Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
Murdoch media empire is in full damage-control mode. But the pain and revelations keep on coming. As employees realise that self-preservation trumps loyalty, more and more spills into public view. How will it end?
"The Murdoch scandals are turning into a first-class disaster for the prime minister, David Cameron, and his party, while so far leaving Labour intact." It didn't have to be like this but Cameron's moral blindness has made it so
"It doesn't stop. Won't stop. Can't stop. Rupert Murdoch is going to be run out of Britain. His is a worst-case scenario: A powerful political opposition moving against him, and a chain of evidence moving toward him"
A mere slip of a piece, and yet its commentary on war, and war reporting, is worth more than many longer ones. "May I ask you, I said, are you a Muslim or a Croat? And the answer he gave me still shames me as it echoes in my head"
If you want to raise awareness in good cause, can you risk telling lies and partial truths? How far should you go in simplifying and exaggerating the arguments? Reflections on Mike Daisey, Kony 2012, and Gay Girl In Damascus
Compelling profile of the Daily Mail, Britain's most powerful newspaper. Closest US equivalent, Fox News. Run, with a furious energy, by Paul Dacre, whose editorial meetings are known as the Vagina Monologues. For reasons made clear
Overview of Economist's writing on China since 1843. Wrong on Boxer rebellion, right on opium trade. Coverage in 19C "hindered greatly by the fact that The Economist relied heavily on the Foreign Office" for information
Reconstruction of ill-fated News International meeting at which Rupert Murdoch fixed strategy for dealing with phone-hacking scandal. Decided to contain, not investigate. “I will handle the board. Everyone else stay out of it"
A very nice guy who makes very nasty ads. This is Larry McCarthy, master of the negative TV ad, now working for Romney Super PAC. Shredded Dukakis. Did for Gingrich in Iowa. What counts is what works, not what's true
Instructive email dialogue between journalist and fact-checker. "Really, Jim, respectfully, you’re worrying about very stupid shit." "Unfortunately I don’t get to decide which facts are stupid. I have to check all of them"
One woman's battle against commercialization of childhood. "Scientific studies have shown children under eight cannot understand the persuasive intent of advertising. At a fundamental level advertising to children is simply unfair"
"I deal in other people's agony. I do. You can't candy coat that. But if you can't live with that, you shouldn't be in this game. I'm not some nice person from a nice place. I'm not. I do my damndest to be a decent man"
Photo by Raymond Depardon
