Substance abuse, Indian anchor-editor style
Lance Armstrong is not the only one who crossed the line to get his 15 minutes of fame. Indian editors do too, an Insider tells Oprah-ji.
AJITH PILLAI shares his scoop.
Since it is out in the open, one does not have to dwell at length on Lance Armstrong’s confession to Oprah Winfrey that the secret of his success was thanks to performance-enhancing drugs. In fact, it was an array of banned substances which enabled him to win the prestigious annual cycling marathon, the Tour de France, for a record seven consecutive times. While Armstrong’s admission of guilt to the talk show host – who can apparently make even inanimate objects talk – has grabbed the headlines, very little is known about another remarkable interview that the lady conducted a few weeks ago with an insider from the Indian media. (For now, his identity has been kept under wraps till such time that the gentleman’s 30-minute interrogation by Ms O is approved – if at all – for telecast). But what is likely to cause a sensation and trigger a tsunami in every newspaper office and TV studio is his revelation that several editors/ anchors/senior staffers are guilty of ‘abusing substances’ to pump up their adrenalin.
All this has come out thanks to the CIA laying its hands on a confidential transcript of the interview. And like all secrets, copies of it were being hawked within days in Delhi under the unique buy-a-transcript-get-an-Oprah-badge-free scheme. The Hoot was quick to grab the offer and is now in a position to share excerpts of the interview with readers. So, without any further ado, over to Oprah:
Oprah Winfrey (OW): Mr Insider, are you sure you want to go public with the allegation that editors and anchors abuse substances?
I: Oprahji, I am not merely alleging but confirming what is happening. It’s a fact that every insider and rookie reporter knows.
OW: Let me be clear, you are saying that substances are being abused and that senior people in the Indian media are guilty of doing just that.
I: Yes. But I must also add that I cannot pronounce judgement and declare someone guilty. That, as we often say in this part of the world, is for the courts or the Press Council of India to decide.
OW: Mr I, let me put it this way: You are saying that every single day, before going on prime time news or deciding on what should go on page one, there is somebody somewhere abusing substances?
I: I am not for a moment saying everyone does it – however, I confirm that many do so. Why, some indulge themselves just before leaving for work.
OW: That’s truly amazing! But, before I go any further, I’d like to remind you that you are saying all this, not just on national television, but to millions of viewers worldwide. Do you realize the reach of this programme?
I: Oprahji, of course I know I will be on international television! As for your reach, I don’t have to say anything – the world knows it. You surely don’t have to shout about it like some of our TV anchors.
OW: Well, to move on, why do responsible people who influence the opinion and views of an entire nation, I mean millions, stoop to such levels?
I: They simply stoop to conquer TRPs and readership. You see, there are many who have to abuse something to get frenzied every evening. You see, it’s difficult to get worked up without that something. To transform mundane events into national issues or trying to precipitate a war with Pakistan takes some doing. You need that extra push to make you hysterical every day.
OW: So you are saying that the frenzy one sees on prime time or the shrill editorial position taken by a publication is thanks to abusing substances?
I: Absolutely! Some do it to get excited, others to get angry so that they can carry that anger with them into the studio or the newsroom. And still others who are naturally hysterical and neurotic indulge so that they can calm themselves.
OW: I hope you are not referring to consumption of alcohol…
I: Not at all. I fully understand that drinking within limits is considered socially acceptable. In any case, would I come on international television to merely say that journalists in India drink? That they do is too well known.
OW: Mr I, to move on, what exactly are the substances we are talking about: testosterone, cortisone, human growth hormones, transfusion of angry blood? Or is there some magic Indian potion that we don’t know about in the west?
I: Well, the testosterone-shestosterone, cortisone-shortisone you have just referred to is what Lance Armstrong abused. But many of our senior journalists either do not know cycling or have forgotten the very art of retaining their balance. Of course, several of them encourage recycling of stories from small town papers and peddling them as their original.
OW: I think you are digressing from the core point, which is about abusing substances…
I: I am sorry about going on a tangent. But to get to the point, I still stick by what I have been telling you.
OW: So what about the substances…
I: Oprahji, I will get to that. But before doing so, I must point out that in India we take the English dictionary very seriously, perhaps a tad too seriously.
OW: What’s that got to do with substances?
I: Everything! Substance, if we go by the dictionary, means ‘a particular kind of material’ or ‘physical reality that can be touched and felt.’ Abuse refers to ‘the physical or psychological maltreatment of a person or animal’ or ‘harmful use of something’. I do admit that there may be several other interpretations of the two words referred to. But since our focus is journalists it would only be fair to take whatever meaning suits our purpose best.
OW: I never thought about it that way! Anyway, Mr I, it’s time for you to come clean and explain what you exactly meant by abuse of substances…
I: Well, I have known instances where editors scream expletives at a wall, roundly abuse toothpaste, shaving cream, moisturisers, lip gloss or the TV monitor. They angrily fling cellphones, damaging the instrument or hurl microphones at colleagues. (Now, you will agree that all these are physical objects made up of an amalgam of various substances). Also subjected to ill-treatment are subs (subordinates). These hapless folks are always at the receiving end though they may be people with substance. They fall into the sub-category ‘homosapien-junior-alia’ and are pulled up for some rhyme and no reason, often abused, have swear words flung at them, etc. That then is the sum and substance of the abuse I have been talking about.
OW: How does all this help?
I: Anger, I am told, releases endorphins into the bloodstream, charging up a person. As we know, these opioid peptides are produced by the body while doing exercise. But most people at the top of the pyramid in the news business have no time for the gym so they have to exercise their unwritten right to be abusive and angry to get their endorphin rush. Of course, there are times when the bossman’s boss (read the management or marketing head) turns the heat on him. That’s when the shoe is on the other foot and it becomes difficult to ascertain the man/woman of real substance and abuse!
OW: Tell me, and I am very curious, why did you not come upfront and say exactly what you meant when you said seniors in the Indian media were abusing substances? Why did you take me round in circles leading me to believe that substances – I mean chemicals and banned drugs – were being abused?
I: Oprahji, there is a saying in India that hype is 90 per cent of what makes attention- grabbing news. I was only trying to be sensational so that I could make a mark on international television. I hope you will forgive me for that…