Copyright (C) 2003 by the individual authors Behind The News: Voices From Goa's Press Copyleft, 2003. May be copied provided entire text is kept intact, and credit is given to all who have contributed to this work. While every attempt has been made to maintain accuracy, we would appreciate inaccuracies being pointed out. Feedback may be sent to goajourno@indialists.org This book was collaboratively written between August 2003 and October 2003, through Goajourno, a cyber network of journalists and former journalists who have worked in Goa. Copyleft 2003. Writers of the respective individual chapters retain their right to be identified as the authors of their work. This is work-in-progress. and currently is in draft stage. Version 0.10 (draft release). First e-version: October 10, 2003 (draft) This e-book was created using Lyx, a free software product that was created by volunteers and which is freely sharable. We say a thank you to those whose work on this and other Free Software makes our work feasible and more practicable today. Table of Contents Chapter 1 Sixties' stories: Free Goa's first elections Chapter 2 Goan journalism: Views from near and far Chapter 3 West Coast Times : A dream ruined Chapter 4 Novem Goem: The Roof Caves In Chapter 5 The Herald of A New Ethos Chapter 6 oHERALDo: an untold chapter Chapter 7 The banyan tree: working under Rajan Chapter 8 Rural Goa, unheard, unsung... Chapter 9 A year apart... journalism and leaving home Chapter 10 Growing up with the Herald... Chapter 11 In black & white... newsdesk nuggets Chapter 12 The proof of it all... Chapter 13 Birth pangs at Sant Inez Chapter 14 An era of free sheeters Chapter 15 Journalism in Goa: An outsider looks in Chapter 16 An accidental Bhailo Chapter 17 Why Konkani failed its readers... Chapter 18 Romi Konkani, hanging on a cliff Chapter 19 Comrades in crime: Police reporting Chapter 20 Of sports... and sports journalism Chapter 21 From journalist... to publisher Introduction If you believe in miracles, here is a small one. An e-book, written collaboratively by over a dozen-and-half journalists, many with amazing stories to tell. Their willingness to do so, says something. For one, it indicates a generosity to convert memories into history, which would otherwise have been consigned to the dustbin of amnesia. This is particularly true, as the media seldom writes critically about themselves in Goa. More importantly, it also suggests that there are many in Goa who have a story, and are willing to narrate it. If only they're given a chance. As mediapersons, we need to ask ourselves why these stories are not allowed (or encouraged) to surface in the first place. It's impossible to believe that there is such a drought of ideas and issues in Goa, and the general lack of debate in the media would make it seem.