Ples Dnt Cum to Rite da IIMC tst

Gaurav Raghuvanshi (1996-97 English Journalism Program at IIMC New Delhi), started his career as a stringer for the Times of India in Lucknow while still in school. He joined IIMC soon after graduation and was the topper of his batch. He started his formal career with the Press Trust of India where he spent time both on the desk and reporting on the economy and defense. He covered the Kargil war for PTI. He then worked with Business Standard and the Hindu Business Line as a Special Correspondent in charge of coverage in Gujarat. In 2006, he joined Dow Jones Newswires in New Delhi covering macro economy. After a stint with Bloomberg in Delhi, he moved to Singapore in 2010 with the combined bureau of Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires. He now covers aviation in Southeast Asia across different platforms of WSJ. He also writes food blogs for WSJ Online. In his spare time, he volunteers for the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) or goes airplane spotting at Singapore’ Changi airport or at some Indian Air Force base. He is married with two daughters aged 7 and 5.

“The cream rises to the top, and so does the cum.”

Words of wisdom from Mr. X to a bunch of ladies and a couple of us at the exam center in Lucknow in May 1996. I had seen Mr. X visit the Times of India Lucknow once, which is why I had decided to walk over to wish him before the test. Needless, because I think I was an unnecessary irritant.

“I am debating whether to take up an offer from Times to cover UP politics or join IIMC,” our man said, before writing the test. Of course, his audience gasped in awe. And here I was, writing on what school kids could do to protect the environment and interviewing a National Defence Academy topper.

A few weeks later, I bumped into him again at the Times office. The editor had asked him to buzz off, but he told me that he had topped the IIMC entrance. Well, that must be with the 000th rank because his name wasn’t on the list and he isn’t my course-mate.

Why tell this story? Because I think it clearly portrays the reasons why he didn’t make it. Too much gas. Or, incorrect use of words (‘scum’ is what he should have used). He either didn’t know the difference, or was foolishly trying to impress the ladies. Either way, that’s not the best way to approach the test.

It’s too late for me to advise anyone on how to prepare. So, I’d highlight a few things that you need to keep in mind while writing the test. But before we start, if you can readily understand and relate to the headline of this piece, please follow the advice and don’t waste your time!

1. I write poetry, I can be a good journalist: Wrong. Journalism is more about having the ‘nose for news’ and not about being able to use flowery language to impress. Avoid that in the test. Of course, correct usage of words is important, as illustrated by Mr X’s example. There’s a question on commonly misused words. Google that and you will come across enough examples of similar sounding words or those that are incorrectly used.

2. More is better. Definitely not. IIMC doesn’t give you extra sheets of paper for a reason. Brevity is very important for a journalist. Space is at a premium in newspapers. Even in online platforms, you need to bear in mind short attention spans. You might have proof that the chief minister was leading the crowds in a riot. But if you tell that in 50th paragraph, sorry, you’d have lost me by then. Come to the point directly.

3. Awareness: Journalists are not bursting with knowledge; they are more aware. The test has GK questions that simply try to test if you have been following the news.

4. Adjectives and Cliches: Do NOT use them. Simple. Adjectives have no use or place in a news copy and so they can’t have any place in the test paper. Also, avoid repeating words. Here goes a quiz: can you spot the obvious mistakes in point number 3 above??? Let me answer: ‘Bursting with’ is a cliché. Better say ‘Journalists are not the most knowledgeable people..’ Also, the word ‘test’ can be replaced at one place by ‘exam’.

5. Please don’t use SMS language. It has no place in good writing. So, my headline above is an example of how not to write.

6. Awareness about the profession: You will invariably find one question about a journalist who’s recently been in the news. If I were to evaluate the test papers, I’d give a lot of weight to that question.

7. Show, don’t tell: If you as a journalist, or as an IIMC aspirant tell me something without backing it up, I won’t take you seriously. “Mr. xxxx is a very bad, corrupt man who deserves to go to hell.” Write that, and you can’t be a journalist. If he is bad, I don’t need you to say that, show me how he’s bad or corrupt. If he was convicted of a crime, say that. Leave the reader to make his or her judgment on whether the guy was bad or not.

8. Give Opinion only when specifically asked for. There are a few questions where they ask you to give your opinion. Say what you want to, by all means, but back it up with solid reasons. And, say it very clearly, without repeating words or points and without adjectives.

We look forward to welcome the serious journalism practitioners among you into the profession.


All the best!