airwaves crackle

CNN-IBN on air all over the country from December 16! On the web, so much fun too.
Still lots of glitches and nervousness, tickers that leave you to fill in the blanks, anchors who call me Mohini (yuckyuckyuck). No other woman in an office of 20, no respite even on crampy PMS days until I just list out (in shocking decibel levels) the perils of venturing within 10 feet of me and leave the room in all drama.
But there are anchors I don't know who wish me on air to "stay warm and dry" as I report on the endless cyclones, bosses that are thrilled to bits when we ignore some idiot DMK politician for telling the story of a whole street that's quietly flying black flags after 42 of their neighbours who died in a stampede at a flood relief camp. Then they ask someone in Orissa if they knew Tamil Nadu is not as parched, and still dying the same inhuman death.
I notice that it's taken over my dinner/breakfast for the past 3 months. That it makes me prioritise Office-Delhi calls over Mummy-Bangalore calls. I miss the complete control that newspaper articles gave me, and realise everyday how much I have to depend helplessly on every cog in the wheel (cameraperson, editor, driver, automan, watchman, landlord, carpenter). When the wheel falters, I'd like to jump into the sea, but when it zips smoothly right over all bumps and potholes, I absolutely love the ride.
I whine at being woken up from sleep at 3 in the morning by an assignment coordinator in Delhi, but then shut up after I know he wants me to get early responses from Chennai on what people think about Meerut police beating up couples in a park. They recognise blogs as strong valid voices and put them up on their own news website. They're so earnest, most of them. And so young.
I'm most excited, but am trying to be straight-faced reporter whose stomach and liver don't merge into one at the thought of suddenly being on TV 24 hours, and having to say sensible truths all the time. Brr.