Naghma Saher TV Reporter / Anchor

Many of us know her as a News anchor with a leading news channel of India. Her long hair with side parting coupled with good presentation style impresses just anybody who switches on the television set to catch on the daily news. She is an inspiration for many youngsters who want to take up media as a career option. If wannabe media professionals are any time asked to name some of their favourite news anchors, her name tops the list.

On Sunday, she brings to us the news of the entire week gone by, packed in just one-hour news bulletin called ‘Ravivar’. But besides an Anchor, she is a Journalist too. In fact, she considers herself a Journalist first and an Anchor later. She is usually a front-runner in breaking the most sensitive news. Whether it’s an earthquake hitting Kashmir or blast rocking Mumbai, she is at the sites delivering facts and figures.

You must have guessed by now. Yes, we are talking about ‘Naghma’ of NDTV India-the pretty lady who opens the news bulletin with ‘Namaskar, aap dekh rahein hain NDTV India aur main hoon ‘Naghma’.

29th Nov,5:00 pm and a correspondent from National Network of Education (NNE) was one-to-one with this charming and humble lady, in a coffee shop of south Delhi where she recalled her entire journey from being to becoming. NNE brings to you the excerpts from the tete-a-tete.

First of all we would like to know about your educational background. From where did you study Journalism?

I did not pursue Journalism or Mass Communication Course. In fact, I was more into academics. After I finished my graduation, Masters was the natural choice for me so I completed my Masters in Geography from Delhi School of Economics. And since everybody at that time was taking UGC - JRF, so I also appeared for it and cleared it. I got the scholarship and went for my M.Phil and Ph.D from Jawahar Lal University (JNU). I completed my M.Phil but didn’t complete Ph.D as I realised that I was not interested in research and lecturership. I actually wanted to take up some other work.

So, when and how did you get into this profession?

I entered into journalism after my Masters. I tried in ‘Asian Age’ newspaper and got through. Initially, I worked there as an intern and thereafter I was promoted as ‘Trainee Reporter’. But I left the job after a six-month stint. It was my own choice as I wanted to finish my M.Phil first of all.

Which was the first news you covered for the ‘Asian Age’?

Oh! It was a very small event. As far as I remember it was some dance performance that I covered for the newspaper but my first story that went on air was of an ice-skating ring that had come up on Mathura Road in Delhi. That time it was a new thing in Delhi.

How did you get into electronic media? How did anchoring happen to you?

My entry into the electronic media happened after a few years of my finishing M.Phil. It was then that television was becoming quite popular. Somebody told me to try at TV today for their half-an-hour programme. I tried there and got selected for their half-an-hour election programme which was aired on Doordarshan. But I wasn’t in front of the camera. I was just assisting them and it was a very brief stint and once the elections got over, my work also came to an end. But by that time I had developed passion for news.

So, after few months I again contacted them. At that time they were coming out with a new evening programme called ‘Dilli Aaj Tak’. But I didn’t host that show. I started as reporter for that programme .I was assigned Delhi beat. As far as anchoring is concerned, it happened when TV today launched the breakfast show called ‘Subah Aaj Tak’. I hosted it along with a co-anchor. But lots of anchoring took place when TV today commenced their 24-hours news channel ‘Aaj Tak’ in end of year 1999.

Were you nervous, when you faced camera for the first time? How did it feel?

It’s strange but I never had butterflies or never felt nervous when I first appeared on the camera (she laughs). In fact, I was very confident, may be because I was not very much aware of the camera.

You are a Reporter and an anchor also. But what do you like the most- anchoring prime time news or going out in the field and reporting?

I enjoy both the things. It gets monotonous doing same thing again and again. I really find reporting interesting. And these days lots of Journalists are doing both the things. They sit in the studio and anchor the news as well as go to the field for reporting. They may not do on everyday basis but on special occasions when some thing big happens; they do go out in the field. Even I am not doing lot of stories (news reports) these days but I do go to cover big stories. Recently, I went to Mumbai to do a show there on the unit of upcoming film ‘Kabul Express’. I think it’s not about enjoying things. It’s important these days for an anchor to report as well.

