'Journalism books that tell it how it was, how it is and how it should be' diff viewer (1/2)

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Journalism books that tell it how it was, how it is and how it should be	Journalism books that tell it how it was, how it is and how it should be
2013-09-12 12:21:24 UTC	2013-09-18 05:00:17 UTC (6 days later)
I must begin this posting with a big declaration of interest. I teach at City University London and I'm about to discuss books written by colleagues, including my head of department. But all deserve to be read, so I'm delighted to mention them.	I must begin this posting with a big declaration of interest. I teach at City University London and I'm about to discuss books written by colleagues, including my head of department. But all deserve to be read, so I'm delighted to mention them.
Out of print: newspapers, journalism and the business of news in the digital age* is by George Brock, former executive with The Times who has been head of journalism at City since 2009.	Out of print: newspapers, journalism and the business of news in the digital age* is by George Brock, former executive with The Times who has been head of journalism at City since 2009.
I galloped through this book a couple of weeks ago. Its greatest virtue, by far, is in seeing the changes in journalism throughout history as a ceaseless process.	I galloped through this book a couple of weeks ago. Its greatest virtue, by far, is in seeing the changes in journalism throughout history as a ceaseless process.
Brock refuses to fall into the trap of technological determinism. He accepts that technological developments lead to change but rightly understands that, even between the inventions which have influenced how news is gathered and transmitted, journalism has always been in a state of flux.	Brock refuses to fall into the trap of technological determinism. He accepts that technological developments lead to change but rightly understands that, even between the inventions which have influenced how news is gathered and transmitted, journalism has always been in a state of flux.
That said, he does believe the digital revolution that we are living through now is a time of transformative change. The disruption also happens to have occurred against a background of economic recession in a period when, even before the rise of the internet, newspaper sales were in decline.	That said, he does believe the digital revolution that we are living through now is a time of transformative change. The disruption also happens to have occurred against a background of economic recession in a period when, even before the rise of the internet, newspaper sales were in decline.
For several years, we have come to call this "a perfect storm". Brock seizes on this as an opportunity, rather than a threat. In asserting the need for journalism to be rethought in order to meet the needs of changed conditions, he argues that the storm is heralding a new era.	For several years, we have come to call this "a perfect storm". Brock seizes on this as an opportunity, rather than a threat. In asserting the need for journalism to be rethought in order to meet the needs of changed conditions, he argues that the storm is heralding a new era.
There will be casualties, of course. He grasps that the wind is blowing a hole through the long-run industrial structure of the news business. Big media, mainstream media, is losing its dominance.	There will be casualties, of course. He grasps that the wind is blowing a hole through the long-run industrial structure of the news business. Big media, mainstream media, is losing its dominance.
The net offers everyone the chance to engage in the activity known as journalism. Most importantly, it allows them to choose what to read and what to say about it. Journalism is more of a conversation and less of a lecture.	The net offers everyone the chance to engage in the activity known as journalism. Most importantly, it allows them to choose what to read and what to say about it. Journalism is more of a conversation and less of a lecture.
Digital technology does not eradicate the need for a professional form of journalism, however. But journalists, as they select and curate and stimulate, have to work within a changed environment.	Digital technology does not eradicate the need for a professional form of journalism, however. But journalists, as they select and curate and stimulate, have to work within a changed environment.
For all journalists - veterans such as Brock (and me), as well as the students we are teaching - it is a time of experimentation. The best of the old must be melded with the new.	For all journalists - veterans such as Brock (and me), as well as the students we are teaching - it is a time of experimentation. The best of the old must be melded with the new.
Similarly, building a business model in order to sustain and nourish journalism is essential to the future. In Brock's words, "the future business of journalism will resemble the past and will also be unlike it."	Similarly, building a business model in order to sustain and nourish journalism is essential to the future. In Brock's words, "the future business of journalism will resemble the past and will also be unlike it."
Brock's chapter about the importance of experimentation is titled "Throwing spaghetti at the wall." You keep tossing the pasta at the wall to see which bits stick.	Brock's chapter about the importance of experimentation is titled "Throwing spaghetti at the wall." You keep tossing the pasta at the wall to see which bits stick.
