Career Interview with Frederick Noronha Category: Journalism and Media Link: http://www.goenche.com/career_details.php?id=7 Interview by Anzil Fernandes for www.goenche.com Frederick Noronha is a freelance journalist who is also involved in a lot of IT ventures and is also the administrator of the 'Goanet' mailing list established in 1994. He also established the book publishing house called 'Goa, 1556'. He is also an alumnus of the Internationales Institut fur Journalismus. His works have been featured in The Economic Times, The Financial Express, Spider Internet, Associated Press (photographs), Dawn, BBC website and Outlook, Deccan Herald, Asia news service. He also worked as an editorial consultant with Herald (Goa). 1. Could you tell us a bit about your profession and how far it has taken you from when you started? And would you recommend such a profession for the younger generations? Basically my profession has been journalism, different forms of it. It has been freelancing since 1994 onwards. Before that, I was corresponding for outstation newspapers. For the past two to three years it has been book publishing, done via Goa, 1556. I started as a trainee in 1983, 28 years back, earning 300 a month. I enjoy my work tremendously, I have no complains about that. I work very hard, not because I have to do it, but because I love doing it. I would recommend anyone to do so as it's a very good field. My message to the younger generation is to do what you like, you might not make a lot of money out of this job, and there are many, many faster ways to make quick money. But would definitely get a job satisfaction at the end of the day, and that's what is more important I think. 2. If a student decides to pursue a career in your profession, how do you suggest they should go about it, apart from school/ college? (Books, or theory, private courses, practical assessment? Others?) I am a bit old fashioned on this front at least. There were no training programmes during my time in Goa, so my answer is based on my own experience. I would advise the younger generation to jump into a field only if it interests you. If you are pursuing your graduation or post-graduation, absorb the most you can while you're at it. Start working as early as you can; even if it means a part-time job while you're in college. Theory can be picked up anytime, but the experience you gain is priceless. Younger you start, the better, because at this level, you are more energetic, malleable. So start early. 3. You had the opportunity of studying in Goa, Mumbai and also at international institutions like 'Internationales Institut fur Journalismus'. How has been the experience and what difference did you find? On completing my graduation (B.Com) I felt not adequately educated for a journalism job; my fear then was that I might be pushed into some accounts section of a newspaper, though reading and writing was something one loved. So, I hurriedly did my M.A. in English literature, but was totally disinterested in that field. Shakespeare was boring, out of date and context, and something beyond my abilities to appreciate. Contemporary Indian writing in English was enjoyable, but there was very little of that (Chakra, by Jayant Dalvi, for instance). We also had noted writers like Balchandra Nemade as our professors, though we then didn't understand how controversial and contemporary his writing was (and continues to be). There were pioneering figures, like Prof. P. Lal, the man behind Calcutta's Writer's Workshop, who came to give us guest lectures at the Goa University, which was then housed in the unfinished Goa Medical College building. I recall P. Lal, who died recently, for having published 3000 books almost single-handedly, in times when publishing books was a very difficult job, involved letter-press and no computers. So many big writers in Indian English today are people who first published with the simple, articulate P. Lal, a real example of the simple living, high thinking morale of an India of the 1980s. Mostly, I would spend time reading in the periodicals section of the library rather than the classroom; because of some legal issue, we got our degrees from the University of Bombay, though we studied in the fleding Goa University. Till then, I had no formal training in journalism; it was all on-the-job learning. An opportunity came up to do a Junior Research Fellowship in Journalism, but one was enjoying oneself too much with actual work (in the media) to think of academia. Deccan Herald, which I worked at from 1987-1994, was a very encouraging work atmosphere. My seniors saw that I was very keen in pursuing a career in this field and so enabled me get through a scholarship to Germany for a fully-sponsored advanced diploma in journalism. This course was highly beneficial and I made the most of it. After class, I would get back to our apartments, and spent long hours reading. I did read a lot and either read (or speed-read) through a hundred books in a 90-day period. Don't ask me how I did it; but it did help a great deal in all my future work. At the end of the day, reading is the best university one can really learn from! In journalism, you need to have good language skills (whatever language you're working in) and some understanding of the techniques involved. When you're into writing specially in the newspapers -- you need to grasp things like formats. What makes a good feature? How is a news-analysis piece different from run of the mill news? What does the desk-based editor expect of you and your writing? Talking about my own experience, I feel the education system in Goa was not enough to prepare me for the world of work. It gives some basic backgrounding; but the rest of the learning you have to do by yourself. From your own experience, or by reading, or asking the right people the right questions. In Goa we are (or were?) much used to 'spoon feeding'. We are only capable of swallowing and regurgitating formulas and text-book ideas, but this is not sufficient to face up to the challenges of the real world. 