BIBLIPEDIA

My Trade: A Short History of British Journalism: REVIEW

Being somewhat naïve in my knowledge about British journalism I relished the opportunity to take on board the abundant information Andrew Marr has written on the subject. His book is an uncommon, honest journalistic account of all aspects and history of the printed word.

Marr quickly establishes the history of the printed press and rise of the journalist through various interesting and humorous stories past, leading to burning questions like; How do you decide what is a story and what isn't? How do hacks get their scoops? How do the TV stations choose their news bulletins? How do you persuade people to say those awful, embarrassing things? Who earns what? And ultimately, what makes a journalist? At times the book answers so many questions it reads like a beginners guide to modern journalism. Yet each area is thoroughly researched and supported by good anecdotes.

The book also goes onto explain the work ethic of modern journalists and how over time the average hack has resigned to writing easy stories from the office instead of being out there. Marr reacts, “Asking a proper reporter to define story is like asking a teenager what lust is.� The rise of wanna-be stars who openly talk to papers and parade for photographers for there quick fifteen minutes of fame are easy examples of this with these ‘quick-fix’ stars filling those ever important columns.

The book reflects upon how local news has potentially suffered over that of inter/national interest as technology had developed but also and conflicting that view the idea that international news weakens the further it travels. Marr explains it simply as “News lives on a weird globe, distorted so that the local is magnified, and the distant compressed.� Coincidentally as shifts in culture and technology develop the world of news also develops in its distribution. In as much as visual culture is in the process of devouring a verbal, written one, with twenty four hour news programmes easily accessible to the mass.

Working his own experiences of editor at The Independent and becoming the BBC’s political correspondent into the book might well attract wider interest simply due to his TV personality, but Marr goes on to summarise and somewhat warn wanna-be journalists; “The trade is neither professional, nor a complete meritocracy. Strings are pulled. The children of famous journalists are given a leg-up by their parents’ colleagues. But by and large, the rewards do go to the talented and the persistent.� Marr’s deprecation of the industry only serves to improve the readers digestion of the stories he tells. A very useful, if not slating tool that leads to an interesting read and debate about the nature of the British media.

Tags: journalism journalist media-conflict-power news newspaper printing reporter story

Review posted by: AndyH on Fri 27 Feb 09

add note on this book