Category Archives: Media

On the bench

Posted on October 9, 2017 by

For the last few days I’ve been reading “Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Histories”, a biography of sorts of one of the most celebrated defence lawyers of the last century.  (He’s still  alive, and turned 102 this year.) One chapter is devoted … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Literature, Media | Tagged , , , ,

Notebook

Posted on February 19, 2017 by

We don’t know yet what the televising of the conventions will do to American politics, to elections, to the convention system itself. Some of us fear what one good demagogue with a fine voice and a rousing profile might do … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Politics, Technology, TV, US politics | Tagged , , , , ,

New prime minister, old Labour

Posted on July 13, 2016 by

Another century, another world. HT @MirrorStyleGuide

Posted in History, Media, World War 2 | Tagged , ,

Before comments sections

Posted on April 11, 2016 by

Stumbled across this yesterday. An HM Bateman cartoon from 1922.

Posted in Comedy, Media | Tagged , ,

Pro tip

Posted on November 6, 2015 by

“You can’t write about people unless you know what’s on their mantlepiece.” Journalist and mental health campaigner Marjorie Wallace on today’s Desert Island Discs.

Posted in Journalism, Literature, Media | Tagged ,

When philosophers fight

Posted on November 2, 2015 by

This is, of course, what happens when you confuse “the world” with “possible world”.  A classic face-off in The NY Review of Books. [Via @aoscott]

Posted in Media | Tagged ,

The future of journalism?

Posted on June 5, 2015 by

Are BuzzFeed, Vox and the other digital newcomers really as innovative as we like to think? Michael Massing, continuing his NYRB series on new media, is unconvinced: When one considers the amount of resources that the sites I’ve mentioned have … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Media | Tagged , , ,

Notebook

Posted on March 3, 2015 by

News in the papers of poor Norman Mailer’s breakdown.  One headline said, “Author Mailer Stabs Wife.” Don misread this as, “Arthur Miller Stabs Wife,” and said to himself, “Why don’t they mention Marilyn Monroe?” We agreed that,  if it had … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Media, Notebook | Tagged , , ,

Cajoling

Posted on February 3, 2015 by

Is political advertising as effective as we like to think? Sam Delaney’s new book argues that the power of spin is over-rated. Dominic Sandbrook [£] agrees:

Posted in Media, Politics, UK politics | Tagged , , , ,

A cautionary tale for all columnists

Posted on January 4, 2015 by

In the end, you always risk outstaying your welcome…. From a 2005 British Journalism Review article by Tom Stoppard, whose fascination with the news business dates back to his apprenticeship on the Western Daily Press, a staid broadsheet I used to deliver on … Continue reading →

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