Editorial Viewpoint
The Jamé remake
A change of guard at news publishing houses is normally of interest only to media circles and a few civic minded citizens. But when the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly announced that longtime editor Rusi Dhondy was “retiring” and would be replaced by freelance journalist Shernaaz Engineer, the community grapevine was humming with speculation.
Had the paper been sold? Would the publication now become a mouthpiece for the orthodox cause? Would the offensive fortnightly WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis) Page now shift from the Free Press Journal to the Jamé? Would dissenting Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Noshir Dadrawala’s pieces continue to appear in the weekly? Would the Alert Zoroastrians Association (AZA), the Association of Inter Married Zoroastrians (AIMZ) and the Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism (ARZ), or the three Zs as they are often referred to, continue to find space in the bilingual English-Gujarati tabloid? Would the vernacular language content be whittled down? And so on.
Normally established publications follow a consistent editorial policy. Readers, advertisers and competing media houses expect publications to have a particular slant. Changing the policy could endanger the paper’s economics and readership as traditional supporters may move away and new ones may not follow.
Thus when media tycoon Rupert Murdoch took over The Wall Street Journal in 2007 he was at pains to point out the editorial content and policies of the previous owners would continue. After paying a handsome price to acquire one of the most prestigious papers in the world he didn’t want the paper to lose any of its international standing and luster. He may resuscitate financially distressed publications by popularizing the content but many people believe his cure is worse than the illness. Whether the business daily continues to be highly regarded or not is to be seen.
So why is it in the Parsi community that publishers change their editorial stance? Under the editorship of Jehan Daruwala The Bombay Samachar followed a liberal editorial policy for the community. When author and reporter Marzban Giara handled the Parsi Tari Arsi column some years ago he gave it an orthodox tilt. In his recent report on the 9th World Zoroastrian Congress for the Samachar, he observed that “several Parsis, especially girls and ladies do not wear a proper sudreh — which is made of nine parts — and (instead) display their anatomy. The celebrity actress (Parizad Kolah-Marshall) who compered the show and the dance troupe did not appear to be wearing sudrehs. Without posing to be a moral policeman, one wonders what role models are we portraying before our youths?”
When solicitor and onetime Samachar editorial assistant Berjis Desai replaced Giara, the column reverted to its liberal stance. In his Samachar column of January 17, 2010 Desai termed Engineer’s appointment a “devastating coup” orchestrated by the orthodox. From the Cama family that owns the Samachar, which incidentally is the fourth oldest in the world, Muncherji is orthodox, his brother Hormusji is middle-of-the-road and their cousin Mehli, is liberal.
Under the ownership of the Murzban and Jeejeebhoy families the Jamé was a staunchly orthodox paper. Once the Ardeshir Dubash family took over the reins, the paper followed a liberal stance as its editor Dhondy shifted from orthodoxy to a more open and inclusive policy. Dubash, whose mother was a Murzban, believes in leaving the editorial policy of the paper to its editors.
Thus Engineer has reportedly been granted a free hand and a promise of no editorial interference from the owners/publishers. In the first issue under her stewardship the page carrying letters from readers stated “Dignified debate lays the foundation for informed thought in a civilized and democratic society. This is a platform for readers to exchange views, within the framework of courtesy.”
Amongst the four letters published, two were critical of those who opposed the ban by the BPP on two priests from performing religious ceremonies at Doongerwadi and two fire temples controlled by the premier trust. Engineer explained to the Mumbai Mirror correspondent Manoj Nair that “To read politics into ‘Letters to the Editor’ is uncalled for.” She stated the letters were “the only ones received on the topic.” There is no doubt that her objectivity will be sorely put to the test.
While editors may have a point of view they wish to propagate, their impartiality and sense of fair play is dependent on their willingness to give differing beliefs a forum.
Engineer is a professional journalist who started her career with the Afternoon Despatch and Courier founded by the late Behram Contractor or Busybee as he was popularly referred to on account of the column he penned under that name. She then successfully freelanced for several publications, edited a magazine on the Sindhi community, authored a book or two and most recently was consulting editor of the BPP Review which is to be made into a monthly.
Her shift to the Jamé means that the BPP Review will be in search of another consulting editor. When there is a dearth of talented Parsi journalists who are willing to work on community publications, such headhunting can be a frustrating exercise.
And perhaps this is the heart of the matter why Parsi publications change their editorial stance. The proprietors have a very small pool to select from. Papers can either do without an editor, the way atash behrams function without a high priest or they employ people with differing points of view.
But how much influence do community publications wield? Is the WAPIZ Page or the BPP Review both of which claim free circulations of 14,000 and upward more influential than say Parsiana which prints less than 4,000 copies or the Jamé which has a higher circulation, both of which are paid for by subscribers?
In the last elections The Bombay Samachar, the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly and Parsiana favored the liberal panel of candidates. Yet the orthodox slate won. Former prime minister Indira Gandhi gagged the Press during her infamous emergency from June 1975 to March 1977. The radio and television stations were then owned by government. When the elections were held in March 1977 she and her party lost. Does this mean the Press is irrelevant or of little import?
The public reads the newspapers and magazines for information, for alternative viewpoints and to gain an understanding of current developments. Seldom does the media change people’s political, religious or social leanings. Readers’ outlooks are molded more by events and the deeds of their leaders. That is why politicians, the bureaucracy, the police and others are so sensitive to what is written about them.
As more and more people turn away from the printed word, as is happening in the West, or the number of readers diminish, as in the Zoroastrian context, a publisher and editor’s job become that much more onerous. We can only wish the Jamé and its new editor luck in their endeavor to give professional journalistic coverage to a shrewd, perceptive and demanding readership.
