NEWSROMs are struggling with a new, malignant entry around the world – AI. The advanced capacity of machines and systems can help simplify labor in many fields, leaving the time spent on grip work. AI can speed up our output by bringing down the time required for potentially rigidity, which often affects background reading, fact-locominations, speaking to experts, and archeas in our work line.
When some of us stepped into a news room for the first time, it was the new “Cool Thing” by email to send a story to our editor. And the email was something that we checked only on a heavy desktop computer. In addition to books and archives in the office library, there was another important resource on which we used to rely too much – our colleagues who have been there, did so. KV (K. Venkataraman), who recently retired as a senior Associate Editor HinduHas been such an extraordinary ally. Extraordinary, not only his width and depth of knowledge – in politics, law, policy, governance, culture, literature, sports (he is also a grammar stupid!) – But also in his desire to share easily.
For my benefit, KV is a Sri Lanka specialist. Around the dramatic news development on the island, he gently passes from the past to a nugget, which helps me to understand more of the present. “Hey, just read your copy. Is this a similar situation not so much for the presidency? Do you want to bring it; I can see the date,” he will offer. KV knew the date; He was only verifying it. He would easily take out an accurate details from decades in advance, just in a second, as his memory was held in clean folders. My colleagues in the data team recall how a casual chat with KV in the news room investigated a compelling data story as to how India’s leading Justice included its senior colleagues in the major matters.
Although it is a professional practice not to give any one edit-writer characteristic to the editorial of the newspaper, it was difficult to recall the KV touch in many powerful editorials of paper on controversial decisions. The arguments will be made on concrete facts, and will be designed with an infallible commitment to human rights, democracy and justice. This is another thing that we learn from journalists like him. Knowledge is, and perspective. Public-native journalism is hardly about knowledge or cold facts that offer de-politized accounts of history. It is about implementing the principles of fairness, recognizing all structural inequalities and injustice in our world.
Reporters write for a living, but it is not easy. There are days when you stare at a frightening, wondering why the words will not fall more beautifully. On such occasions, KV was my Go-Two person. “KV! Can you please fix this long starting paragraph?” Within a few minutes, he will respond to a pituitary couple, what matters the most immediately.
not just me; Many of my colleagues will tell you that KV has been their Go-to person. I have seen many popular TV anchors, which request them to intimidate jurisdiction or decode new laws for them. Originally, KV will read a long document in ‘Legalis’, interpret it quickly, and will unpack it to the rest of us in an accessible way. We went to him again and again because he knew things, but also because he was ready to help, that too without compassion. But there was a cost – his painful jokes! (Although I seriously accept that many were really good ‘bad jokes’.)
Even the dynamics of the news room are changing for better, they are not immune for a petness or cut-throt competition. This is silly and even irony, as none of us can deny that we greatly benefit the stories between our best benefits from input and sharp editing by colleagues. My generation of journalists has not yet understood how AI can run journalism. We have joined with human intelligence and generosity.
meera.srinivasan@thehindu.co.in
Published – 18 April, 2025 01:51 AM IST