She started her career reporting from the United Nations with global news broadcaster CNN and holds the distinction of hosting one prime time news show with one of India’s leading news broadcasters CNN-IBN. Suhasini Haidar is a journalist with the kind of passion and dedication to work that any newcomer would do well to take inspiration from. More than success what any professional dreams is recognition in the field, especially in a profession with so direct a link with public life. Winner of the Prem Bhatia award for Best Journalist, Diplomatic and International Affairs Reporting-2015, People of the Year, Limca Book of Records-2014, Best TV News Presenter and NT Awards-2014, Suhasini Haidar, in an exclusive interview with Shambhudeep, dwells on the nitty-gritty of foreign affairs reporting
You are a leading journalist reporting on foreign policy in the country. Did you ever choose any other beat at any other stage in your career? What made you stick to foreign policy?
It is very kind of you to say this but there are several much better journalists I could mention on foreign policy who are an inspiration. I started my career at the United Nations with CNN and was always interested in international affairs. But I then moved back to India and much of my work was covering events in India and explaining them to an international audience. My interest in the subcontinent started developing back then as the CNN New Delhi bureau covered everything from Pakistan to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, countries we don’t traditionally travel to as Indians. These were years when so much happened in those countries – elections, coups, assassinations, natural disasters, terrorist acts. When I moved to CNN-IBN, foreign affairs was a natural choice, and I was fortunate to be sent on many interesting assignments from Tibet to Tripoli. And I have always been fascinated by the global impact of local issues as a result. I’ve never really considered another beat, as I have so much more to learn in this one.
How did it feel after winning the Prem Bhatia Memorial Award for Excellence in Political Reporting and Analysis? Is there anybody to whom you would like to dedicate the award to?
Journalists really do count on the esteem of one’s peers, and in that sense there is no greater honour than the Prem Bhatia award. This is because unlike many awards, there is no way of applying for the Prem Bhatia award. A committee of very senior and respected journalists decides on the names each year. To be recognised for my work in the print medium, which I joined a year ago, means a lot.
On a personal level who do you give credit for supporting you always?
My husband and family without a doubt. There is no way I could have confidently undertaken assignments that meant travelling far away, being in remote, sometimes violent, areas, often for long periods, without my husband encouraging and understanding what I do. My parents, in-laws and daughters have always given me confidence, so I’ve been very lucky, I am aware.
What are the challenges in the subcontinent for journalists reporting on foreign policy?
Over the past few years, the nature of reporting has changed, and the new conflict points have become more and more difficult for journalists, especially women journalists to cover. That said, any mission can be dangerous, and even some of the most dangerous places can be safe for journalists. Remember, more journalists die in car accidents than in targeted killings. Even so, the subcontinent is one of the most dangerous places for a journalist to work, and while one should be proud of the courage of the Indian media, we must also recognise the bravery of our colleagues in the neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, who face much more imminent threats and keep reporting.
Do you think social media is emerging as an alternative to mainstream media?
Well, many mainstream media outfits also use social media to reach maximum readers and viewers, so I don’t think it is an alternative, just one more platform for disseminating news. Eventually, what matters is how credible the product, the report, is. People won’t abandon mainstream media for social media because of this factor.