4. Tell us something about your venture in IT field and how different it is from main stream journalism? After getting tired of the daily news grind, I shifted to writing on information technology, specially a niche field called IT-for-development. I co-founded BytesForAll [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers] which, at its peak, had a team of 15 volunteers from six South Asian countries. We did manage to report on a whole lot of pro-people innovations happening in the field, and were taken quite seriously. Basically, while mainstream journalism is a generalist thingy, this is a niche which specializes in one very narrow (but interesting) area. 5. You were also in involved in Free Open Source Softwares (FOSS). Could you tell us more about it? Free Software involves software which are not copyrighted, but freely sharable. As a journalist, you have to learn to share information. I have learnt a lot from the Free Software ideology of sharing information and digital products. It goes very well with what a journalist should be doing anyway. It is a better way of sharing, earning and making a living too. 6. Can you please us tell more about your recent venture as a publisher (Goa 1556)? This started, without much planning, in 2007. It has brought some 27 books (all related to Goa) into the market by now. We're trying to give a voice to perspectives which would not be otherwise heard, and the main focus is non-fiction, written in English. I see it as some kind of alternative publishing, aimed at building social capital, not just money. 7. What was the driving force for you behind choosing this profession as your career? Can you please share with us your experiences and learning's of all these years that strengthened your career? We had an English teacher and a school librarian (at Britto's, Mapusa) whom I'm really ever-grateful to. They encouraged to read a lot, to be interested in newspapers, in quizzes. This was a gift that made a lasting difference. In our village (Saligao), we had a reading table, which also gave us access to (then scarce) information. My mother also planted the idea in me, when I was seven, that I could earn from writing. She encouraged me to enter some competition and earn half a pound (` 7 in those times) for it. I remember the thrill and joy of that, and can picture myself going to the bank with that British Postal Order! It is important to believe in yourself. One small word, someone telling you something that pushes you forward. Unfortunately, in Goa, there are not many people undertaking mentoring and such things. 8. A lot individuals have been entering this profession in view of the immense demand potential here. Could you please share with us why a career in your profession is so much lucrative with a tremendous shiny appeal? What are some of the benefits and challenges of working in this profession? Perhaps the glamour about journalism is misplaced. Much of it has to do with the televised perception of the profession! Having said that, it is an enormously soul-satisfying job too. There are a few other fields where you can contribute as much to society, if you decide to make the most of your job. Like teaching, you are doing a great contribution to the society. You are using your intelligence to the maximum. Sometimes, lack of qualification puts people down, but here (journalism) it is not so. You're only as good as your last story. This is not a difficult field in that sense. Journalism is all about applied common sense, and hard work. But you have to work for it. In many fields, people here believe once they get a job, they can relax and retire in the same job. But in journalism, you have to keep reinventing yourself everyday. If you enjoy it, it's great fun. You have to keep reading, cope up with new technologies etc. Earlier there were no computers, and we even taught ourselves how to operate the age-old telex machines. I feel young people in Goa need to push themselves more; they're capable, if they try. 9. As the saying goes knowledge is power , so could you please tell us how a fresh graduate expected to acquire domain expertise in this profession in order to bring about meteoric rise in his/ her career? In every job it is the same case. It is like the chicken and egg situation. Without your first job you don't get experience and without experience, you don't get a first job! So, I would say, start with whatever you get. Never ask how much you will get from your job. Do a good job even if they pay you peanuts, you learn a lot from your first job. The experience is invaluable. Sometimes, you get treated like a peon. So what, as long as you're always learning something? It will stand you in good stead one day. People in this profession are generally very helpful. We've been lucky enough to have very good and helpful seniors. You should inculcate the habit of reading. Places like the Central Library in Panjim have some very good books on journalism, which you can really learn from. The techniques can be learnt easily, but the point is, how one develops ethics and love for the work he (and, increasingly, she) does. 10. What is the career growth in journalism and what is the level of remuneration one can expect as a fresher and as a mid level professional in terms of monetary benefits? What I feel is, you should not worry about money. If you are good, the money will surely come to you. You can then rise to any level. I think a fresher in Goa starts at between Rs 5000 to 12000. But the question really is, are you learning a good profession, a trade that will take you through life, keeping you interested in your work and making you feel you've contributed something positive? Many of Goa's journalists have ended up in places like the Gulf, Bombay, and even Singapore and Australia. A friend of mine worked awhile in Papua New Guinea. 11. We all would agree that good working environment brings out the best from an individual. Could you please tell us something on working conditions in this profession? Could you share approximately how many working hours per week is one expected to put in, in your type of a career? That is true. I feel South Indian newspapers are very good as employers. They treat you well, and consider your career growth. You should like your job, be good at it, keep to your word. It will take years to rise, but a small mistake is sufficient to cause a downfall. Yet, it is definitely not as tough as it seems. Do your best everyday, work hard and you will reach your goals. If you invest your time and energies in your work, you will definitely get satisfaction out of it. My goal was to be a freelancer from the age of 35, and I reached there. If you have a plan in mind, you subconsciously work to achieve it. People warned me that freelancing doesn't work. I've been at it for a decade and half, out of choice, and without regret. Technically, as a journalist, the laws require you to work for seven or six hours (by night or day respectively). To do a good job, you need to put in far longer hours, of course. 