An education from Alan Watkins, the master columnist of Fleet Street | Peter Oborne

The political writer’s A Short Walk Down Fleet Street vividly describes the characters and culture of a golden age in newspaper publishingWhen I was a schoolboy in the 1970s, I used to read Alan Watkins’s column in the New Statesman every week. Through him I felt I personally knew and understood the great figures of the age: Crosland, Jenkins, Castle, Healey, Foot, Whitelaw, Carr, Heath. There were hardly any political columnists back then, while there are dozens today. It remains the case that the only ones worth bothering with are those who can write. Watkins had some of the gifts of a novelist and he brought them into political journalism.His talent for dialogue was extraordinary. Only the greatly underrated Bruce Anderson and the Daily Mail sketchwriter Quentin Letts possess the ear to do this nowadays.Watkins’s editor at the Sunday Express was the monstrous John Junor, who told him that 'only poofs drink rose' Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #great figures #sunday express

Other Publishing stories related to: 'An education from Alan Watkins, the master columnist of Fleet Street | Peter Oborne'

Quarto defends high street as it posts strong results

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 15/02/2011 - 09:43 Most publishers are neglecting the marketing role provided by bricks and mortar bookshops, said the head of Quarto as it unveiled its annual results. Chairman and c.e.o. Laurence Orbach said he was "pleased" with the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #annual results #mortar bookshops #laurence orbach #full year #digital opportunities #high street

Transworld acquires Streets memoir

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 15/02/2011 - 08:51 Transworld is to publish music memoir The Story of the Streets by Mike Skinner, detailing the rise of the Birmingham-born rapper and his band. Editorial director Simon Thorogood bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Jon... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jon elek

Oxford Media Convention: Trinity Mirror's Sly Bailey on the 'need to educate' Hunt

Sly Bailey, the chief executive of newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror, has issued cutting criticism of the culture secretary Jeremy Hunt's understanding of the full media issues regarding News Corporation's relationship to BSkyB. Continue reading at Media Week