Hello Friend where are you

If you happen to meet a journalist friend in Gujarat after couple of months, please do not ask him how are you? Just ask him where are you. There are all the chances that your friend may give you a new visiting card with new office address. And he would not mind boasting about the hefty pay packet he is getting.

Media scene has changed a lot in the last four years. The arrival of Divya Bhaskar in 2003 and new channels has sent employment Index of media persons here sky rocketing. Whether you know a language or not, you should have either a tag of journalist or a professional qualification. You can easily get five digit salary. It may happen that from the day one you get a chance to saunter in the corridors of power in Gandhinagar.

The upward movement of journalists got great boost with the arrival of Divya Bhaskar. Gujarat Samachar and other leading newspapers got a big jolt because of the exodus. ETV, TV9 and several other channels attracted quite young boys and girls. Three UK based weeklies developed Ahmedabad as their main office.

Recently, Times Launched its midloid Ahmedabad Mirror . It recruited 53 . Naturally all were from Ahmedabad. The management made it clear that knowledge of English is not must. Even if you do not know English, no problem. People who were slogging for Rs.5,000 a month have been recruited for Rs.25,000 a month. Without much knowledge of English. Middle level staff got a package of Rs six lakh plus a year.

This month Business standard launched it Gujarati edition. It recruited more than 20 journalists. Here the situation was different. Reporters were told that knowledge of Gujarati was not must. You can write in English. The management has others to translate in Gujarati. Not a bad idea. Even otherwise management has to have someone to translate English news in Gujarati.

These major developments have chain reaction. There are vacancies in other newspapers. They have to offer higher pay packets to attract staff. Never in the past, professional rivalry and cut throat competition among newspapers and others in media made Journalist the King !

So friend days of Jholawala patrakar are now laid to rest in the history. Now we have laptopwalas with plastic currency .

Do not worry. There are some more publications in the pipeline. So keep on asking where are you friend.