In maestro Satyajit Ray’s 1970 masterpiece “Aranyer Din Ratri”, four friends – Ashim, Sanjoy, Hari and Shekhar – go on an outing to the remote village of Palamau in Bihar to escape the monotony of hectic urban life.

After changing clothes, as they rest in the yard of a house, Shekhar (Rabi Ghosh), lighting a fire with a newspaper, dramatically declares, “I’ve cut down all relations with civilisation!”

With this seemingly ordinary yet meaningful scene, Ray portrays how newspapers have become bridges between human beings and enlightenment.

Fifty-five years have passed since the film was released. The world has undergone revolutionary changes during this time. Yet readers still rely on newspapers to verify facts and gain credible information, regardless of what they encounter on social media.

Thus, the role of newspapers in informing and enlightening the public has become ever more crucial. When readers come across news stories, they usually see the names of reporters. Consequently, it is often the reporters who attract the attention and glamour associated with the newspaper industry.

However, a credible newspaper is the result of the tireless efforts of many individuals who work behind the scenes to make the venture a success. Their names may not be printed, and they are rarely discussed in the public sphere, yet a newspaper could never reach its desired standard without their meaningful contributions. On the fifteenth anniversary of the Daily Sun, we salute their efforts.

“Actually, the media industry is a place where journalists have the opportunity to be recognised. In contrast, our job is to facilitate them. To be honest, I sometimes feel regret that, despite working for a newspaper, people hardly know about our work,” said Md Al-Amin Miah, Manager (Accounts and Finance) at the Daily Sun.

“But I forget all my regrets when readers appreciate the Daily Sun for our impactful work. I know I have contributed in some way to that success,” he added.

Shamim Ahmed works as an office attendant at the Daily Sun. Ten more attendants like him serve in the newsroom, assisting journalists with their daily needs.

Shamim said, “It’s true that our names are never printed in the newspaper. But that’s not so important to us. All our efforts are worthwhile when the Daily Sun performs well.”

The Information Technology section plays a pivotal role in resolving all technology-related problems faced by journalists. Washim Sheikh, an executive in the department, has long been a reliable hand for Daily Sun journalists and staff in this regard.

“Actually, this is the nature of our job, and we’re used to it. Our task is to ensure the IT-related work of the Daily Sun runs smoothly – and we find happiness in that,” he said.

The Administration and Human Resources division of the Daily Sun also performs a crucial role essential to the success of the paper. Md Tareq Biswas, Senior Executive of the section, said, “We handle all the tasks necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the daily. From paper and printers to pins, we provide everything. We act as coordinators, supporting both journalists and staff.”

Md Riazuddin, Press Manager of the Daily Sun, oversees all press-related matters to ensure readers receive a well-printed newspaper every morning.

“I’ve been working in the newspaper industry for years. It’s not essential for our names to be printed, but it’s true that seeing them would certainly please us. As a professional, I take joy in knowing that readers receive a well-printed Daily Sun on their doorstep,” he said.

The News section is another division of the Daily Sun that accommodates a group of skilled individuals who polish reports and make them more appealing to readers.

Comparing the desk team to the “ghostwriters” of journalism, Daily Sun Joint News Editor Abdul Mukith said, “Our fingerprints are on every page, but our names are nowhere to be found.”

He explained that their job is to make stories clearer, sharper and more accurate, without leaving any trace of their own. “A good sub-editor’s presence is felt only in the quality of the page, not in the byline.”

Noting that they serve as the bridge between a reporter’s fieldwork and a reader’s understanding, Mukith said the best compliment for a sub-editor is when no one notices a single error the next morning.

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The writer is a Sr Staff Correspondent at Daily Sun