Actor Mammooty’s land deal: Actor Mammooty purchased 40 acres of land near Chennai in 1997. But the Commissioner of Land Administration said the land came under the State Forest Act and ordered to reclaim it. The actor obtained a stay from the Madras High Court against the take over bid, according to a Malayala Manorama report on Aug 12,2021. Please read a similar incident  involving a film star where a Journalism teacher explains to his students as to how `scoop news’ reach media houses.  Extract from the novel `News Chase' - thrills, frills & perils of news reporting.                                            

                                                         News Chase

Menon has made it a point to visit the Madras School of Journalism whenever he could snatch a few hours from his busy schedule of running the news department of India Mail.  Despite the work pressure to follow up the airport blast story, he chose to visit the school, as the date was fixed a few weeks ago.

He knew that all students would be there waiting for him. His unconventional approach to the subject, sense of humour, experience, depth of knowledge, and excellent analytical presentation were a big hit with the students.

While other teachers mostly relied on narratives read elsewhere, Menon regaled the students with fresh, challenging personal news stories, and a message that its moral, should be burnt into their soul.

He thought of telling the students about the ‘scorpion sting’ story in the India Mail, and how it led to the dismissal of a young reporter Ramkumar. It highlighted the perils of field reporting. He knew it could be presented with terrific impact, so that some of the future reporters in the classroom would recall Ramku effect, before releasing any major news report.

He wanted to impress upon them the need to check, cross check and make sure the authenticity of anything that they reported. This would add up to the writer’s personal rating and publications credibility.

‘Always bear in mind that accuracy, brevity, clarity and speed should be the basic tenets of a good news writer. If in doubt, ignore it. Better safe than be sorry,’ was his standing warning to students and trainee cub reporters on news reporting.

Menon scouted for talent, while addressing journalism classes. India Mail required trainee reporters.

As he was about to begin his address based on the ‘scorpion sting’ story, he suddenly remembered the home work that was given to the students. During his previous visit, Menon had taken with him a copy of the tabloid ‘People’s Voice’ – a publication of the ruling political party. It carried a dozen large colour pictures of the birth day celebration of the State chief minister.

After handing over the tabloid to Robin Som, he had asked the students to read it carefully, and come prepared with their observations, and comments in writing.

Menon gazed at the students, and remarked: ‘I guess from your faces that you are eager to voice your comments about the home work.’

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The students nodded excitedly, and Robin got up with a piece of paper in hand. Looking into the paper, he read: ‘Sir, I find a large number of  members of parliament and state assembly, police officers, bureaucrats, film artistes  and ordinary people in the long queues to greet the  chief minister. The pictures were taken in poor light, and wrong angle. They appear to be rapid shots. The faces of several people are not clear. Display bad.’

Menon nodded, and asked for the opinions different from what they had just heard.

The opinions were as varied, as the number of students. Some said the busy chief minister  of a state was wasting his time, bureaucrats had no business to brazenly show their loyalty, vulgar display of political hero worship, abject attempts to curry favours, and misuse of  newsprint.

It was while getting up to make his own comments that Menon spotted Jayaseeli, seated on the rear row, appeared hesitating whether she should speak.

‘Yes Jaya. What is it? I am sure it is something different from what your classmates had just said.’

All eyes turned to Jayaseeli. She got up slowly, and began in a small voice:  ‘Sir. In fact, this is the opinion of my Dad, working for the revenue department. We stay on the East Coast Road, close to the sea.’

‘Spare me the details. Never mind where you live. Does it have anything to do with the picture?’ he asked.

‘I guess so, sir. I spotted a film actor in the picture, standing with a huge bouquet. My father said the actor had purchased vast tracts of land close to the sea at very low rates.          Later, it was found out that most of it was government land, and in no building zone. Some unscrupulous real estate agent had sold it to the actor showing fake documents.

My Dad thinks probably the actor was trying to bring his case before the chief minister for some sort of settlement,’ Jayaseeli said.

‘Good,’ Menon waved her to sit down. ‘Please convey my congrats to your Dad. Without knowing it, he has given you the lead for a news scoop. Nice that you shared it with us all.’

After a brief pause, Menon continued: ‘Now my friends… before I tell you more about it, you would have noticed the somewhat rude way I responded to Jayaseeli. Sorry.

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Some news sources might be intimidated or put off with such an attitude, and you might end up losing a good story. Patience gives rich dividends in this job.

I hope you would have heard of our sister publication, Movie Mail. Its reporter KPS Prasad too thought the way Jaya’s Dad did. Prasad found out that the actor had purchased 50 acres of land that came under the restricted coastal zone, where no one was allowed to build, buy or sell land. After learning that he was duped, the actor demanded his money back.

The agent refused.

The actor could not file a police complaint, as the money was unaccounted and the transaction illegal. His friend and film public relations officer Sundar Raj suggested that if he would bring the matter to the chief minister’s attention, it could be easily settled.

The actor could not get an audience with the chief minister. The matter was already brought to his notice through party grapevine. The real estate agent concerned was an active party worker.

So the actor stood in the queue, and requested help while handing over the bouquet.

Next day, the circle secretary of the party summoned the actor to the party office, and returned a quarter of the money collected.  The secretary said the actor and his ilk brought a bad name to the government. They influenced people to make such fraudulent deals, and later went around complaining about it.

He should consider himself lucky, as the chief minister pitied him, and used his good office to ensure that the actor got at least a part of the money.