Most of it won't stick, which is why so many traditional publishers have been loath to do it. Spending on innovations that might not work out is not cost-effective.	Most of it won't stick, which is why so many traditional publishers have been loath to do it. Spending on innovations that might not work out is not cost-effective.
Instead, those willing to use up lots of spaghetti have shown signs of success, as Brock - in positive mode throughout the book - argues.	Instead, those willing to use up lots of spaghetti have shown signs of success, as Brock - in positive mode throughout the book - argues.
He doubts that there will be a repeat of the 20th century, when a single business model (built on advertising revenue) underpinned journalism.	He doubts that there will be a repeat of the 20th century, when a single business model (built on advertising revenue) underpinned journalism.
Instead, in his final chapter, he outlines a range of other possibilities, including subscription (aka paywalls), philanthropy, sponsorship, public or government subsidy and a mix of all of those. (He doesn't mention crowd-funding but it is implicit in his overview).	Instead, in his final chapter, he outlines a range of other possibilities, including subscription (aka paywalls), philanthropy, sponsorship, public or government subsidy and a mix of all of those. (He doesn't mention crowd-funding but it is implicit in his overview).
The journalists who, by accident or design, step over the mark	The journalists who, by accident or design, step over the mark
George Brock deals with the Leveson report, but it doesn't cast a long shadow over his central thesis. By contrast, the reason for Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry, namely phone hacking, is the touchstone for the book by Stewart Purvis and Jeff Hulbert.	George Brock deals with the Leveson report, but it doesn't cast a long shadow over his central thesis. By contrast, the reason for Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry, namely phone hacking, is the touchstone for the book by Stewart Purvis and Jeff Hulbert.
In When Reporters cross the line: the heroes, the villains, the hackers and the spies*, they leave the hacking scandal to the final chapter. But it is the major subject of their conclusion and forms the backbone to the book.	In When Reporters cross the line: the heroes, the villains, the hackers and the spies*, they leave the hacking scandal to the final chapter. But it is the major subject of their conclusion and forms the backbone to the book.
The previous 13 chapters amount to a reconsideration of case histories in which journalists have faced (or ignored) a variety of ethical dilemmas.	The previous 13 chapters amount to a reconsideration of case histories in which journalists have faced (or ignored) a variety of ethical dilemmas.
They go back to Norman Ewer, a Daily Herald reporter who spied for the Soviet Union, Walter Duranty, the New York Times correspondent who acted as a propagandist for the Soviet Union and Guy Burgess, one-time BBC producer, who was also a Soviet spy.	They go back to Norman Ewer, a Daily Herald reporter who spied for the Soviet Union, Walter Duranty, the New York Times correspondent who acted as a propagandist for the Soviet Union and Guy Burgess, one-time BBC producer, who was also a Soviet spy.
There are excellent chapters on Martin Bell, the BBC reporter who called for a journalism of attachment after his experiences in Bosnia, and on Sandy Gall, the ITN correspondent whose reporting of the mujahadeen in Afghanistan in the 1980s was said to be biased (Purvis and Hulbert disagree).	There are excellent chapters on Martin Bell, the BBC reporter who called for a journalism of attachment after his experiences in Bosnia, and on Sandy Gall, the ITN correspondent whose reporting of the mujahadeen in Afghanistan in the 1980s was said to be biased (Purvis and Hulbert disagree).
Another case history, about the Bosnian conflict, was particularly embarrassing for me to read. It concerned the reporting of the camp known as Omarska where Serbs were holding Muslim detainees.	Another case history, about the Bosnian conflict, was particularly embarrassing for me to read. It concerned the reporting of the camp known as Omarska where Serbs were holding Muslim detainees.
ITN broadcast footage in August 1992 of a prisoner, Fikret Alic, standing behind barbed wire. He was emaciated and hollow-eyed. The obvious implication was that the Serbs were running a concentration camp.	ITN broadcast footage in August 1992 of a prisoner, Fikret Alic, standing behind barbed wire. He was emaciated and hollow-eyed. The obvious implication was that the Serbs were running a concentration camp.
A couple of years later an article in the now-defunct magazine, Living Marxism, claimed that the journalists had misrepresented the image: it was they who were behind the wire rather than Alic.	A couple of years later an article in the now-defunct magazine, Living Marxism, claimed that the journalists had misrepresented the image: it was they who were behind the wire rather than Alic.
