From the early struggles of homegrown journalists to the modern day challenges of digital disruption, a new book ‘…And Read All Over?’ paints a picture of the media through memories and musings of those in the field.
A sequel to the book ‘In Black and White: Insiders’ Stories about the Press in Goa’, which was published in 2008, the book is divided into sections — home-grown talent, younger voices, niche spaces, views from the outside, and looking in-looking back.
Among those who have contributed are noted Mumbai-based journalist and ex-editor Olga Tellis who explains how she entered the field, and her experiences there, John Aguiar, who was a journalist from his schooldays and Julian D’Costa e D’Cruz who narrates her victories over the years.
Besides Tellis, the other outstation journalists with strong Goan links or experiences include Ayesha Kagal, Lina Mathias, Reena Martins, Adrian da Cunha, Capt. Norbert Rebello (whose family ran the community Romi Konkani ‘Cine Times’), and Olav Albuquerque. Journalists Dharmanand Kamat and Mohan Vaidya (ex-Gomantak) give their unusual insights into the field. Patricia Ann Alvares shares her freelance and fulltime journalism experiences; as does Cordelia B. Francis.
Niche spaces focussed on include column writing (Miguel Braganza), Konkani journalism (Fausto V da Costa), from journalism to books (Sheela Jaywant), alternative media (Frederick Noronha, who also edits the book), and radio (Nerita D’Cruz).
Younger journalists who share their experiences include Gerard de Souza, Anna Fernandes, Anish Esteves and Diana Fernandes.
The largest section is the “home-grown talent”, including Pamela D’Mello, Fr. Elvis H Fernandes, photographer Sandeep Naik, the late Joel D’Souza, Michael Fisher, Mayabhushan Nagvenkar, Camil Parkhe, and veteran late Mario Cabral e Sa.
Former journalists and non-journalists also share their experiences in Goa, including Debashish Munshi, Pushpa Iyengar, Gasper D’Souza, the late Ashley D’Mello (his last piece contributed here).
The book will be shortly available in local bookstores, and also via mail-order from WhatsApp.