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the-south-asian.com September 2004 |
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September
2004 Heritage
Salman
Ahmed - yet Indo-Pak TV Culture
Lifestyle
Lehngas - a limited collection Books Between
Heaven and Hell
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MAKING NEWS by Avinash Kalla
"It’s been great three and half years at the CNN," says Monita who is in India to announce the second Young Journalist Award 2004. Seeing the thundering response it got last year, the global news giant has extended the award to cover Pakistan as well. She adds, "Our endeavor is to harness talent in the subcontinent and give journalists a chance to see how CNN functions." The channel that pioneered round-the-clock news broadcasting way back in 1980 is enthused with the proliferation of news in India. Monita feels that the Indian news channels have an excellent packaging. "I’ve been surfing through the channels and most of them have great production values and the content is amazing. It’s at par with global channels," says the anchor. If the Indian channels are so great do people at CNN fear any competition? No, she says. "Our strength is international news and issues and that sets up apart." Eventful Years Her three and a half years with the Atlanta-based channel have been both eventful and exciting, says this one time prime time reporter with the Canada-based City TV. A bachelor of applied arts in radio and television from the Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto, Monita says her giant leap came when she was selected as a news anchor for CNN. In the past three years she has had several big assignments to her name - the U.S led war against terror, the Catholic Church scandal and unrest in Liberia to name a few. During the Iraq war she interviewed Presidents and Prime Ministers as also leaders of the Shi’ite Muslim political group. "To interview these international leaders has been an incredible experience. My meetings with the Mexican president Vicente Fox, Colombian President Andres Pastrana have been the best so far," says Monita. But life is not all roses for this anchor. The overwhelming praises come packed with a few charges. Some people allege she is a left wing extremist. Others maintain that since she is of Indian origin she should not show Kurds and Iranians in poor light. "I’ll answer the second charge," says Monita. "My origin has nothing to do with the kind of people I interview. That’s my job and I do my job to the best of my ability. I put forward a neutral view. And most of my information is absolutely unbiased." When she was young she aspired to be a doctor. But today nothing gives a bigger high than breaking news. "This is a very interesting job. This career has turned out to be very fulfilling. It gives me immense satisfaction." Whatever little spare time she has to herself, she likes to spend in reading, music and travelling. India is amongst her favourite destinations. "I am in love with the country and a lot of my relatives here. No one can beat the Indian hospitality," says the Hong Kong-born Monita. It’s just the odd hours at work that disturb this vivacious lady who has no set goals but knows there’s a lot more to be achieved. "I never dreamt I’ll be where I am. But since I am here I want to achieve more and more."
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