Tendency

This website is to discuss if UK quality journalism is a thing of the past, with topics: public respect for journalists; new media impact on journalism; tabloids; good /bad news; infotainment; human/public interest news; qualities of professional journalists; journalists training in the UK.To learn more, you could also click debate..

Related Links:

*Private Eye

*VLV

*Stephen Jukes

In 1987 Wendy Henry was appointed editor of the News of the World by Rupert Murdoch, becoming the first woman editor in Fleet Street in modern times.

* "Tabloids reflect my interests."

* Tabloids have become less sensational.

comment here!

In future, are the public to be more

educated,

informed,

entertained?

What are the responsibilities of the media?

Human interest and public interest stories, which are more important?

The media have to face the reality!

Prof. Daya Thussa Westminster University

Wendy Henry former News of the World editor

"Let us not forget that journalism is a business, a global business.

So to sell a story, journalists have to make it as interesting and accessible as possible and this sometime can and does lead to sensationalisation.

Infotainment is one word which summarizes this phenomenon rather well."

"We need to remember that first and foremost newspapers are big business.

The role of tabloids in Britain is the same as any other newspaper, or indeed any other business, to sell the product.

The way to do that is, within the boundaries of truth and accuracy, to report on subjects your readers are interested in."

Case study: Human-interest stories sell well.

"It’s economics. What sells? Then that’s what’s printed," said Robert Welham, a freelance photographer of over 15 years experience.

"There are many reasons, like the decline of the Fleet Street, the increased amount of freelance writers with less resources, and scarce journalism which was seen in the past, such as the Watergate scandal.

Only big organizations like the BBC are able to really throw money at stories of public interest."

Mr Welham's biggest seller was an Ostrich running around Romford. The bird, called Godzilla, was owned by a 12-year-old boy who arrived on scene to take it home on his way home from school. The story was carried by most domestic press and TV, and some overseas media in 2001.

"Good Journalism is too expensive!"

Good journalism needs time and money, said Jane Mackenzie, a journalist at The Private Eye.

"There is thus a bad habit of filling papers with stuff without asking or being told the truth." More

Critical view of development trend of the UK media

There has been a trend towards infotainment, but it could help get messages across to people," senior lecturer of Westminster University Deborah Vogel.

"The higher end press has removed away from objective to opinionated journalism," said former global Head of News of Reuters Stephen Jukes.

"There has been an increasing tendency to go for more human-interest stories," said Chairman of the Voice of Listener & Viewer Jocelyn Hay.

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