A number of our colleagues had asked for leave on Valentine’s Day. It is but natural, and we did try and accommodate every request. As a result, some of the more senior members of the team had to work longer hours and step up. And that’s what brings me to the issue of our profession, and the rigour it entails.
Stories or news don’t break at any designated time. It can happen at any time and anywhere, and it is the job of the journalist to be on guard. The BCCI, for example, sent the team announcement for the Champions Trophy at 11:20pm, and one had to go live immediately thereafter. It is unfortunate, but the truth is if you want to be a good sports journalist, you will hardly ever have a family life or me-time as we like to call it. Work-life balance is a real challenge, and it is especially tough for a young reporter.
We at RevSportz, given the strength of the company at the moment, have managed to navigate this quite well. Having said that, there are times when you have to give up on everything and just prioritise work. For example, our work starts when the match ends. Soon after the India-Pakistan match gets over in Dubai, we will have to do our lives. Simultaneously, the copies need to be filed, and the features need to be done as well. At the same time, the next day’s coverage will have to be thought of. It is a never-ending cycle, and you move on from one newsbreak or story to another.
That’s where fatigue creeps in. You feel jaded and tired. But then, that’s the challenge. A good story is the lure, and just like a batter or bowler wants to continue the red-hot form, it is the same for a journalist. When the going is great and you have done a string of good stories, you just don’t step off the pedal.
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
Many feel that when you are on tour, you are indeed having a great time. As if Australia is all about time spent on Bondi beach, or London about sitting and chilling next to the Thames. The truth is you hardly get to go to Bondi during a game, or sit and have a cup of coffee next to the London Eye looking up at Sourav Ganguly’s apartment!
Days go by in a jiffy when you are on tour, and that’s the reality. And yet, we want to do what we do. That’s because we love it. We love to write and do lives, break stories and analyse sport. For me, personally, the greatest joy is to see the team grow. Four of my reporters leave for Dubai today, and each will come back a better journalist three weeks from now. That we have been able to give people such an opportunity is a big thing for us.
We received more than 100 internship applications for the Conclave, and students from across India wanted to join us. That’s the deepest satisfaction. The difference, or rather the disruption, we have made in the domain is now noticeable, and we aren’t stopping anytime in the future. So what if we have to work on Valentine’s Day!
Also Read: Richa Ghosh’s Blazing Knock Powers RCB to Record WPL Chase