12. Give your views about the Press and Media in India and in Goa. It is a big subject. You can see a glass either half full or half empty. There are lots of problems with the press in and, on the other hand, it also does an amazingly good job. Some in the media do take measures upon improving and making a difference. I'm a great fan of publications like Tehelka, and even Outlook. The print media is growing drastically which is definitely a positive sign. But newspaper prices in India have been kept artificially low. This can be seen as a good thing in a sense, but it also makes the publications unduly dependent on the advertiser. Besides we need publications which focus on all aspects of life, not just politics! 13. Could you please share your thoughts on the future of journalism in India or worldwide and in Goa? Newspapers are shutting down in most parts of the world. In India, the papers are actually expanding. The competition has grown a lot in Goa in recent years. Has this made us more sensational? 14. How different do you think is the media or journalism industry outside India as compared to Indian itself? Do you think your current profession would be handled differently in India as compared to abroad or vice versa? Depends by where abroad. From my understanding and going by what our colleagues say, journalism in the Gulf pays well, but there are restrictions on free speech. Singapore and Malaysia too have papers which are slick in their technical production. The West is probably still to wake up to the idea that Indians can write and edit English. 15. Would you prefer or recommend students to try to go abroad to work? Yeah. It can be good experience. Besides, for the average Goan, migration is like a virus, which we need to get out of our 'system'. So, the best way, is to oblige it, and travel. Make sure you have one foot back home though. Keep some plans ready for when you want to return. Who knows, you might be able to offer work to others here when you get back. 16. Is the any other skill apart from knowledge and experience that is needed or would be advantageous to better your profession? (For example, like being street-smart, honest, alertness etc) When I started, I was a very shy person, but I learnt a lot through my experience, by trying to learn whatever I could, and by seeking out role models among seniors. I feel one should not neglect their job or indulge in a misuse of our position. 17. Recently, paid news has emerged as a new trend in media industries. Could you please share with us more about it and how to tackle such issues? This is just one part of the problem, the tip of the iceberg. We need to discuss the issue of ethics in our field. Is it okay for journalists to accept gifts? Should we too (and the managements) not have codes of conduct? Readers have had a lot of respect for journalists and the media. This will be lost fast if we don't live up to the expectations. 18. As far as journalism/media is considered there seem to be clash between Ethics and the Reality. Often the job demands certain things which might clash with you ethics. your view on this point and how do u tackle it? I think ethics deserves primacy. Keep your idealism always and don't succumb to "market pressures". If we are seduced by the good things in life, then we will find it tough. Otherwise, it is easy to follow one's conscience. (At most, you might have to 'place' a story in some other publication, when the one you work/write for is not eager to carry it.) 19. There seems to be a never ending debate on lack of integration between real-life works situation and college teaching. Could you please elaborate few very essential trait and educational qualifications that an Individual should ideally posses? I agree. I passed my B.Com but find it difficult to write my own accounts, or file an income-tax return without assistance. Likewise, after graduating, most students are diffident about writing a news report or feature, and shaping their own thoughts. To enter journalism, a young person should ideally be well read, hard working, have good language skills, and have opinions of their own. If they have been to journalism-school, they should have picked up some of the techniques needed in daily journalism too. Not in a way meant to only answer exams, but in a manner that makes a real difference in their work. 20. Exhibiting values even during a professional career has acquired a new dimension these days. Could you please share your thoughts on what is the most satisfying for you, a profession of passion or profession which pays a lot? Passion is the fuel that propels everything especially in a field like journalism. You need to love the work you're doing (otherwise, it's a prison sentence). Somehow, even when earned Rs 300 a month (in 1983), I enjoyed my job. Perhaps I enjoyed it more then, because things could only get better, and the fire in your stomach led you to do produce your best. In order to constantly explore learning opportunities, professionals like to switch fields within their professions. Could you please tell us how much easy or difficult it is for someone to switch fields within this profession? I have switched fields within journalism itself. Initially I was writing for Goa and then I worked as an outstation correspondent, then I switched to environmental journalism. After that, I've gone to freelancing, writing on IT, and also dabbling in photography. And I must say that Goans are well appreciated for their work outside. But every job has its own limitations, which you will realise only when you are part of it. Goan journalists should aim for bigger things. 21. Could you please let us know what would you advise students at this point in time, keeping in mind all the uncertainties associated with this profession in the external environment? When you feel you are losing interest in your job, move on, do something you like doing. Try to develop new skills which might help you later. Do not wait for opportunities to come to you, go and hunt for them and prove yourself by expressing your skills. 22. Your message for our young budding journalist? Go for it. Give it your best. Try to do something different. Be adventurous. Don't believe that you're second to anybody just because you don't live in a big city or a rich country. Posted on: 08-05-2011 www.goenche.com ‘FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING GOAN’ Regards, Anzil Fernandes
