Itivrutt Review

AFTER REST COMES THE BEST:
The wait is over

Nishita Pereira reviews a brand new version of the lab journal of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication.




Itivrutt is out again with a whole different look. It’s in colour, it’s bold and it’s ambitious. An assortment of about 21 features, a cartoon column and a poem; it is a literary treat that can be enjoyed in small doses. With the students working on the paper since October 2009, the effort put in is evident and truly commendable.
Firstly, the stories. Each story is written in a different style, yet follows a pattern that runs throughout the paper. The technique of writing reflects the personality of the writers and their approach to the topic is varied. The issues are contemporary yet carry universal appeal. They’re both solemn and blithe. They range from religion, politics, education and economics to rock music, fashion and advertising. There are also a few humanity stories that add a certain level of maturity to the paper. Every story is backed with sufficient facts, case studies and illustrations, and has multiplicity of opinion that may or may not be a good thing.
Having worked with the software QuarkXPress 5- the world’s most widely used professional page-layout software, this has been the first batch to have done so. This has enabled the students to deliver an accurate, relevant and attractive journal. Moreover, for the first time, Itivrutt was printed in the industrial manner as opposed to the previous issues which were printed at the University Press. It gives it a vibrant and crisp look. All of this asserts the seriousness and dedication of the students.
Another change from the earlier issues is that the paper is now a 12 paged journal compared to the usual 10 pages.
The language is simple and plain that may also come across as amateurish. Whether it is deliberate or whether the writers need to improve their language skills is a decision left to the readers.
Editorially, the paper has its flaws. There are many areas that have been overlooked. Grammatical errors are unmistakable and careless. The placement of stories and photographs as well as non-uniformity of font and design gives it an unprofessional look. The variety or choice of colours is a hindrance to the eyes.
The faculty pages seem to act as an excellent aid to the senior students, in terms of placements in the media industry. However, it fails to do much for the current juniors. With the look and read of a school magazine, it does not support the rest of the paper.
By and large, over looking some of the imperfections, the paper is above satisfactory and worth the effort. It makes for an enjoyable read and will attract readers of all ages. Congratulations to the writers on the successful completion and release of the faculty journal.



Writers- Students of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, Batch 2009-11
Printer- Jay Printers
Number of pages- 12