Now what was I saying when I so rudely interrupted my tales of a hardworking hack? I remember now, myself and my fellow journalism students were trying to cope with the trauma of a class “day out” to a psychiatric hospital – or mental asylum as it was called at the time. I know thatContinue reading “Not all lessons can be taught in a classroom”
Category Archives: journalism
Think twice before you crack a joke
Nowadays you have to be sensitive to others when telling jokes or making lighthearted conversation. Especially in the light of social media. I grew up enjoying the Goons; radio shows such as Round the Horne and The Navy Lark; and Hancock’s Half Hour; Harry Worth, and Michael Bentine’s Potty Time on television. It is noContinue reading “Think twice before you crack a joke”
A soldier’s farewell to his old mother
As long as there have been stories there have been storytellers. Even if the story is just about hunting a bear. Back in prehistory somebody had to tell the tribe about the bravery of the hunters who faced the fury of a giant animal who could rip you open with a slash of its claws.Continue reading “A soldier’s farewell to his old mother”
No need to dot the i’s or cross the t’s
My one failing as I prepared to become a journalist was getting to grips with Pitman’s shorthand. Out of our class of less than 20 on my Kelsterton College course myself and four of the girls could not grasp the Pitman system. I don’t know if it was a means of letting us down lightlyContinue reading “No need to dot the i’s or cross the t’s”
Back to class — to learn journalism?
By the time I had been a journalist for almost three years I was sent back to the classroom — at least it was at a college and not going back to school. The National Council for the Training of Journalists (it does what it says on the tin) had initially decreed trainee journalists shouldContinue reading “Back to class — to learn journalism?”
Raise the curtain light the lights
After my early initiation into the world of greasepaint and spotlights it is no surprise that I fell in love with the theatre. Being a member of the Little Theatre in Rhyl certainly helped feed my passion. I enjoyed being backstage, or up in the lighting box, or just as a member of the audience,Continue reading “Raise the curtain light the lights”
Fun and games at the seaside
I settled into the Rhyl Journal offices quite quickly as the rest of the editorial team were a friendly bunch. Mind you the working move to Rhyl was very quickly followed by another move – except this was a very short trip. When NWN bought out the Journal the red-brick building on Russell Road housedContinue reading “Fun and games at the seaside”
Start from scratch to stay in touch
In the early years, when a young journalist is still in training, where they first work can make a great deal of difference. I was raised in a large, busy, seaside town where my father was a businessman and one way or another I knew a good many of the people in Rhyl – theContinue reading “Start from scratch to stay in touch”
From copy boy to the editor’s chair (if you’re lucky)
Training in journalism before the 1950s was based mainly on luck. Getting a job at a newspaper, for instance, could be pure chance. After all publishers did not have a permanent post available for any or every bright young spark who popped into the editor’s office. You had a better chance if you lived inContinue reading “From copy boy to the editor’s chair (if you’re lucky)”
The last days of real journalism
Q. What links Friday; a war over eggs; and coffee? A. The (ig)noble art of journalism. Daniel Defoe, who gave us the tale of Robinson Crusoe, the sailor marooned on a deserted island with only a single companion – Man Friday, was the first well-known journalist. He was also a spy, a pamphleteer, a traderContinue reading “The last days of real journalism”
Robin's Nest 