Patrakarita.khoj: a good reference for journalists By Pratibedan Baidya At a time when there is shortage of reference materials about journalism in the market, journalist Kapil Kafle as come up with a book Patrakarita.khoj. Book (File Photo) In the book, the writer has presented his nearly two decade long professional experience in media sector. The writer has tried to introduce almost all the techniques involved in mass communication and journalism including some less known facts related to journalism. The book has not only presented the history of Nepalese journalism in a chronological order, it has also tried to mark where Nepalese journalism stands globally today. Kafle has presented the definition, process and theories of communication, which is very useful for individuals ishing to communicate effectively. The rise of mass media and its progress in Nepal could be a good reference for people interested in the development of journalism and seeking opportunities to conduct research on this topic. Kafle has also dealt with various aspects of journalism like the news, news reporting, investigative reporting, feature writing and newsroom management, among others. In these topics, the writer has included his own experience as a journalist, with simple flow of the language making is easy for the reader to grasp the theme. Further, the book also describes the various genres of mass media like print, radio and TV, and also online journalism ? the recent development in the field of mass communication. The book also categorizes each medium giving an in-depth history of each of them from national and international perspectives including national and international media laws. However, despite the book's attempt to deal with each and every media-related aspect, it has not mentioned anything on educational institutions teaching journalism. As a media trainer and working journalist, Kafle has also presented a practical aspect of journalism. Being informed about the pros and cons of newsroom management and news copy, he also tries to present the book as a guiding document not only for newcomers, but for the working journalists as well. Since there are very few books written in Nepali language on journalism, it could be anticipated that Kafle's book may become a valuable reference material for many Nepali readers. In addition, the precious interviews of different media experts and senior journalists serve as an asset to the book. The interviews are interesting as they portray the live history and hardships faced by journalists during the development of media from their time till today. The book is the result of Kafle's tireless efforts of two and half years in bringing it into a shape. Kafle deserves applause as he has attempted to bridge the gap between the newsroom and real and practical work in the field. The book has been priced Rs 250 and it is worth the read. nepalnews.com Sep 29 05