This story, which implied that ITN had been guilty of duplicity, got "legs." It began to attract journalistic and political sympathy. So, in 1997, ITN sued Living Marxism (LM) for defamation.	This story, which implied that ITN had been guilty of duplicity, got "legs." It began to attract journalistic and political sympathy. So, in 1997, ITN sued Living Marxism (LM) for defamation.
Here comes the bit that still gives me a red face. I agreed to give evidence for the magazine, not because I thought it was correct in its assertions, but because I do not believe media organisations (or journalists) should use the libel law.	Here comes the bit that still gives me a red face. I agreed to give evidence for the magazine, not because I thought it was correct in its assertions, but because I do not believe media organisations (or journalists) should use the libel law.
My siding with LM earned me a rebuke from a Guardian colleague, Ed Vulliamy, who had witnessed the awful reality of the camp and later gave evidence about it at The Hague war crimes tribunal.	My siding with LM earned me a rebuke from a Guardian colleague, Ed Vulliamy, who had witnessed the awful reality of the camp and later gave evidence about it at The Hague war crimes tribunal.
I stood by the supposed subtlety of my position but, as Purvis and Hulbert illustrate, there was good reason for ITN's legal action. It was the only way to prevent lies being spread about their journalism as the LM allegations gained credibility.	I stood by the supposed subtlety of my position but, as Purvis and Hulbert illustrate, there was good reason for ITN's legal action. It was the only way to prevent lies being spread about their journalism as the LM allegations gained credibility.
Indeed, until I read the chapter, I didn't realise just how much traction the false LM story gained at the time. I hereby apologise to ITN's reporters and Vulliamy for having offered to help LM. There are rare occasions, such as this, when a libel action is the only way to deal with a false story that has the potential to ruin reputations.	Indeed, until I read the chapter, I didn't realise just how much traction the false LM story gained at the time. I hereby apologise to ITN's reporters and Vulliamy for having offered to help LM. There are rare occasions, such as this, when a libel action is the only way to deal with a false story that has the potential to ruin reputations.
Another chapter is fascinating for a different reason. It is about the so-called Silent Men of Fleet Street - Brendan Mulholland and Reg Foster.	Another chapter is fascinating for a different reason. It is about the so-called Silent Men of Fleet Street - Brendan Mulholland and Reg Foster.
They were jailed in 1963 for contempt of court for refusing to name their sources for stories published in their papers, the Daily Mail and Daily Sketch respectively, about the Vassall spy case.	They were jailed in 1963 for contempt of court for refusing to name their sources for stories published in their papers, the Daily Mail and Daily Sketch respectively, about the Vassall spy case.
It was later claimed that the pair couldn't name their sources because there were none: they had invented their stories. I interviewed Foster not long before he died in 1999 (aged 95) and he maintained that his story was true and properly sourced, as you would expect.	It was later claimed that the pair couldn't name their sources because there were none: they had invented their stories. I interviewed Foster not long before he died in 1999 (aged 95) and he maintained that his story was true and properly sourced, as you would expect.
Matthew Engel, writing after Foster's death in The Guardian, was diplomatic. Foster "may have had a genuine scoop, or may just have used his freedom of expression. I think we had better leave it like that." So we will.	Matthew Engel, writing after Foster's death in The Guardian, was diplomatic. Foster "may have had a genuine scoop, or may just have used his freedom of expression. I think we had better leave it like that." So we will.
It's 2013 and the sexist stereotyping remains in place	It's 2013 and the sexist stereotyping remains in place
The glass ceiling remains in place for female journalists. Or perhaps I should say, it appeared to have been cracked, and even smashed for a while, and then got reglazed.	The glass ceiling remains in place for female journalists. Or perhaps I should say, it appeared to have been cracked, and even smashed for a while, and then got reglazed.
That's one of the findings by Suzanne Franks in her detailed and readable study, Women and journalism*, on behalf of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.	That's one of the findings by Suzanne Franks in her detailed and readable study, Women and journalism*, on behalf of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
"Even in a transformed digital environment there remain patterns of gendered employment and attitudes which have proved intractable and immune to change," she writes.	"Even in a transformed digital environment there remain patterns of gendered employment and attitudes which have proved intractable and immune to change," she writes.