The actor listened to the sermon with an apologetic face.

Knowing well that no police complaint could be given, the secretary advised him, contempt in his voice and attitude: ‘we can get the culprit arrested, and recover the full amount, if you would lodge a complaint with the police.’

Thanking him, the actor made a small donation to the party fund and drove away, vowing never again invest money on land.’

The students remained engrossed, as if listening to a movie script.  Menon knew from the student’s reaction that the actor story was hit news.

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Robin Som got up and asked: ‘Sir. This is a very interesting news story. What will happen if one of us right away sells this story to some news magazine?’

Menon reached for the glass of water, sipped, and remained thoughtful.

He could see anxious faces in front of him. The students knew Menon had prematurely let out a good news story.

Flashing a buoyant smile Menon said: ‘I am proud of you friends. If someone had not asked this question, I would have been truly disappointed. If it will be of some consolation to you, may I briefly tell you how the news publication system worked?’

The students happily nodded.

‘Let us assume Robin is a part time contributor to some news publication. Even if he manages to produce a convincing report based on my disclosure, the first question any experienced editor asks him would be for the supporting documents. No documents with Robin.

As the reputation of a popular actor is involved, no editor would risk publishing it without back up documents.  Wrong reports can dent the publication’s credibility, besides leading to heavy libel, and damage suits.’

The students were listening keenly.

‘Incidentally, may I suggest you, aspiring journalists, to read sections 499 to 502 of the Indian Penal Code. It deals with defamation and libel. All defamatory statements, when published become libel, which is a civil and criminal offence. A thorough understanding of it is essential for all journalists.’

`And finally’, Menon continued: ‘It is already past 7 pm now. Overcoming all these hurdles, will you be able to get this story published, Robin?’

There was total silence.

‘Now,’ Menon continued with a smile. ‘Someone can use this tip off, if he gets a couple of days to check up the veracity of this story.  As an experienced newsman, I was aware of it. So I came with the copy of the party tabloid only after the Movie Mail was ready to hit the market with this story, along with a special box news carrying an interview with the actor on the land deal.’

Everyone in the class appeared relieved.

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Menon continued, this time in an edgy voice: ‘Fortunately for me, none among you had seen it. As journalism students, you ought to be more alert about news items breaking out in all publications in your area. I am not holding this lapse against you, because Movie Mail does not have much readership here. Most of the copies are sent to film personnel by post.’

Silence hung heavily in the class room.

‘Now, tell me my dear students,’ Menon began his concluding remarks. ‘What did you learn from our discussions today?’

‘The need for critical observation of everything happening around us, with an eye for news’, the students chorused.

‘Yes. You did pick up the essence of my message,’ Menon continued: ‘Be interested in people, no matter how, rich, powerful or poor they may be, because they are all excellent news sources.  Despite all my years of experience, I might have failed to notice the actor, had I been looking at those pictures. Cinema is not my preferred turf.

I casually told our cinema reporter that the person in the picture looked familiar. Had I been friendly with Jaya’s Dad, probably he would have alerted me about the actor’s land deal.  And remember, everyone likes to hear real scandals, especially about the rich and famous.’

The students looked at Jaya, who was all smiles.

‘One more point I would like to share with you before I dismiss the class. Specialists swoop on scoops more often these days. If our cinema correspondent had not seen that picture, the actor story would never have come out. He had known the actor as someone highly self-centered, stingy, and a loner.

The moment cine specialist Prasad saw the picture, it set him thinking. Why should such a person stand in the open with common folks, holding a bouquet?’

The result was the ‘scoop’.

‘Can you give us another example, Sir,’ Robin eagerly asked.

There was a long pause while Menon thought.

‘Yes. Two reports readily come to my mind. One is the failed suicide attempt of an aging Tamil film star. The other one, I am recalling from memory, was a global scoop.

Please do not quote me on it.

The science and technology reporter of a leading American newspaper had spotted separate advertisements from the US Army in three newspapers.

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It wanted large supply of two types of gases, and spherical containers with two airtight compartments.  Aware of the deadly impact of the gases, if mixed, the reporter made discreet inquiries and found out that it was part of a secret attempt to develop nerve gas – an item banned in modern warfare.  He published it, forcing the Army to drop the plan.

As you may know perhaps, according to the Geneva Protocol 1925, anything that causes asphyxiation, poisoning or bacteriological infection is banned in modern warfare.’

The students appeared more eager to know about the aging film star, and cried: ‘who is the film actor, Sir?’

To heighten the suspense, Menon slowly picked up the glass and began sipping water, while the students moved to the edge of their chairs.

‘I am surprised that you do not recall his name,’ Menon said with a note of disappointment in his voice. ‘It happened hardly five years ago, and was widely published. Being journalism students, you must have long memories.’

‘Sir, please...’ the students persisted.

As if disclosing a family secret with great reluctance, Menon said: ‘The name is not important. We are discussing how specialists zero in on scoops from innocuous looking incidents and conversations. Here we go.

One evening, we got the tip off from a film Public Relations Officer that a senior actor got injured on the neck. He reportedly fell into a construction site ditch near his house, and injured himself.

Our crime and film reporters rushed to the spot. Actor Gemi....sorry, the actor was seated on a chair with a bandage around his neck. He appeared dishevelled, and was haltingly narrating how he fell into the ditch having protruding iron rods, and one iron rod scraped through the left side of his neck. Our crime reporter had a hunch. Please remember: hunches also are part of reporters business.

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