Ram Kamal Mukherjee

Since the time I stepped into tabloid journalism, I effortlessly acquired this weapon called 'source'. Frankly speaking, this is something, which makes our life easy. I mean who doesn't want to get 'it' easy? File anything controversial and juicy, and just blame it on 'source'. That gives you quick fame and a good take home. In my case, it was slightly difficult, since I hail from an orthodox University (Calcutta University) where veteran professors edify us with journalistic ethics.

Well, it used be more like one of those regular court room scenes from Bollywood flick… "Jo bhi kahunga saach kahoonga aur saach ke seewa kuch nahin kahunga!" So, we grew up with the same old philosophy of 'yellow yellow dirty fellow'. So, anything that's not from the horse's mouth was considered to be yellow journalism. So guys stay away from 'unethical journalism'. That was the first time we were introduced to the shade card of journalism.

But when I started my career in Mumbai, a different city with far more different mentality, I realised that barring few 'dying' publication, none believes in 'white' journalism. (I am talking strictly about entertainment reporting) So, the 'prosperous' publications insisted that I give 'gossips' and 'sensational' news. It was the simple theory of 'demand and supply'. I became a supplier. Just like the way, the ad commercial would say, "Mera wala pink!" I opted for "yellow!" Not that, I have any complaints against anyone, either do I want to project myself as 'gullible goat' who didn't even know that he was guillotined!

In fact, I enjoyed my job. I joined a publication, which was coming 'free' with one of the leading English dailies. My articles caught attention from the word 'go', and I started getting calls from star secretaries and PROs who wanted me to write stories. I thought my work was getting easier by the day. But soon realised that I was actually allowing myself to fall into the trap of these 'newsmakers'. Well, I don't blame any of these PROs or the secretaries, who love feeding news to ravenous reporters. The theory of demand and supply is applicable everywhere. Even actors and directors would call, and request not to quote them. "Meri waat mat lagana yaar! Mujhe quote mat karna!" This would be a regular one-liner! Now, these stories gave an open platform for actors and celebrities to spit venom. They would use a journalist to hit out at other celebrities. While the stars were making the most out of it, a certain journalist was making his buck by filing 'rebuttals' galore!

Soon PROs started dictating terms and they would give 'readymade' quotes of the stars and the directors. And they all come with an attitude, 'tu nahin toh aur koi!' And trust me, they actually get away with such peril. So, people make regular calls. Most of the stories published are PR driven, they fool us, and we fool our editors, and eventually our readers get fooled!

I have seen people talking about these source stories. I was traveling from Mumbai to Pune, when a couple got into a serious discussion about a 'star couple split' story which made the front page news few years ago. Being completely unaware about the truth, the couple came to a conclusion that the story was given by the actress. Incidentally, they were discussing the story, which was written by yours truly, so I knew who exactly my source was. But this couple believed in what they wanted to believe. This 'magical uncertainty' saves the arse of many scribes, it saved mine in many occasion!

The time I decided to take a break from journalism and joined a production house, I never knew that this weapon called 'source' would be so dangerous. When I read in a tabloid that Hema Malini has signed Abhishek Bachchan for her forthcoming film opposite Esha, I was taken aback! I am helping Hemaji in this particular project, because she is like my family. I would love to help her in whatever way I could. Now, Hemaji was very upset with the Abhishek Bachchan story, because it was untrue. Poor Hemaji, she didn't even SMS Abhishek about the film, forget signing him! As a part of the production team, I thought of calling the scribe clarify the truth. "This is a source story, and I can't reveal my source!" the scribe said. "And we don't rebut our own story, so you can call XYZ publication, they will happily do it!" the scribe added. Oh damn you! I was appalled. It was my fault. I guess I created a Frankenstein, and now it's too late to slay. Now, I am battling with my own evil. I don't want to sound 'holier than thou'; I think it's a merry-go-round. As we were taught in our political science classes… the necessary evil!