As you said you have never been to a journalism school, so when you initially started, did you face problems?

Yeah, I did face. I did not know much that time. I was only familiar with some journalism terms as I knew people from that background. I didn’t know even how to handle a machine. While conceptualizing the story, I used to figure out what questions should I ask from a person. You do get problems in finding a story, selecting story ideas, and lining up for the story. But I think you learn best when you are at work and that is the challenge.

Which story of yours do you find the best?

I think the best of mine are those that are very disturbing. When Tsunami occurred, I was sent to Nagapattnam to report. That I think was one of my best stories. Then I also covered the earthquake in Uri in Kashmir that I also count among my best ones. Recently, I covered the Mumbai bomb blasts. I went to the houses of the people who had lost their near and dear ones in the blast. Though that was a good story of mine, but it personally disturbed me also. Another story which I remember is of the Kumbh Mela in the year 2000 that I covered. It was very exciting as the event was of international stature. Media Professionals from abroad were also present to cover it. I remained there for 20 days to cover it.

You started from Print media and presently working for electronic, tell us which medium you like the most and why?

I had worked in Print Media for a very short period of time and that was my first job of any kind. So it’s unfair on my part to make comparisons. Both the mediums have their advantages and disadvantages. The television impact is immediate and intense as it involves visuals. It even includes those who can’t read or write. For such people, television is a very good medium. Newspaper’s impact, on the other hand, is not immediate but it’s long lasting, because if you read something you are less likely to forget it. It has more scope to analyse. It goes into the details unlike television, which present the news in a short story format.

You have also worked with United Nations Population Council. Tell us something about it. Did you do some story on it?

No, I didn’t do a story on UNDP. It was a research work that I did on UNDP while doing my M.Phil. It has nothing to do with Journalism.

Anchoring news bulletin is an easy task, most of the people think so. What’s your take on it?

It’s easy when the Anchor is also a Reporter. If an Anchor knows what’s going around in the country and in International arena, then presenting news becomes very easy. Most of the Anchors do read up before going on air. They even prefer talking to Reporters because they are the ones who know the real picture. In my organization it happens like that and I am sure in other organizations too the anchors do read up a little. A good Anchor is the one who is also a good Reporter. There are some discussion-based programmes also where an anchor has to discuss big news of the day. He/she has to ask questions and in most of the organizations the anchors are not provided with any help, on air. They have to carry the show on their own. In that case if the anchor is not aware of the issues, the situation becomes difficult. Anchoring is not easy and it should not taken lightly because if you do so then you won’t become a good news anchor.

Of late, many institutes are conducting short term courses in news reading and anchoring. Do you think the aspirants can benefit from such courses?

I don’t think short term courses for anchoring are of any help. If one wants to take up news anchoring, then something else along with it should also be taken up. And I don’t think any channel would like to take a person from such institute. My organization doesn’t do that. They don’t want an anchor. They like their Journalists to be News Anchors. I have also worked with TV today group. Even they don’t prefer people who are just Anchors. The people with short term course in anchoring may find work with a smaller channel but in bigger channels their chances of making it big is very less.

How do you find the teaching standards of Indian Journalim institutes vis-à-vis International Journalism institutes?

The teaching standards of Journalism institutes are fine. I am not the right person to comment as I haven’t been to any Journalism school. All I know is that who pass out of Journalism schools are quite bright. I have worked and presently working with people who are a product of Jamia, IIMC or Symbioisis. They are really good. They have done a full-fledge course so they know most of the other things besides anchoring and reporting. I don’t know if any improvement is required or not because an institute can’t teach everything in just one-year course.

As far as international institutes are concerned, I don’t know about them but I know some of my colleagues who were working and then they took a break and went to do the short term courses. The only difference I found in them after they came back is that they were more confident. They got more exposure. As they had worked with the media professionals abroad they had developed more professional approach. They got familiar with their work culture besides knowing their own. I don’t know what international journalism institute offer to the students but I think our institutes are good enough to compete with them.

