From a meticulous media student to editor of International desk at China TV, Mohsin Mughal has come a long way in his six years of broadcasting career. Bilal Handoo profiles his journey to China.
It was early 2007, when an ambitious youth had just completed his post-graduation in media studies from University of Kashmir. Soon, he was offered a job as an anchor/reporter at News X, a New Delhi based English news channel. Being his first major break in media, he wasn’t sure how to go about it.
During the same time, he met Parvaiz Bukhari, a senior journalist, at a local café in Srinagar who gave him valuable inputs about the industry. “The tips and suggestions Parvaiz Sir gave me boosted my confidence,” Mohsin Mughal, 29, a known Kashmiri face in broadcast media, says.
Soon after that, Mughal was seen anchoring prime time news bulletins for prominent English news channel, covering Gujarat elections, giving PTC (piece to camera) while reporting Jaipur and Delhi blasts.
In between, he started receiving many offers. From News X, he moved to TV Nine in their south headquarters in Bangalore. He again shifted his base to Delhi, when TV Today Network offered him senior reporter’s position with Headlines Today.
“I was lucky enough to get good offers that really helped me in my career,” Mughal candidly asserts. “And I guess, it is very important to meet right people in media circles, to move in right direction.”
Mughal, a resident of Nowgam in Srinagar is presently working in China as the editor of International News at CCTV News China. He also anchors a prime time news bulletin for the channel, broadcasted once in a week.
He did his schooling from a missionary school in Srinagar, and enrolled himself at Baramulla Degree College, for a bachelors media programme. Not only he topped his class, he was also chosen for a scholarship in US.
“I always wanted to do what I am doing right now,” he told this reporter during his recent visit to Kashmir. “Working in media is all about that extra zeal in you, which could prove costly at times. I mean there were number of occasions in my media career when days together, I could not contact my family because of my professional obligations.”
Back home, his physical absence is palpable, but his parents never complain. “They are my biggest support,” he asserts. “Whenever my longing for my homeland crossed its threshold, my parents and my better-half motivate me to move on.”
Long before, Mughal made strides in media houses outside Jawahar tunnel, he was leading a successful radio career in valley. He started his career with Radio Kashmir in 2001 as a presenter of western music show. “Working in radio was exciting, as it helps one to connect with large audience,” he quipped.
Apart from working for radio, Mughal also produced video stories for Srinagar based Associated Media, a private video production house. He also worked for English daily Italaat briefly.
But, it was his passion for TV journalism that made him to step out of valley to hunt for better opportunities. “My love for video journalism has its roots in quality teachings and training I received from my mentors and teachers. Faheen Sir of Media Education and Research Centre (MERC) of Kashmir University helped polish my professional skills. He is one of those unsung heroes, who selflessly train students as per the industrial demands,” Mughal said.
He was the topper in his batch and was awarded a gold medal in Mass Communication from Kashmir University. During his stay at MERC, his batch once registered a ‘strong’ protest against poor infrastructure and lack of equipments there. “It was a legitimate protest supported by faculty and university administration,” he said. “We fought for something very meaningful and I am proud to say, we triggered the change.”
After six years of a successful media career, Mughal is content with his achievements.
He says journalism schools should train students according to industry requirement for better placement. But how is he able to make a connection with his home while staying in China?
“Please remember,” he stressed. “Wherever Kashmiri goes, he is an ambassador of pain, inflicted back home.”
