The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-10
JOURNALISM IN INDIA.
The Anna-a-Liner of Calcutta and Hi,
Leisurely Moments.
India Daily News.

lndla Daily news.
Judged by journalism at home, ii is hardly
too much to say that Journalism in India is
still in the chrysaliS stage; the concomitantS
and consequences of full activity and devel-
the disability we can yet claim the posses
sion of the anna-a-lner, whose personality
is quite as interesting as that of the Fleet
street genus, from whom, however, he diff
fers very materially in some important de-
tails. In Calcutta, more than in any other
city in India, the ticca reporter, the literary
chiffonier, flourishes. The chief English
newspapers in Bombay have complete sal
aired STATS, and the man who supplies in
formation at so much Hne is at discount
The same may also be Said of Madras and
the larger provincial towns. where newspa-
pers of influence and standing are published
In Calcutta, however, different system
fully equipped in their editorial and subedi-
torial departments, are generally under
manned In the reportorial STATS, and depend
very largely on the hireling for reports of
local events The system has been found
to work with fair satisfaction, and the indi-
cations are in favor of its extension. The
Calcutta ticca reporter is usually Eura-
sian who has adopted the profession of let
tiers line dernier resort after planting
or Zemindari, or the railway or the counter
has failed him. He does not boast of much
education, and has no ambition to improve
his present knowledge of grammar.
Against this, however, he has any amount
of assurance, total disregard for appear
ances and spasmodic industry which carry
through in the long run. He is never at a
loss for paragraph. be the town ever so
ors, members of council rajah h and dstin-
guished visitors cease to arrive. the native
inhabitants have a happy knack of falling
down wells Just to please the ubiquitous
notonous, the festive denizens of Juan Ba-
zaar and Chandni Chowk will create a d.
version by starting an epidemic of fowl
stealing. The ticca reporter would not lose
these two sources of paragraph manufacture
for half his daily wage.
The ranks of the profession in Calcutta
are not so overstocked to result in the
misery and restitution which is described as
obtaining in London: on the contrary, the
Calcutta collector of unconsidered literary
trif1es. although somewhat careless of the
style of his dress and the cleanliness of his
person, yet lives in certain amount of
comfort He is generally married and is
able TO maintain large family. That he
is very often in debt is a mere detail; most
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 ne
cessity. therefore. of being always on the
prowl for news does not arise.
Festina lente is his motto, and the acqui-
escence of his employers Is a sufficient ex-
cuse 10 take 1t easy. Tell him of a murder
or fire, or, in fact, any important item of
news which is TO be secured in a distant
. part of the town late at night, yet in full
time for publication. and he will calmly bid
get Ii all from the police report next day.
which Is, in his opinion, quite time enough
luI any EcdSOudDle DeiiiS 1t IS no use ar
guing the point; threat, entreaty. ridicule
and contempt are all lost on him. He wants
70 go to bed and nothing short of an earth
quake will prevent him from doing so: and
so he slumbers peacefully in the confidence
that he is safe. far as the editor is con-
cerned. for so long as the information does
not appear In rival paper. there is never
any trouble in the office.
A murder may be a week old, but the re-
porter will hand Ii in news. knowing that
Ii will be accepted as such by the sub-edit-
or, conditionally, OF course that Ii has not
appeared elsewhere. And that this condi-
ton Is present our hero takes a good cafe.
linked by Masonic oath which binds them
to an interchange of information, and an alb
solute forbearance from trying TO get the
better of each other. Hence the sameness
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-liner" OF
the present day: but in the evolution OF
time when the penny telegraph gives the
fillip to newspaper enterprise In India, he
will probably approximate more nearly to
his Fleet-street counterpart