By Bikram Vohra
If it bleeds it leads. In 45 years of journalism that was the diktat common to every paper I worked on or ran. The worse the news, the more the sales. Scandal, death, blood and gore wrapped in cynicism sold. We always convinced ourselves that was what the reader wanted — print and be damned. The stronger the negative, the better. Continue reading Serious journalism: in the ICU, on a ventilator
By Sharmistha Khobragade
I am a sucker for classes. Tell me about a class and my antennae stand up. Sometimes I wonder why I do this — attend as many classes as I can, any that I find even remotely interesting. It’s not just that I have time on my hands; learning new things, facts and perspectives makes me feel alive. Continue reading Whale spit-up can smell like a bunch of roses
By Linda Esposito
Whether venturing into psychotherapy for the first time, or choosing the self-help route to calm your anxious mind, three skills will help you master your emotions quicker. Continue reading Give your brain a break and work on your self-awareness
By Suresh Pattali
My heart was already heavy, having dealt with the obits of two former colleagues in a matter of days. And when we were just about to wind up the 40th anniversary celebrations of Khaleej Times on Monday, the news of two more departures hit me like Arctic winds. Continue reading Nihal Singh, the pied piper of classical journalism
By Kelly Clarke
Heading to the beach as a kid was always a treat for me. Living in East London, the wide-open water and long stretches of sand along the coast made for the perfect playground. It was a far cry from the sliver of pavement intercepted by a busy road, which sat out front of our inner city house. Continue reading Just so you know, there is a hygiene crisis at the beach in Dubai
By Nivriti Butalia
I feel like a child. I am on my way to meet the Emirati team that won first place in what is effectively the world cup of koi beauty, a koi beauty contest. And before meeting the team that won this 49th All Japan Koi Show in Tokyo — making UAE the first Middle Eastern country to win that spot — I can think only of inane, childish things. Terrible bilingual puns consume me. I crack them only later, and not to the prize-winning team. Continue reading Hanging by a koi pond in the house of Kohaku enthusiasts
By Sujata Assomull
As someone who writes about fashion, design and occasionally art, I often wonder what being a good revivalist is about. All the disciplines that I write about are based on craft and tradition. Unless a tradition is kept relevant, it dies. We keep alive the story of human life. Through these legacies and expressions of history, we provide a link to our roots — this is the importance of craft traditions. To remain relevant, you need to be innovative. And how do you make craft cutting edge, and yet stay true to the art form? Continue reading Paintings hung at the back have now moved up front
