Comments for British Journalism Review - Blog

Comment on Crusaders or pigs in raincoats? by Trevor Philps

Trevor Philps — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 05:58:57 +0000

Now then were the Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein who sprung Watergate caped crusaders or pigs in raincoats? People who avoid scrutiny because they are up to no good generally hire outfits like schillings to stop the press investigating. You approve of that in the name of freedom of speech?

Comment on Crusaders or pigs in raincoats? by Law and Media Round Up – 19 September 2011 « Inforrm's Blog

Law and Media Round Up – 19 September 2011 « Inforrm's Blog — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:24:34 +0000

[...] a piece in the British Journalism Review entitled “Crusaders or Pigs in Raincoats?” Steven Barnett tells a cautionary tale about a journalist in search of celebrity tittle tattle [...]

Comment on Anchors away, my boys by Martin Bell on the ‘advance of the anchors’: ‘Farewell journalism, hello semaphore’ | The Wire | Press Gazette

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:18:01 +0000

[...] Describing how TV journalism became a “performing art” Bell says: Reporters were taught to walk and talk and wave their arms at the same time. One distinguished correspondent was told she had to acquire ‘a new set of hand signals’. Farewell journalism, hello semaphore. [...]

Comment on Why this brave man should no longer be allowed to report from the front line by Jeanne

Jeanne — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:45:46 +0000

Isn’t it Christiane who’s being patronising?

Comment on Why this brave man should no longer be allowed to report from the front line by Christiane

Christiane — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 19:59:10 +0000

How patronising! I am always amazed when I see that non-disabled people know what’s good for disabled people and what they can and can’t do. These people always use the same words: “brave”, “courage”… This blog post is a classic.

Comment on Why this brave man should no longer be allowed to report from the front line by Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:38:34 +0000

You talk of “youngish” reporters not being able to cope, as a young reporter myself I would argue it’s not that we aren’t capable – we’re simply not given the opportunities.

Television news loves it’s familiar faces – experts are of course important but it has become increasingly difficult for young reporters to break through. How many times have you seen someone under the age of 30 reporting on a major story for TV news? Even when you’re the first on the scene as the news breaks, you’re quickly replaced or superseded by an old hack.

Comment on We are all in PR now by Ian McNulty

Ian McNulty — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:51:37 +0000

As a former investigative journalist of the old school I have to say that this article scares me to the bottom of my socks. No offence to Trisha Evans personally. I’m sure she’s sincere in her intentions and an excellent teacher and champion of PR. If this piece had appeared in a PR trade journal I might not have protested so much. But in a publication that stands for the best in quality journalism, it’s a different matter entirely.

Journalism and PR aren’t two sides of the same coin, they’re opposite sides of the fence. Applauding “complete freedom of movement” between them is like encouraging gamekeepers to turn poachers or policemen to rob banks. Students of PR may benefit from having a tutor who has done time on the beat, just as safe breakers might. But it’s hardly something we want to be encouraging.

“But students of both disciplines will also soon see for themselves that there are more (and better paid) entry-level jobs in public relations,” may be true. But, again, isn’t this a bit like telling student coppers there’s much richer pickings in bending the law than trying to uphold it?

The line between journalism and PR was always a fine one at the best of times. But the blurring of that fundamental division over recent years might be seen as one of the major causes of journalism’s cataclysmic decline. In the interests of quality journalism that line needs to be strengthened, not weakened or blurred.

Why not just pay them to write our side of the story? Why not indeed? If understanding the “nuanced persuasion” of goody bags and gravy trains is a necessary requirement for journalism students early in their first semester, then the ‘truth and accuracy’ model of quality journalism is already a dead duck.

“Proactive reputation management strategy”? Do me a favour. What would have happened to Nixon if Woodward and Bernstein had been playing that game?

“If we understand the mechanisms and motives of the group mind, it is now possible to control and regiment the masses according to our will, without them knowing it,” said Edward Bernays.

What’s democratic about that exactly? “Assassin of democracy” – “professional poisoner of the public mind” – “exploiter of foolishness, fanaticism and self-interest” – “the inspiration for Nazi propaganda” – all sound about right. So why do we now have the head of a university degree course recommending it as journalism 1.01? Know thine enemy is one thing. Getting into bed with them is something else.

PR’s ability to change perception, presaged by Bernays, is now commonplace in our mass media without a doubt. If Paul Dacre is against it, he must be the last journalist left standing. When he leaves, turn out the lights.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/08/AR2009030801620_pf.html

As professional purveyors of unbiased information, speaking truth to power, it is very bad news for journalists that their side of the business is dying and power is buying them out.

Comment on We are all in PR now by sasi

sasi — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:57:49 +0000

The leading line – It is time to admit that the two disciplines of journalism and PR are two sides
of the same coin and that there is now complete freedom of movement between them – says it all really, but reading on, where I expected to read some railing against this most obvious evil, instead it seems ironically, Trish Evans, a former ‘journalist’ is doing a not particularly subtle pr job for the public relations course she now runs. She justifies her position by admitting that PR is where the money is, and that as most of the media have sold out there’s no shame in joining them. What you’re selling, as you conclude yourself is a veneer of respectability, but you go on to question how others sleep at night, as if you’re a cut above all that, Trish you might want to seek help, you appear to be suffering from that most insidious of afflictions, you’re starting to believe your own PR.

Comment on We are all in PR now by Yvonne Roberts

Yvonne Roberts — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:23:59 +0000

Journalism is fractured not least by the celebrity culture which, at times, makes the reporter bigger than the story and then, ironically, in need of a PR. However, the essence of journalism is fudged in Trish’s otherwise thoughtful blog. The journalist is the classic outsider. His or her aim is to establish the truth. The PR is there to put the best possible gloss on what is often a potential and unholy mess at worst, a business at best. Alistair Campbell’s comment, ‘the problem is not with PR – the problem is with politics and spin” is bizarre. What exactly is spin if it isn’t PR? Most journalists (ie those who want to ferret out the truth, be privy to great events, meet a wealth of ordinary people with a tale to tell, help to rectify injustices and report on what the Establishment prefers to hide) re driven by a passion not a consideration of the best prospects in the job market. Bernays was in the business of selling – death as it happens in the case of the puffing suffragettes. He was in the business of propaganda not journalism. PR and journalism are not ‘two sides of the same coin’, they are each altogether a different currency. PR can have its positive aspects but a Baz points out, the best of journalists rightly regard PRs as the opposition: the barrier in the way of transparency and the facts.

Comment on We are all in PR now by Ana

Ana — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:53:14 +0000

Speaking as a graduated PR student, I believe the skills I have learnt in PR are far greater than in journalism, and that PR studies can take one where they want to be, whatever the career choice…I just hope there will be more appreciation and job offerings for graduates with extensive PR internship experience rather than those with just the contacts.

Also, some people do indeed need to be taught phone manners somehow (it’s harder if not done in practice and in an office) as it is such a vital and delicate skill to have as a PR…it is like a magic wand sometimes! But then again in my opinion, at the end of the day, you’re either made for it or you’re not.