Another blog...
14/09/05 12:55 Coffee machine moments
Permalink
..and annoyingly it's better than mine. See
here
for Kieren McCarthy's blog, probably the best on
freelance journalism that I've seen.
Git.
Git.
|
I love it and I want to have its babies
12/09/05 12:54 Permalink
OK, the new Guardian.
First, it's obviously shrunk but it doesn't seem to have lost any weight - quite the contrary. It looks modern and contemporary, but the lower-case masthead is sufficiently like the upper-case version from the seventies to appeal to the old gits of the community (that'll be me, then).
Reporting remains as incisive as before and I'm quite pleased to say it's lost its liberalism from the news pages, presenting a more balanced view on the comment pages. I've always been in tune with The Guardian's world view, which is why I tend to read The Times - why on earth would I want to read stuff that reflects my own view rather than be stimulated and challenged?
This must sound like the most appalling piece of hagiography ever published, but honestly, I love the new Guardian. It's identifiably the same paper that flayed Jonathan Aitken alive when he invoked the simple sword of truth (and they proved he was lying through his teeth) but it has a much more modern, vital edge than it's had for a while now.
Just under ten years ago I started writing for The Guardian but strayed towards the Independent - I wanted there to be a much less smug version of The Guardian to read, and for a while the Indie looked like it. I'm now in the same position with the Indie - I quite like the paper but there's so damned much comment on the news pages combined with the assumption that I'll just agree with everything they say. The Guardian has at last become the paper I wanted to read all those years ago. No doubt as the novelty wears off I'll start to find fault, but for the moment it's hearty congrats to all concerned.
First, it's obviously shrunk but it doesn't seem to have lost any weight - quite the contrary. It looks modern and contemporary, but the lower-case masthead is sufficiently like the upper-case version from the seventies to appeal to the old gits of the community (that'll be me, then).
Reporting remains as incisive as before and I'm quite pleased to say it's lost its liberalism from the news pages, presenting a more balanced view on the comment pages. I've always been in tune with The Guardian's world view, which is why I tend to read The Times - why on earth would I want to read stuff that reflects my own view rather than be stimulated and challenged?
This must sound like the most appalling piece of hagiography ever published, but honestly, I love the new Guardian. It's identifiably the same paper that flayed Jonathan Aitken alive when he invoked the simple sword of truth (and they proved he was lying through his teeth) but it has a much more modern, vital edge than it's had for a while now.
Just under ten years ago I started writing for The Guardian but strayed towards the Independent - I wanted there to be a much less smug version of The Guardian to read, and for a while the Indie looked like it. I'm now in the same position with the Indie - I quite like the paper but there's so damned much comment on the news pages combined with the assumption that I'll just agree with everything they say. The Guardian has at last become the paper I wanted to read all those years ago. No doubt as the novelty wears off I'll start to find fault, but for the moment it's hearty congrats to all concerned.
I'm in love...
09/09/05 12:53 Permalink
...and I'm lucky enough to be a contributor, although
not for a few weeks by the look of things.
I'm talking about the new-look Guardian in case you were wondering - launching on Monday and it's luvverly. I can't wait to get my mitts on a copy and I suspect this will be the definitive fightback against the new tabloids...
I'm talking about the new-look Guardian in case you were wondering - launching on Monday and it's luvverly. I can't wait to get my mitts on a copy and I suspect this will be the definitive fightback against the new tabloids...
Bad day for democracy
08/09/05 12:49 Media
issues Permalink
It seems from the
BBC report
that presenters can't make comments in their capacity
as individuals without some sort of Big Brother BBC
looking down on them and telling them to be quiet.
This is a shame. It's not that long since John Humphrys was asked to give up his Sunday Times column because people would think that his opinions were those of the BBC. Now he can't speak up for a former colleague.
It would be wrong if he were to air these views on air, of course, when he's being funded by the public. But this was a separate event entirely. Does the BBC think the public is too stupid to distinguish between private and corporate opinions? It would appear so.
Humphrys has written a very good book on the use of the English language, called "Lost for Words". I'm going to go and hide my copy before the BBC impounds it...
This is a shame. It's not that long since John Humphrys was asked to give up his Sunday Times column because people would think that his opinions were those of the BBC. Now he can't speak up for a former colleague.
It would be wrong if he were to air these views on air, of course, when he's being funded by the public. But this was a separate event entirely. Does the BBC think the public is too stupid to distinguish between private and corporate opinions? It would appear so.
Humphrys has written a very good book on the use of the English language, called "Lost for Words". I'm going to go and hide my copy before the BBC impounds it...