a neighbourhood newspaper with
dedicated social spirit
v Manoj Joy, editor and publisher, Velachery Plus,
a neighbourhood newspaper in Chennai, is a man of many interests. In conversation with Janani Rajeswari S,
Manoj briefs about the journey of the paper from print to online, innovations and much more.
V Manoj Joy
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Chennai is where V Manoj Joy?s heart is, as most of his childhood was spent here. But Manoj?s connection with the print medium began when he quit his 18-year service in the Merchant Navy in 2001. ?I started a magazine called Waves for sailors from the merchant Navy, which was freely circulated. I was never looking at becoming a newspaper man,? he says. The inspiration came from his friend, Vincent D'souza, editor of Mylapore Times and Adyar Times (two other neighbourhood newspapers in Chennai).
?For nearly two years, the page design and layout activities of Waves were done at the Mylapore Times office. So, I got a chance to see how a neighbourhood paper works. What inspired me was how Vincent was helping the community through his
papers,? he adds.
Manoj moved to Puzhithivakam (Velachery area) a few years later. ?While my house was being constructed, I saw how the area around Velachery was developing. Thus, I struck upon the idea of starting a neighbourhood newspaper,? he says.
The time spent in the merchant navy ensured Manoj travel a lot. This gave him a chance to see various neighbourhood newspapers. In European countries, neighbourhood papers are extremely powerful and focus on hard core journalism. I observed their style of reporting,? says Manoj.
Thus, Velachery Plus was born in February 2005 and was initially circulated in
Velachery, Madipakkam and Nanganallur. Generally an 8-page weekend newspaper, Velachery Plus brings our nearly 12 pages during festival season.
He reminisces how there were hardly any restaurants in Velachery, unlike today. However, Nanganallur was indeed the most happening place of the areas. ?There were many residential associations that were extremely active and many temples situated in the area. This meant there were dance programmes, kutcheris (music concerts), temple kumbabhishekams and even
maamis selling homemade appalams and idlis,? he adds.
He says that the advantage that community papers have over mainstream newspapers
is the possibility of writing on nuanced issues. Mainstream would rather focus on the area in general.
The challenge was to include different sections without replicating news from the mainstream papers. The newspaper covers various issues relating to the areas such as civic problems, crime, events and so on. Manoj says that there have been stories with immediate impact too.
?We made sure it is sent to the local police stations, electricity board and so on every week once it got published,? he adds.
Interestingly, there is a section called
?Know your neighbours? in an era where people hardly get time to interact with people around.
?We try to feature people who could be inspiring and focus on their roots, their background and of course, their struggles,? he explains. He recalls the story of a flower vendor who struggles to make her children study with her daily wages.
?After reading her story people might stop haggling while buying flowers from her,? he adds.
Yet another section looks at tracing the history of the area around Velachery. ?How many people know that people were sitting and catching fishes years ago in the place that is now replaced by buildings,? he quips.
?Nooks? section uncovers how Velachery area has become self- and is buzzing with commercial activities. ?Earlier, there were no big names in Velachery. But everything is available today,? he adds.
Manoj admits to enjoying the work. In 2006 and 2007, Velachery Plus organized Christmas celebrations with a Santa Claus who went around Velachery in a car. As part of the event, readers could send gifts to their children through Santa Claus by registering themselves before a month. The route map of Santa?s journey was published in the paper in advance.
?The only condition was that readers should also provide a gift to a poor child in the area. As Santa passed in the car, he handed out gifts to the poor children in the area and other children of the readers. It was astonishing that some of the readers contributed nearly five gifts for poor children. It was indeed a moment to cherish,? he says. Madipakam and Nanganallur continue to thrive when it comes to cultural events, he admits. He has also conducted events for senior citizens.
Over the years, the advent of IT professionals in the area has completely changed the scene for Velachery Plus.
?I realized that I could confine myself to
the web edition in this IT belt,? says Manoj. The recession period also forced Velachery Plus to go completely online nearly three years ago. Manoj recalls how business collapsed during the period in Velachery and he was not immune to it.
?During that period, I did not want to disappear from the scene. But after the recession period, I didn?t really want to get back to the print medium. I received suggestions from my readers on why I should not start an online edition,? he adds. This garnered a great response. He adds that Velachery residents staying overseas also access the online edition.
Manoj would love to create a team of his own and continue to conduct various events in the area. Currently, he is supported by his old staff members who worked with him on the print edition. On the future, he says, ?I would like to develop the online edition in a big way and turning the voice of the community.?
