Why I Love To Hate <i>Outlook</i>

I have been subscribing to Outlook right from its inception. Why did I never stop reading it? Because I like the outlook of Outlook. Each magazine has its own way of presenting current issues, reforms, stories, scams and other happenings; each correspondent has his/her own perceptions. Outlook has a different angle to general news. On any given day, I’d rather go with the perceptions of Outlook. A lot depends on the angle from which something is perceived. Quite often, I agree with the views expressed by the magazine, but that is not to say that I agree with every word in the magazine. I am not a political analyst but I have seen that the personal bias of the correspondent does come in; after all, each author, writer, correspondent has an independent mind. Even then, a lot depends on the editor to give the correct slant. I don’t think there is much editorial interference in writing because it is evident how each writer has a unique style and how the styles vary from one another. That is why it is very interesting to read, since the magazine does not follow any one pattern.

But there is something I’m unhappy about. I think earlier, Outlook had more space for the performing arts, and now it has completely shrunk. What is also irritating and a little unfair is that the last pages have so much glamour, glitz and Bollywood. Is that really the stuff that you want to offer to already saturated readers? Your space is precious; it should be used for more positive, more enlightening and more uplifting issues. There is almost no space given to indepth articles on artistes. One more thing: I don’t see many female faces in the magazine, that is if you see from the beginning to the end, they don’t even form one-third. I think there should be more reporting on women’s issues. There needs to be more representation of women’s issues and women’s photographs. It is the visuals that make a big difference.

I particularly like the satirical columns by V. Gangadhar. There has to be wit and humour, it can’t be straight news all the time. And I think Outlook has that quotient. I wish Outlook many more years of bold, creative, interesting writing.

People may not remember the kings and emperors, but the names of great dancers and musicians are still living. So it is the civilisational culture which is being overlooked more and more. I would like that to come back.  It is smart in terms of design, the cover as well as the short text with it. The art of copywriting is in how succinctly the message is conveyed with few words on the cover. Outlook is doing good journalism, that’s why it’s stayed 20 years in business. It is not easy when there are so many new publications cropping up and people have such wide choice. But I only hope that Outlook starts a useful and necessary section on the arts and I hope they begin with me. Art is moving to the periphery. There is only films, cricket and politics; that is no balance. If you keep giving junk food, you can’t complain that the society is obese.

Dr Sonal Mansingh, Indian classical dancer and Padma Vibhushan Sonal Mansingh is a cultural icon and guru

Outlook invites readers to take part in its 20th anniversary celebrations. Send us your bouquets and, more importantly, your brickbats. E-mail your entry to editor [AT] outlookindia [DOT] com