Zak attack: Fareed has his Barkha moment

When you’re at the top in media the one thing you lose is your right to the phrase: “Let me explain this…”

If those four words are even on the horizon of your subconscious, resign.

Fareed Zakaria has had his Barkha Dutt moment.

Unlike Barkha and the navel-gazing Indian media, it is unlikely he will be allowed a second chance.

Unless the Indian media develop that kind of ruthless expectation of their news doyens, they will continue to be fed information they deserve, and not what they need.
That, and upskirt panty shots.

Zak actually probably had an explanation.

The Western bias

The extent to which the news wires are Western-biased is sometimes appalling.
Consider this story filed today by one of the world’s top agencies: Joey Vento, owner of a landmark south Philadelphia cheesesteak stand, who once told customers to order in English, has died.
How big was Vento? Big in the States, maybe.
I come from Pune and am wondering if the wires will carry a story on the founder of Joshi Wadawale, or the Vaishali owner, passing away – a long life to both if they are still alive.
Note to all journos: don’t be hard-wired to the agencies

Pathetic, pathetic

People do not always get the government they deserve, but they sure as hell get the newspaper they deserve. In the Gulf, general reportage is so pathetic, I am relieved to be not involved. In India, language press is powerful, robust, and often, rightly focused. Sure it has agendas. A good newspaper must. It must take a side. The English press in India, however, only looks decent because English news TV there is crap. One obsession they persist with is what a celebrity eats should s/he land in jail. Readers want it, they say. That’s a pathetic reader then.

Bad news

I have never experienced a global economic crisis. Not one like this. Being in the employ of a business daily has only served to heighten the awareness of the destruction of business. I may have mentioned in this space that I do not have a business background. In fact, numbers of any sort scare the bejesus out of me.
But if you are going to be a business journalist I cannot imagine a more exciting time to be on the front lines. The scent of bad news to a journalist is like the taste of blood to a shark.