Why We Love <i>Outlook</i>

Outlook’s launch in 1995, I remember, took the world of magazine journalism by storm. It was different from its Indian contemporaries, many of whom leaned heavily on Time and Newsweek for their ideas, style and design with a few going so far as to become copycats. However, Outlook’s masthead itself seemed to suggest it would be a trailblazer. It was also rich in content and the presentation was simply eye-catching. Moreover, the magazine itself was printed on glossy paper which set it apart from many others of its kind. It goes to the credit of Outlook that it probed behind the news and came up with exclusive cover stories and exposes when many magazines during those days merely rehashed the daily news into weekly, fortnightly or monthly issues. Such daredevilry at a time when magazine journalism was largely staid and sombre drew many loyal readers to Outlook, including me. It was no secret even then that this was one magazine that was different, that here at least the editor had the last word on what was printed in the mag.

Over the last five years that I have been reading Outlook, I have hardly missed an issue. There are several reasons why I love the magazine. Some are quite mundane and some pretty serious. I find the texture of the paper very attractive as are the professional photographs, and there are plenty of them, together with lucid book reviews, which keeps the reader engaged for a considerable length of time. On the serious side, I have their cover stories in mind. Written meticulously, with painstaking research and bold analysis, which many a time brings into sharper focus the other point of view. It invariably gives a different perspective and keeps the reader glued. This is what I enjoy: a very ­balanced, fearless and professional presentation of news devoid of any bias.

Whether I love Outlook or not is an ete­rnal debate which will go on unaba­ted. There have been occasions when I tried to pick up one of the competing magazines but have ended up disappointed. For one, Outlook stands out for its neat, easy-on-the-eye layout which is coupled with the wide range of subjects that cater to a large spectrum of readers. Politics, a dreary subject for me, has also become interesting thanks to the candid reporting which Outlook does. Many a time I have disagreed with Outlook though. When it comes to the unrelenting Modi-bashing (even though I’m a Modi critic myself), I believe the magazine goes overboard. Aru­n­d­­­hati Roy’s holier-than- thou articles with her long-winding text bore me to death, but somehow Outlook makes sure it forces it down our throats regularly. On the flip side, the best of investigative journalism to impact the political scenario of our country has come from the stables of Outlook. I respect the magazine also for accepting bouquets and brickbats in equal measure. The open house approach as a matter of policy is an example of democracy in the print media and I love and respect Outlook for it.

The simple reason: Outlook is young at heart and very energetic. It’s a bouquet of varied thoughts, simple gupshup and liberal views. It never posed to be intellectual, yet doled out precious insights. Many a time the content of the Diary page isn’t up to the mark, but that’s just a minor hitch. The letters to the editor segment is superb as it rightly reflects and encourages citizen journalism.

Look Out, It’s...

Outlook, you have quite literally grown on me. You didn’t disappo­int me in getting to me voices that mattered—notably Arundhati Roy, Vikram Seth etc. Non-mainstream voices that would not have been endorsed in other magazines make their way here. I like your writing style, the tongue-in-cheek humour. I have even begun to identify with your correspondents and recognise their narrative styles, like that of Saba Naqvi or Namrata Joshi. I love your exposes, most stories, covers, captions, Diary page, excerpts and critiques on books, the mix of glamour, entertainment, politics, economics, social issue, culture and yes, the consistent sex surveys!

I like Outlook for its incisive, very often multi-dimensional coverage of topical issues. At times, though, I find the magazine goes overboard while presenting the narrative. Outlook also appeals to me since it vociferously advocates an inclusive India and thereby bridges the div­ide between cross-sections antagonistic towards one another. The dyn­amic leaders­hip provided by Vinod Mehta pro­ved to be a catalyst in this. The fact that the magazine is well- structured is also a value addition. I wouldn’t mind taking the liberty of renaming the magazine Look Out since I painstakingly look out for it to broaden my own outlook. But I must add that content on India’s external relations is conspicuously absent, and for me no news magazine is complete without it.