Archives for April 2012

A nose for news: some journalists have it, some don’t. In the old days, in the age of journalism Don Bentley lamented, it was an essential prerequisite to being a reporter. In modern times, news sense, what made a “story’’ and what didn’t, had become somewhat dulled and blunted, probably because news itself had lost its power. It was now submerged in a sea of frivolity and celebrity, the trite and inconsequential vying for what was really important. But that was Don Bentley … [Read more...] about The sting

THE town of Woking was not big enough for Alf James and his nemesis, John Bateson. The titans of tight deadlines were two old warriors on a collision course. Alf James regarded Woking as his town, and Bateson the intruder. After all, James had worked there most of his working life, the last 20 years of it as editor of the Woking Herald. The town was comfortable and familiar, like the charcoal-grey suites he wore to work each day. This happy state of affairs had been … [Read more...] about The Unruly Journalist

THE first thing a young reporter stepping out on a journalistic career has to determine is what constitutes news, and what doesn’t. News might be the basic commodity of daily journalism but it is not easily defined. What might be news to one person might appear idle gossip to others or, worse, a piece of information so inconsequential that it is not worth talking or writing about at all. Many a cub reporter, starting out on the winding and tortuous road to a career in news, … [Read more...] about A nose for news

Sidney Bateson marched into the office of the Woking News and Mail and straight to the chief reporter’s desk at the end of the newsroom. It was as though he had already reconnoitered the office for his arrival, and knew the lie of the land. When he reached his desk, he put down his brown leather briefcase and then looked about him, surveying the landscape. He did not like what he saw. His eyes at first settled on John Gerard, and Bateson took note of his long wavy hair, … [Read more...] about A salute to the past

BILLY RUSHTON sat at his keyboard trying to figure out his next step. He had sat in the same seat for three days and had not written a word. Rushton had started at the Burnie office of the Chronicle on the Monday, and here he was on the Wednesday with nothing to show for his efforts. In fact, there had been no effort at all. Billy Rushton had been sent to Burnie fromHobartas the Chronicle’s latest addition to its far-north staff of two. He had replaced a high-flying … [Read more...] about A port in a storm