Posted by Continuing on with my series revisiting the early 2000s, today I share my interview with senior independent journalist and writer Shashi Sunny. Having been in this profession for over three decades, she has a lot of insights to offer on the subject, which personally resonated with me as an independent journalist myself. You can read the other posts in this series here, and the article for which I interviewed everyone here.
Over to Shashi:
Q: Since when have you been in this profession? What are some of the magazines you have worked with?
I have been in the profession for more than three decades now. Some of the publications I have worked for are Weekly Sun, Delhi Midday Society, Savvy, Stardust, Society Interiors and People Magazine.
Q: Glossy magazines were at their peak in the early 2000s. What were some of the most memorable things you had to do for cover stories?
Cover stories in the early 2000s were over 10-15,000 words or more and involved many sittings stretched over a few days. The hardest part was getting the celebrity to say yes to the interview when they were in the news. Either I or a member of my team had to chase them and pin them down for the interview and photo session. This involved chasing them across states and at absurd timings. For instance, to get Jyotiraditya Scindia when he was fighting an election soon after the death of his father, my photographer and I had to chase him into the interiors of his constituency in Guna, Madhya Pradesh. His cavalcade moved at lightning speed, and I was left behind in a remote area in the peak of winter with the night fast approaching. It was scary since there was no sign of any habitation around and worse, no washrooms. Also, this is before the cell phone era. Luckily for me, my photographer managed a vehicle and retraced his steps till he found me.
Another interesting cover was on Rahul Gandhi. The entire bureau sourced information from wherever they could and one of our team members spent a night at a Dalit person’s hut in Amethi where Rahul was supposed to have spent the night! I think she ate the same food and drank the same water that Rahul Gandhi supposedly did but left at the first stroke of day to find a hotel room with a washroom!
Another cover story (Sushma Swaraj for Savvy) had to be done post 11 p.m. over a week because she was available only after her day’s work was done. It took a lot of persuasion and follow up to get her to agree but she was a gracious host insisting on serving dinner first and also taking care to see that one was safely dropped home after the interview.
A Savvy cover I remember, involved us setting out to Rajasthan to find a village Dalit lady Pradhan Bhawari Devi who had been gang raped by four men. With no address or connect, it was a long-winded chase till one finally found her after enquiring at many many police stations in the state!
There have been many changes in cover stories from then to now. These include much shorter copy, more emphasis on visuals and more sophisticated layouts. The stories now are confined to the issue at hand – researched back stories are rarely included.
Q: How has the nature of print journalism – especially features – changed? Was that hustle for stories better than what’s available now?
Hustling for stories then usually meant endless trips to the celebrity’s office or home or cornering them at page three parties and approaching them through their staff or a family member. I think it was better because it was done by being physically present, so by the end the journalist and the interviewee became well-acquainted with each other which made it easier to get the next story!
Q: What were some of the biggest fashion trends from that period that you feel haven’t stood the test of time?
Trends which I feel have not endured are Anarkalis, low-hung jeans for both sexes and garments designed with synthetic fabrics and embellishments. Also, clunky platform shoes and over-embellished denim jeans, jackets and skirts.
_________
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
_________
*This is not a sponsored post.
**Copyright in pictures and content belongs to nooranandchawla.com and cannot be republished or repurposed without express permission of the author. As I am a copyright lawyer by profession, infringement of any kind will invite strict legal action.
__________
Those days of print media were good. The magazines and newspapers were read with diligence and interest.Its an era that has passed. Shashi Sunny is a name that doesn’t ring a bell somehow. Thank you for talking to her and giving us an insight.She seems to have worked in all the popular magazines.
🙂
I really enjoye dthis interview with Shashi Sunny and her crisp and insightful observations. It was hard work then and I think that is the reason many journalists earned great respect too.
🙂
She’s still very active in lifestyle journalism. It takes real passion to stay relevant in today’s day and age with social media and volatile media shifts. All young journalists should read this.
Yes absolutely… thank you for introducing me to her!
Noor, you have come up with this interview just at the right time, when AI is supposedly and seemingly taking over such passionate professions as journalism. Here is the real person talking about what it actually used to be.
🙂
A compelling dive into how journalism worked in the early 2000s, when every cover story meant boots on the ground and chasing celebrities across the country. Reading this made me appreciate what it took to build stories before the digital era.
🙂
Good to read the other side of the stories. Interesting take
🙂
Really enjoyed this — such a fascinating look back at how different journalism was in the early 2000s. Shashi Sunny’s stories and hustle feel so real and grounded.
🙂
This was quite an interesting read. How journalists take efforts to get the news to us. However, sadly, some newspapers are now only for TRPs…that’s very disheartening to know. This is a wonderful series, Noor. Very nostalgic.
🙂
It was interesting to read how print journalism has evolved over the years. Nowadays celebrities and their PR seen to chase media people instead!
🙂
The meaning of Journalism has changed in last few years of time. Journalism abhi ha kya yahi sabsa bara ek sawal ha jiska jawab sayed hi kisi ka pas ho.
🙂
Being a media student we are taught about journalism and the traditional methods but this interview gave a better clarity. Thank you so much.
🙂
Good old days of print media!!! I used to love buying magazines back then
I still buy magazines!
I really enjoyed your interview — Shashi Sunny’s reflections on journalism in the early 2000s are eye-opening. Her memories of newsrooms, ethics, and the shifting media landscape are both nostalgic and deeply reflective. Great piece!
🙂
I miss those days when we used to wait for the 1st week of the month to get our magazines. Shashi Sunny is a familiar name from back than. Thank you for the memory refresh, Noor!
🙂
This was a lovely interview with shashi sunny, I loved reading the tid bids on her cover stories.
🙂
A lot of thanks for sharing such valuable and knowledgeable content. It helped me gain clear understanding and useful insights on the topic. Your effort in creating and sharing this information is highly appreciated and truly beneficial for learners like me.
🙂