Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
When this was first published, news writing was written in a very strict, often quite staid style. New Journalism used a range of literary techniques commonplace in fiction, for example the use of dialogue or first-hand narrative. At that time they were virtually unheard of in news writing. Tom Wolfe wrote an essay laying out this new type of writing at the beginning of his anthology, and the writing he included in the book embodied the style of the movement. You have to do a huge amount of research to be able to justify writing like this. It puts great emphasis on truthfulness.
And finally, I’m quite intrigued by your final choice – The New Journalism, edited by Tom Wolfe. Now this was a movement in the 1960s and 70s – a brand of creative non-fiction. What made you pick this?
When this was first published, news writing was written in a very strict, often quite staid style. New Journalism used a range of literary techniques commonplace in fiction, for example the use of dialogue or first-hand narrative. At that time they were virtually unheard of in news writing.
They were writers like Tom Wolfe, Truman Capote… Tom Wolfe wrote an essay laying out this new type of writing at the beginning of his anthology, and the writing he included in the book embodied the style of the movement.
I don’t know if you’ve read the Tom Wolfe book, but Nicholas Tomalin’s essay ‘Zap, zap, the general goes killing Viet Cong’ is really fantastic. It describes an American general in a helicopter, shouting and smoking and shooting at the enemy. It’s as though you’re right there with him, and this one scene tells you so much about the politics behind the wider war.
And do you use these techniques yourself – purposefully?
I used to make a real effort to, about 10 years ago. But now I’m more relaxed. You have to do a huge amount of research to be able to justify writing like this. It puts great emphasis on truthfulness.
Do you mean emphasis on actually being there, part of the action as it happens?
No – that’s Gonzo Journalism – the style Hunter S Thompson was famous for – he would be dressed as a Hell’s Angel and in the crowd, part of the group starting the riot. New Journalism would involve arriving just after the riot was over, and speaking to members of the crowd, the ambulance crew, all the witnesses – by doing so much research you can recreate the scene, and get inside the head of the people who were involved.
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Investigative journalist Nick Davies says when he started out reporting PR copy was a real rarity. If you were writing about crime, you’d call the police station and speak to an officer. If you were writing about healthcare you’d probably speak to a doctor. ‘But these days it’s all fenced off, with press officers and press offices, and all your potential sources have been warned not to speak to the filthy hacks.’ He chooses five books on investigative journalism including, of course, All The President’s Men.
