From our Archives – Issue No 71 November 15, 2004
FIVE years may be a wink in the vast canvas of time but it becomes a milestone in the history of a newspaper.
Five years that brought with them challenges, hardships, struggle, mishaps and a mixed bag of bouquets and brickbats.
Five years of constant battle with the ends, to make them meet, so that a publication keeps ticking in its attempts to reach it readers.
Five years of anxiety coupled by excitement and despair, accompanied by hope.
Five years of professional pursuit to reach up to the expectations of its audience.
These short five years seem like a millennium for a small community newspaper that ventured out of the mind of a sole individual whose penchant for the media industry played with a passion for marketing.
Unheard voices
It all began in the Spring of 1999 when there was not a publication around to speak for the growing Indian community.
There were voices that were never heard.
There were concerns, issues and matters that existed but never raised.
Simply because there was no platform to allow a dialogue to take place and for exchange of information and experience.
And then appeared an individual who dared to act. A one-man army that was prepared to launch, lead and sustain a campaign with a sense of purpose.
There was no bank balance or venture capital to speak of, there was no one willing to lend an ear for the project, leave alone lend money but there were plenty of people to run down the idea.
And the failure of the Auckland Star that year did not help either to boost one’s morale or assuage the feelings of those who were apprehensive of the concept.
“It will never work.”
“You are wasting your time.”
“Who will read your newspaper?”
As the sound of the detractors and doomsayers became loud, the determination to launch the product and allow for public reaction grew even stronger.
The idea had already begun to grow into action.
People who never tried would never know if they would fail or succeed.
Unchartered Waters
For more than 15 years, this newspaper was edited and published from an obtuse surroundings of an East Auckland home, with each issue planned to promote journalistic ethics and publishing standards.
The first issue, a Diwali special, released in September 1999 was to test the waters and evaluate the market potential and response.
It was a prelude to the launch of a regular publication.
The special issue was priced NZ$2.
The pessimists had their field day; the response to the special issue was not exactly overwhelming but not sufficient for any entrepreneur to enter the media world, given its specialties and risks.
But this was not ‘any entrepreneur.’
The launch issue hit the market in November 1999, carrying with it some copies of the Diwali Special as a gift.
The first issue of Indian Newslink was a much discussed topic.
Nonstarter Issue
There were a few who encouraged its continuation and many who still considered it a nonstarter.
It was not long before they were proved utterly and depressingly wrong.
The market seemed to have accepted the product but a number of challenges remained.
For, producing a newspaper, aiming to institute itself as the voice of the community was not easy. It required resources – financial, no less human, with all the attendant issues of marketing, production, printing and distribution.
There was no competition but erstwhile efforts of some to publish a community newspaper had fallen into troubled waters, enough to dissuade similar attempts.
And yet there was no looking back.
Despite the challenges, even problems that at times appeared insurmountable, the newspaper rolled on, month after month, carrying news, reports, events and developments that either affected or appealed to the larger Indian community.
There were indubitably moments of despair but never a throw of hands.
Because we wanted to be counted.
As Indian Newslink began to evince reader and advertiser interest, one issue was of serious concern and discussion.
How to sustain reader interest? Was it enough if the newspaper was a give away? What about the duty owed to advertisers who had reposed faith in the individual who had invested his meager savings into the project?
Indelible Responsibility
Responsibility-that’s what perhaps distinguished Indian Newslink then and now.
From its inception, one objective was clear: there must be integrity, transparency and honesty in all operations and the publication should stand the test of market scrutiny.
The first year came and went, so did the second, bringing with it increasing market support, accentuated by advertisers and readers.
And then disaster struck.
The Great Fire
November 11, 2001 was the day when the offices of the publication were gutted by a merciless fire that raged through the precincts.
Everything perished-computers and computer equipment, software, newspapers, documents-three years of hard work reduced to ashes in less than three hours.
Everything went up in smoke.
Except our determination and the will to carry on relentlessly in our professional pursuit.
Less than 24 hours later, we were back in action, with the work station shifting from place to place every 24 hours, giving way for loss adjustment officials, builders, painters and others to do their job.
Indian Newslink was released on schedule, thanks to the cooperation of the then production team.
But 11/11 became a nightmare in our thoughts.
That was almost three years ago.
Today, the newspaper wears a new look-smarter, stronger and more responsive to the needs of the community.
It has been a journey characterised by a mixture of rough and smooth rides, success and failure and achievements and drawbacks. The one has instilled in us a spirit of fortitude and the other a sense of humility.
For it is in adversity that we look for prosperity; it is darkness that leads us towards light and challenges that take us to opportunities which in turn make us achievers.
Five years may be too soon to judge the effectiveness of a publication.
Five years may be too soon to say if it has touched the hearts of the people.
Five years may be too soon to say if it has begun to reflect their thoughts.
Five years may be too soon to say if it has arrived or not.
Five years is certainly not too soon to celebrate.
Because there is someone out there who caused it all.
You, dear Reader.
