Many people say that learning media and practicing them, are two different things. I always wonder what it meant; but things became clearer after my internship with NDTV Bangalore. NDTV is a media house who houses all my role models like Prannoy Roy and Barkha Dutt and now interning there for a month was a dream come true for me.

On 1st of December 2009, I nervously stepped in. I did not want to say something foolish, hence preferred to be a keen listener and observer asking questions only that seemed sensible. I guess my feelings were well understood. I was given a very kind welcome, a warm and informal introduction and was allowed to explore the office. It took little time for me to be acquainted with the set up there. It’s like I knew these people all my life.

The CAT exam issue was high on the agenda when I joined NDTV, and the very first day I was sent to collect opinions. It was an overwhelming feeling to hold the mike that I always dreamed of. My nervousness disappeared as I realized that everyone took me seriously because of the NDTV tag.

After the first day, I don’t know how, the days flew by. Every day was a new learning experience. I have met top politicians and simple street hawkers. Visited almost every 5-star hotel in Bangalore and also a stinking dump yard. Met a group of villagers who questioned the top agricultural scientists and also met the miraculous baby survivor who was thrown in a drain. It was a life of variety and I loved every day, every moment as it meant meeting new people and learning new things.

My very kind mentors Bureau chief Maya Sharma and Reporters Vasanthi Hariprakash and Mokshada Batra taught me how to keep my eyes open and ears sharp, how to play with words to come out with an interesting PTC (Piece to Camera) and how to question and cross question so that no information is missed out. I was also well trained in the technical side with sessions in camera handling and editing and was also given opportunities to be a first hand reporter and cover news stories. The one minute news bulletin we see in TV has a day and an entire team’s work behind it and meeting deadlines is an art as you have them every day.

My one month internship in the fourth estate was truly an enriching experience. It is a wonderful learning opportunity as a student, a stepping stone for my journalistic career and most importantly it taught me a lesson that being in a media industry you cannot predict where you will be the next hour or day. Like Lord Baden Powell’s Motto we have to "Be Prepared".

Sandhya D’Souza
Student II MCMS
St. Aloysius College
Mangalore