N.R.J. Aaron - the 24/7 newspaperman

Former Associate Editor of the Daily News N. (Noel) J. Aaron, is a man with a wealth of experience in Journalism. He understands the profession of Journalism and is extremely understanding of journalists. A man who is old in experience and age, he knows the pitfalls of life and how challenging the profession of journalism can be.

As Associate Editor, he was number two. A man who started out as a Stenographer Secretary, Aaron’s hard work and dedication to the profession took him up the rungs of journalism where he ended up as Associate Editor. N. R. J Aaron served the Daily News for 41 years from 1957 to 1998.

Tension job

“I had a very busy time. Journalism is a tension job. You have to be with your boots on. You have to work around the clock. Though it is tension you also get the happy side, especially when you have worked through all that tension, you get to take a back seat and reflect how you surmounted and overcame all those problems and difficulties. You are all alone. You cannot ask this person and that person, it is a rushed job. You win your laurels if you do the job. One day you may be commended. You are at the top. Tomorrow you may be at the rock bottom. You have missed the scoop. That is Journalism.

That is why I say in spite of tension you enjoy yourself when you take a back seat and reflect how you got through these hurdles within the short space of time. At these times you thoroughly enjoy your job”, said Aaron.

Aaron reminisced as the Associate Editor when responsibility came his way involving hard work and long hours he was quite happy with all that. The editorial became his playground, his home. He was there for almost 12 to 14 hours. It became his second home.

“One day I was rushed to the newspaper at 9. 30 pm. Lake House was infiltrated that day by the LTTE. I never thought the paper would be printed. At 9.30 pm I got a call saying we are printing the paper. And I wrote the lead story. I was commended for that. I went so late and in a matter of half an hour I wrote the lead story”, stated Aaron.

Aaron stressed that in journalism you must be prepared for hard work. You may be called upon any time. You may be rushed to another job. You cannot sit on your laurels. You may get the biggest story. This is the life of a journalist. The time factor may be against you. You have to be on the ball. Working under Editor Cecil. D. Graham the then Editor, Aaron recalls him as a thorough gentleman and a workaholic like himself who sometimes worked until two in the morning. After some time Aaron got used to Graham’s ways and relieved him of his administrative work as secretary. After some time Aaron switched over to Journalism and observed the hectic pace of life of a journalist.

Love your job

“As a beginner you get scared. However there are no barriers to get to the top. No barriers or blocks can hold you back. You can reach the top if you work hard. That is my advice to a youngster joining journalism. Barriers and blocks, they are nothing if you work hard diligently and you must love your job”, advised Aaron.Aaron recalled after becoming a journalist, one day he was sent on an assignment to cover the Prime Minister who had returned from abroad following a world tour. He acquitted himself so well that the then Chief Editor was so satisfied, that Aaron was appointed as the Deputy News Editor of the Daily News. The first executive position he got in Journalism.

“Thereafter I became the News Editor. I was the longest serving News Editor of the Daily News for over ten years. Generally the News Editor does not last long because it is a difficult job. The News Editor is the most prestigious job in a newspaper. It is also the most risky job. The day he makes a mistake he will be out. As the News Editor you are marshalling all the reporters,” said Aaron.

The most outstanding quality about Aaron is his dedication to making a difference; helping people. To him the satisfaction of doing some good to a fellow human being is second to none. He genuinely wants to do some service to a fellow human being; turn their tears into joy. “We become journalists thinking we can serve our people in some way. Opportunities don’t come to everybody to serve others. You must be a very fortunate man to serve others,” said Aaron.

Key position

During his tenure as News Editor, a political event that stands out in his mind was the insurrection in the late 1980s where there were curfews and it was a very bad time. Some politicians and journalists were killed. “During this time journalists and politicians received death threats. I myself had to exercise great care and had to report to duty from various places, not home. I even stayed in a church. I got to office by taking cover in some other places.

Many people were finding it difficult to get to their offices. Sometimes only a depleted staff worked on those days. Such days were declared 'un-working days' by the relevant party. Those who worked on those days received death threats. I was the News Editor so I had to come because I held a key position. Because of difficulties in sending transport to everyone to get them to office they restricted the staff. A newspaper executive in a local paper came in a sarong in protest. That day the paper was not printed,” narrated Aaron.

The time of LTTE terrorism was another difficult period with incidents taking place all over the country. “During this period so many innocent people lost their lives. I was recalled to office many a time.

During the time of terrorism, the work was immense with so many people being killed like the Central Bank bombing, a major incident in the city where a large number of employees lost their lives. I worked hard because I didn’t know what time these events would occur”, narrated Aaron.