Media is often blamed for intruding into the lives of the people and blowing issues out of the proportions? What’s your view on it?

I think in any case the judgement of the channel and a Reporter plays a very important role. Two people have got different style of working. One may be soft and one may be very rude. A lot depends on the Reporter also who is covering the story. I admit that sometimes media intrudes into the private lives for raising the TRPs but not every time. Media should draw a line and should distinguish between what to show and what not to show. Recently, when a boy got kidnapped in Noida, his father appealed to the media not to raise the issue so much. I think media in such situations has a very responsible role to play. But to say that every organization does that, would be wrong.

If any student comes to you who wants to take up News Anchoring as a career option, what advise would you give?

I would tell the student to prepare well. There is lot of competition these days. He/She should first of all have passion for news. These days channels prefer Journalist as news anchor so one should not aim for short term but look at a long term perspective. A student should first of all try to be a good journalist. A good Reporter ultimately becomes a good news anchor.

But besides passion for news, a News Anchor needs to possess some other qualities too? What are they? Can you throw some light on them?

The most important thing for a News Anchor is presentability. Besides that an anchor should have good communication skills, good diction. He should be able to convey information clearly because you are not watched by just one or two person but you are imparting the information to the millions who speak different languages and dialects. Besides, good modulation also plays a very important role. A News anchor should be able to speak in a way by which people can understand what is being said. One should not be very good looking but should be presentable. Students who do not possess good communication skills can join a course that is meant especially for them. I think Journalism courses do not include that. But if someone is really bad, then there are speech therapies for them too. And they can go for that.

Today you are working with a leading Hindi News Channel. What qualities helped you in reaching here?

(She Laughs). I really don’t know what are the qualities in me that led me here. All I know is that I never said no to whatever work was given to me. My educational background also helped here. I am not saying that it always helps in this field. But I joined the profession after completing my Masters and after post graduation one develops a broader vision and exposure. If had joined it after 10+2 or after graduation, and was drawn into it, my views would not have been so broad. Plus, I had natural communication skills and I so never found it difficult to interview people. I was quite confident. I am not sure but may be all such things combined helped me.

If you are asked to name one person from media with whom you would like to work with, who would be that?

I have already worked with all big names from the field of journalism. So there is really no body remained with whom I haven’t worked with. Whether it’s Barkha Dutt, Pranoy Roy, Arun Poorie, Prabhu Chawla and Dibang, I worked with all and it was a really good experience working with such people. I really I can’t choose one person. Every body has plus and minuses. I really can’t comment on that. Pranoy Roy’s anchoring style is really convincing. I like Dibang’s style too. He is able to extract the information which lot of other journalists can’t do. I like Barkha Dutt for her passion for news and getting into the things. Rajdeep Sardesai is also another Journalist whom I really admire.

Please tell us what you do in your free time? Any hobbies?

In free time I like spending time with my people like anybody else. I like decorating my house. I like plants a lot. I have a small garden. I water my plants Besides, I like listening music too. I like both Hindi and English songs. In Hindi songs, I prefer old ones, mostly sufi songs. Ghazals are my favourite too. In English songs, I prefer country songs and those of Bob Dylon.

What would you have been if not a Journalist and an Anchor?

I never planned about my career, so I think if I had not ventured into Journalism, I would have taken up competitive exams or I would have been a lecturer. It was also possible for me to take a job with some NGO. I was more into academics so I would have gone into related field only.

Lastly, what message would you like to give to the upcoming Journalists and wannabe News Anchors?

Those who dream of being a News Anchor must remember that it’s a very competitive field and it’s important to be a good journalist in order to be a good News Anchor. Those who want to be a Journalist must keep in mind that awareness about the current developments is very essential. Students who have taken up journalism must read a lot to widen their knowledge base.

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(As told to Priya Kapoor)