Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-19
JOURNALISM IN INDIA.
The Annn-a-Liner of Calcutta and His
Lefsureiy Methods.

ne inEH-H.LlneE oI &NlcuttA ana HIN
Leisureiy Methods.
From the Indian Daily News
Judged by Journalism at homt- it is hard
ly too much to say that journalism in In
dia is still in the chrysalis stage; the con-
comitants and consequences Of full activity
and development are yet wanting. Not
withstanding the disability, we can yet
claim the possession of the anna-a-liner,
whose personality is quite interesting as
that of the Fleet street genus, from whom.
however, he differs very materially in some
important details. In Calcutta, more than
in any other city in India, the ticca re-
porter, the literary chiffonier, fiourishes.
The chief English newspapers in Bombay
have complete salaried STATS. and the man
who supplies information at much a line
is at a discount. The same may also be
said of Madras and the larger provincial
towns, where newspapers of influence and
standing are published.
In Calcutta, however, a different system
prevails. The newspaper offices, although
fully equipped in their editorial and sub
editorial departments. are generally under
manned in the reportorial staffs, and de-
pend very largely on the hireling for re-
found to work with fair satisfaction, and
the Indications are in favor of its extern
sion The Calcutta ticca reporter is usual
iy Eurasian who has adopted the pro-
fesson of letters line as a dernier resort
after planting, or zemndari, or the rail-
way. or the counter, has failed him. lie
does not boast of much education, and has
no ambition to improve his present knowl
edge of grammar
Against this, however, he has any
amount of assurance, total disregard for
appearances and a SpaSmOdic industry
which carry him through in the long run.
lie is never at a loss for paragraph, be
the town ever 50 dull; for when viceroys,
lieutenant governors. members of council,
arrive. the native inhabitants have d happy
knack Of falling down wells just to please
the ubiquitous chronicler. When this pas
time becomes monotonous, the festive den
liens of Juan Bazaar and Chandni Chowk
viii create a diversion by starting al cpl
dcmic Of fowl stealing. The ticca reporter
would not lose these two sources of para
graph manufacture for half his daily wage.
The ranks of the profession in Calcutta
are not so oVerstocked to result in the
n isery and restitution which is described
as obtaining in London; on the contrary.
the Calcutta collector of unconsidered liter
airy trifies although somewhat careless of
the style of his dress and the cleanliness
OF his person, yet lives in a certain amount
of comfort. He is generally married. and
is able to maintain la rye family. That he
is very often in debt is a mere detail: NEST
people of The social stratum to which he be-
longs are similarly affected, and the con-
sideration is far from being a disturbing
element in his domestic economy. The
necessity. therefore, Of bling always on the
prOWl for news does not arise.
Festina lente is his motto and the ac-
quieScence Of his employers is Il sufficient
excuse to take it easy. Tel! him OF a mur-
der or fire, or. in fact. any important
item of news which is to be secured in q
distant part of the town late at night, Yet
in full time for publication, and be will
Calmly bid you possess your soul in peace,
for he will get il all from the police report
next day, which is, in his opinion, quite
time enough for any reasonable being. 1t
Is no use arguing the point; threat,
treaty, ridicule and contempt are all lost
On him. He wants to go TO bed. and MOTH
ing short of an earthquake will prevent
him from doing so; and so he slumbers
peacefully in the confidence that he is safe,
long as the information does not appear in
a rival paper, there is never any trouble in
the office.
A murder may be week old but the re-
porter will hand it in as news. knowing
That 1t will be accepted such by the sub
eoitCr, conditionally, of course. that it has
not appeared elsewhere. And that this con-
ditlon IS present our hero takes good care
lie ana his companions in iniquity
mixed by Masonic oath, which binds
them 20 an Interchange of information, and
an absolute forbearance from trying to get
Inc better of each other. Hence tn same
ness both in matter and phraseology of the
local columns of the English dailies which
has often puzzled some people
Such Is the CALCUTTA penny a-lin r. of
inc present day: but in the evolution of
tine, when Tire penny telegraph gives a
flip to newspaper enterprise in india he
will probably apprSximata more nearly to
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