Other side of a Journalist

Mr. G.Vijaykumar is a media person who served for broadcast and print media for almost 35 years. He being a B.Com student of Vivekananda College took up journalism as his career. Even though he is a commerce student he took part in various competitions like quiz, did many radio shows, writing competitions and many more, which made him, take up journalism in his PG.

He started of his ‘journalism career’ by joining the AIR at a young age. He worked in AIR for almost 25 years. He worked in different spheres at various stations from the level of Transmission Executive to Deputy Director. He has also done whole gamut of programmes in different formats in Tamil and English covering Health, Education, Youth, Documentaries, Music and Current affairs.

Later he moved to Sun TV, where he was in charge for English news service for 5 years. As the telecast of English news service was removed, he joined the “Mutharam” (Kungumam group), a Tamil magazine, where he was given the post of the Editor. He worked there for 3 years and now he is a part time consultant for “The Hindu” and works for AIR again!

He has interviewed top-notch personalities on subjects ranging from Politics, Economics, and Environment to NGOs’ in English and Tamil. He has also done live commentaries on these subjects. He was also the recipient of ‘Akashvani Annual Award’ for documentary on Internet in 1996.

To know his other side, we caught him and Mr. Rajendran, his good old buddy. A ‘casual talk’ at his friend’s residence, that lies at the heart of Mylapore. Vijay Kumar talks about his experiences and his friend talks about the other side of him.

When talking about his journey in media, he recalls and says working in AIR were his most memorable days. “I gained lots of experience during the long tenure in AIR at various locations in planning and production of programmes for Youth, Women and Children, Industrial workers and Centres of Higher learning”. They were thoroughly enriching and enjoyable.

His friend takes the other side. “Though he is been in media for these many years, yet he is very simple and just they he was before”, says Mr. Rajendran. There is no change in him. “Am not talking about looks!” laughs Mr. Rajendran. He still travels in bus and makes no complaint in this. He is very simple, down to earth and most humorous person of our gang. “Talk to him about any subject, he would be able to answer you”, tells Mr.Rajendran.

While Mr. Rajendran talks about him, Mr. Vijay Kumar looks curiously to find out what his buddy tells. “He is a very good entertainer, a simple human and also makes a good journalist on the whole”, adds Mr. Rajendran. That ends the play!

Well, too much of praises yet makes him a simple man!

By,

Sharanya C.R.

Post Script:

I wrote this in my 2nd yearfor my photojournalism submission. We were asked to do profile of a person. Pictures + Article. Mr. Vijay Kumar is a very good friend of my father and our family well-wisher. Thanks to him for spending his time to talk about him and those golden old days!