Journalist to journalist: an interview on storytelling

Finalist

What makes a story?

What makes a good story? The question on every journalist’s lips ahead of a big article or broadcast. When a Niche journalist posed this question to a

Pukaar journalist, their conversation was inspiring WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

As I call Romail Gulzar, journalist and broadcaster at media company Pukaar, he sounds busy, not that he hasn’t time for me, but busy all the same. It’s the Euro 2020 football final day and it’s about to be all hands-on deck. I can tell he’s excited, any journo would be, it’s a palpable feeling when you know one way or another there’s going to be a story of huge emotional impact.

Anyway, I tell him, “We’ll make it speedy; I know what questions I need to get the right story!”

He replies: “Good work Emily”, starting the conversation as he means to go on with several congratulatory remarks at my questions throughout.

“What’s it like being a journalist in 2021?” I ask. Longish pause. Romail tells me: “With mobile phones in all our hands – everyone is a journalist these days. But it’s facts that I am interested in, getting to the truth of a story, and sharing it with community. Quality over quantity every time.”

He’s a facts person through and through, bringing a story to life is always the aim, but it’s got to be done right, in the right way. I ask him where the joy in journalism is for him. “I like people, I’m naturally inquisitive. I’m not motivated by money, or that idea of success. For me, success comes from doing what I do, where I am today. It doesn’t feel like work.”

As an Immigrant from Pakistan, Romail came to the UK knowing only three words of the English language. “I started my life in the UK as a cleaner, where I gradually learnt bits and pieces of the language. But my career as a journalist was actually an accident!”

Okay, ‘here’s the story’ I think to myself. “I was dropping my cousin off at South Leicestershire College and whilst I was waiting, I got handed an application form for the broadcasting journalism course.

“I explained I couldn’t speak English and was told that because of equal opportunity they would teach me, that I could enroll if my desire to learn and achieve was strong enough.”

And so, he did. After graduating, he embarked on several different roles at high profile media groups before bringing his own stories to audiences through YouTube and Pukaar. “The people who helped me get to where I am today, I’m still friends with them, they helped give me opportunities to thrive and I’ll always be grateful for that!

“Do you think you’ve got your story Emily?” He asks. My response: “You are the story for once Romail!”

I discover he’s a foodie and a red wine lover and we close with an agreement at wine and food for next time, a couple of journalists talking about stories. “Perfect” he exclaims. Discover the stories as they happen at pukaarnews.com.

I LIKE PEOPLE, I’M NATURALLY INQUISITIVE. I’M NOT MOTIVATED BY MONEY, OR THAT IDEA OF SUCCESS. FOR ME SUCCESS COMES FROM DOING WHAT I DO, WHERE I AM TODAY. IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WORK