In Conversation with Vivek Vinayak

Vivek Vinayak, an alumnus of CMS-JU, is doing wonders for himself in the Television news industry. He graduated from CMS as a Bachelor in Media Studies and is currently an anchor, news presenter and popular reporter for News9, an English news channel. Vivek completed his 10^th from Presidency School and completed his P.U in the science stream from Presidency P.U College. Thereafter he joined the BMS course at CMS-JU and has made a unique place for himself in the industry. I spoke to Vivek and interviewed him in between his extremely busy schedule (I managed to get only a 15 minute slot from him, that too on a Sunday!). Here are the excerpts:

Surya: What interested you about the media studies programme at CMS?

Vivek: I did very badly in my 2 years of PU College and realized that science was not my calling. As I researched more, I felt that media was the right fit for me and hence I decided to pursue the course. Things about the media like its unpredictability, a new challenge every day and things like that appealed to me greatly.

S: How was your college life at CMS and how did the BMS course help you achieve your goals?

V: I had a great time at CMS and I learnt a lot from the teachers and my classmates. All the extra activities and programs organized at college gave me many platforms to try out my interests. The USP of CMS is the restricted-freedom given to students to pursue their goals. It is extremely important to make use of this freedom in the right way. Some people who took advantage and misused the freedom regret it to date. I, however made sure that I used my time wisely and put in my fullest. I completely agree when the department tells us that BMS is a passion-driven course.

S: I heard you started working alongside college from the 1^st year itself? How did you manage that and how hard was it to juggle between college and work?

V: Yes, I started working from my 1^st year itself. The turning point was when a friend of mine and I won the Radio One college championship and we hosted our own radio show on 94.3 FM for about 8 months. It was at this point that I realized I was actually good at something and I wanted to learn more. I realized that I would only learn a lot more on the job and wanted to explore the industry. Therefore in the second year, I applied for a post at News9 and they wanted me to join full-time. I explained to them that I was a student and they thankfully understood. They took me in anyway and made me help out at the office, studio and on-ground as well. I loved my job and enjoyed it. While my friends were at movies, pubs and malls, I would be at an event- reporting it, or in the office scripting the next show. It’s all about your passion.

S: What are the opportunities and challenges one should keep in mind while pursuing the BMS course and aiming for a career in the industry?

V: The biggest opportunity is that it’s a vast field. Its size and reach is unimaginable and impact is huge. As long as you find the right fit, you are sorted! However, the opportunity comes with its own fallacy. Yes, the media is like an ocean, but the number of fish is too large for the ocean to handle. The number of aspirants for media jobs is huge and greatly outnumbers the jobs available. This trend is only growing stronger. Hence it becomes a threat. Unless you stand out, have a unique personality, grab every opportunity with both hands and put in your level best, it is impossible to make it in the industry. Finally, there is also definitely the luck factor- you need to be in the right place at the right time and know the right people.

S: Lastly, do you have any other words of advice for the current BMS students at CMS to excel?

V: Just enjoy yourselves guys! Have fun! By fun, I don’t mean your kind of ‘fun’. Believe me, I’ve been there. Make sure you attend classes and listen to your teachers. It makes a world of a difference! You don’t have to be a genius. Just give it your best and the department will support you no matter what! To be honest, less partying will give you a whole lot of time to do things that matter to you. Get as much experience and exposure as possible. Finally, as you are reading this interview, you must be telling yourself in the back of your head, “Please get going!”

I also spoke to Vivek’s friend and batchmate Dilip and he had this to say- “Vivek was very committed to his work and serious about his career. He was a backbencher along with me and we enjoyed a lot in college. He is very friendly and down-to-earth with a great sense of humour. He always makes it a point to spend time with us even though he has an extremely busy schedule. Also, Vivek was an excellent Toastmaster”.

I then spoke to the Head of the Media Department of CMS, Mr. Madhavan Shankaran. “Vivek was never a topper. He was very average when it came to academic performance, except in subjects like Radio and TV in which he excelled. However, when it came to practical work Vivek was the best ever. He was way above the rest of his batch. He had a pleasant charming personality and got along with everyone. He had this unique ability to gel with people from various walks of life and different backgrounds. This characteristic has helped him become a successful anchor and I am terribly proud of him”, said Mr. Madhavan S.