Newsman’s nightmare

I have a long way to go when it comes to use of even basic technology.

I was recently attending a press conference in Dubai and wanted to record the speech of a chief executive officer (CEO).

When the meeting started, I pressed the recorder key on my mobile phone, only to hear the blaring sound of my previously-recorded interview.

As the CEO stopped his speech and looked at me like an eagle ready to pounce on a frog, I struggled to shut my phone down and ended up pressing the wrong keys.

After the apologies, the meeting continued, but I was restless.

I quietly hid the phone under the table and tried again.

“La, la, la…” went another song that I had recorded.

As the annoyed CEO looked at me, I shut the phone and acted innocent.

The CEO saved the situation remarking, “But that’s a good song.”

This is not the first time that technology ditched me.

Once I was interviewing a Bollywood actor.

I tried to click his photograph with my outdated camera of those days.

When I reached home, I realised the camera had just flashed and there was no print.

Fortunately, a journalist colleague who had accompanied me had also clicked photos.

That saved the situation.

Funnily, the celebrity was praising my camera saying it was a good model.