This increasing engagement through media—of the world with India and of India with the world—is hardly a one-way street. There are now a large number of journalists—Indian and Indian-American—who now work in the US media, helping those newsrooms understand a vast and distant country, and its stories, better. “When I started working at magazines in the US in early 1990s, I used to know all the Indians in media because there used to be so few of them,” said Newsweek’s Hajari. “These days I don’t even keep a track, because there are so many of them everywhere.”
These editors, with their varied backgrounds and global experience, will be expected to bring depth and nuance to covering a country they have links with, especially one such as India that has become a big story.
“Time’s coverage of India has grown—and will likely continue to grow—in parallel with India’s growing economic and cultural influence on the world. As an Indian myself, I’m filled with pride. As a journalist, I have to be objective, and acknowledge that India is one of several important international stories.”
WSJ’s Deogun echoed similar thoughts. “The increasing interconnectedness of economies mean we are having to redefine what an important story is. Inflation in India, for instance, is a big story to everyone. It’s a reflection and recognition of India’s importance to global economy,” he said.
“While there are fascinating stories on economics and business to be done, it’s important to cover the changes in society as well,” Deogun added. The Journal recently added two journalists—including the Pulitzer winning reporter Geeta Anand—to its India staff.
This diversity at the decision-making level will also result in a more compassionate coverage of world affairs, predicts Newsweek’s Hajari. “A lot of foreign coverage in the past used to be coverage of American activities in other countries. Having an international background means you have a better feel of people’s thoughts and emotions. You know what it feels like to be on the other side of the fence,” he added.
India coverage
Responding to the emerging India story, foreign wire services, television stations and newspapers have expanded their presence on Indian soil as well. According to S.M. Khan, additional director general at the Press Information Bureau, there are 89 accredited foreign journalists in India, compared with about 60 a few years ago. Year-wise data was unavailable.
A more telling data, if only indicative, came from John Elliott, president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia. While between 1993 and 2003, the number of expat members at the Mathura Road, New Delhi-based club went up about 7% from 68 to 73, during the five years from 2003, this number rose about 70%, from 73 to 124. Elliott, the India correspondent of Fortune magazine, who has covered the country for 15 years, agrees that foreign publications are giving India a wider coverage.
TheEconomist, too, has increased its editorial staff in India and is also making a significant push on its circulation side.