In a community where most institutions are struggling to survive, any organization that seeks to revitalize itself should be given every encouragement to do so.
Had the paper been sold? Would the publication now become a mouthpiece for the orthodox cause? Would the offensive fortnightly WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis) Page now shift from the Free Press Journal to the Jamé? Would dissenting Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Noshir Dadrawala’s pieces continue to appear in the weekly? Would the Alert Zoroastrians Association (AZA), the Association of Inter Married Zoroastrians (AIMZ) and the Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism (ARZ), or the three Zs as they are often referred to, continue to find space in the bilingual English-Gujarati tabloid? Would the vernacular language content be whittled down? And so on.
Normally established publications follow a consistent editorial policy. Readers, advertisers and competing media houses expect publications to have a particular slant. Changing the policy could endanger the paper’s economics and readership as traditional supporters may move away and new ones may not follow.
Thus when media tycoon Rupert Murdoch took over The Wall Street Journal in 2007 he was at pains to point out the editorial content and policies of the previous owners would continue. After paying a handsome price to acquire one of the most prestigious papers in the world he didn’t want the paper to lose any of its international standing and luster. He may resuscitate financially distressed publications by popularizing the content but many people believe his cure is worse than the illness. Whether the business daily continues to be highly regarded or not is to be seen.
So why is it in the Parsi community that publishers change their editorial stance? Under the editorship of Jehan Daruwala The Bombay Samachar followed a liberal editorial policy for the community. When author and reporter Marzban Giara handled the Parsi Tari Arsi column some years ago he gave it an orthodox tilt. In his recent report on the 9th World Zoroastrian Congress for the Samachar, he observed that “several Parsis, especially girls and ladies do not wear a proper sudreh — which is made of nine parts — and (instead) display their anatomy. The celebrity actress (Parizad Kolah-Marshall) who compered the show and the dance troupe did not appear to be wearing sudrehs. Without posing to be a moral policeman, one wonders what role models are we portraying before our youths?”
When solicitor and onetime Samachar editorial assistant Berjis Desai replaced Giara, the column reverted to its liberal stance. In his Samachar column of January 17, 2010 Desai termed Engineer’s appointment a “devastating coup” orchestrated by the orthodox. From the Cama family that owns the Samachar, which incidentally is the fourth oldest in the world, Muncherji is orthodox, his brother Hormusji is middle-of-the-road and their cousin Mehli, is liberal.
Under the ownership of the Murzban and Jeejeebhoy families the Jamé was a staunchly orthodox paper. Once the Ardeshir Dubash family took over the reins, the paper followed a liberal stance as its editor Dhondy shifted from orthodoxy to a more open and inclusive policy. Dubash, whose mother was a Murzban, believes in leaving the editorial policy of the paper to its editors.
Thus Engineer has reportedly been granted a free hand and a promise of no editorial interference from the owners/publishers. In the first issue under her stewardship the page carrying letters from readers stated “Dignified debate lays the foundation for informed thought in a civilized and democratic society. This is a platform for readers to exchange views, within the framework of courtesy.”
Amongst the four letters published, two were critical of those who opposed the ban by the BPP on two priests from performing religious ceremonies at Doongerwadi and two fire temples controlled by the premier trust. Engineer explained to the Mumbai Mirror correspondent Manoj Nair that “To read politics into ‘Letters to the Editor’ is uncalled for.” She stated the letters were “the only ones received on the topic.” There is no doubt that her objectivity will be sorely put to the test.
While editors may have a point of view they wish to propagate, their impartiality and sense of fair play is dependent on their willingness to give differing beliefs a forum.
Engineer is a professional journalist who started her career with the Afternoon Despatch and Courier founded by the late Behram Contractor or Busybee as he was popularly referred to on account of the column he penned under that name. She then successfully freelanced for several publications, edited a magazine on the Sindhi community, authored a book or two and most recently was consulting editor of the BPP Review which is to be made into a monthly.
Her shift to the Jamé means that the BPP Review will be in search of another consulting editor. When there is a dearth of talented Parsi journalists who are willing to work on community publications, such headhunting can be a frustrating exercise.
And perhaps this is the heart of the matter why Parsi publications change their editorial stance. The proprietors have a very small pool to select from. Papers can either do without an editor, the way atash behrams function without a high priest or they employ people with differing points of view.
But how much influence do community publications wield? Is the WAPIZ Page or the BPP Review both of which claim free circulations of 14,000 and upward more influential than say Parsiana which prints less than 4,000 copies or the Jamé which has a higher circulation, both of which are paid for by subscribers?
In the last elections The Bombay Samachar, the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly and Parsiana favored the liberal panel of candidates. Yet the orthodox slate won. Former prime minister Indira Gandhi gagged the Press during her infamous emergency from June 1975 to March 1977. The radio and television stations were then owned by government. When the elections were held in March 1977 she and her party lost. Does this mean the Press is irrelevant or of little import?
The public reads the newspapers and magazines for information, for alternative viewpoints and to gain an understanding of current developments. Seldom does the media change people’s political, religious or social leanings. Readers’ outlooks are molded more by events and the deeds of their leaders. That is why politicians, the bureaucracy, the police and others are so sensitive to what is written about them.
As more and more people turn away from the printed word, as is happening in the West, or the number of readers diminish, as in the Zoroastrian context, a publisher and editor’s job become that much more onerous. We can only wish the Jamé and its new editor luck in their endeavor to give professional journalistic coverage to a shrewd, perceptive and demanding readership.
In a community where most institutions are struggling to survive, any organization that seeks to revitalize itself should be given every encouragement to do so.
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From the archive