are such archaic notions around raising boys.
• ANN THOMAS: My son loves pink, chooses a Barbie brush over the others and wants to style his sister's doll. I know that look of "What are you doing to the child?" so well. Oh, and I did get him a kitchen set when he was two and if he asks me for a Barbie, I will if I could. Cheers to you!