My Trade: A Short History of British Journalism

by Andrew Marr

How do you decide what is a "story" and what isn't? What does a newspaper editor actually do all day? The purpose of this insider's account is to provide an answer to all these questions and more. Andrew Marr's brilliantly funny book is a guide for those of us who read newspapers, or who listen to and watch news bulletins but want to know more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Journalism, History, Biography, Politics, Autobiography, British Literature

391 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Andrew Marr is a Scottish journalist. He is a graduate of Cambridge University and has had a long career in political journalism, working for the Scotsman, The Independent, The Economist, the Express and the Observer. From 2000 to 2005 he was the BBC's Political Editor. His broadcasting includes series on contemporary thinkers for BBC 2 and Radio 4, political documentaries for Channel 4 and BBC Panorama, and Radio 4's Start The Week'.

Reviews

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed look at British journalism going back to the emergence of the earliest newspapers, the origins of today's broadsheets and tabloids and taking us up to the industry today. Mostly interesting and written with humour and a good dollop of industry gossip (albeit dated now). It could, ironically, have done with some editing - at times it was overlong and repetitive.

[Simon Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly enjoyable personal history of journalism, written by the then BBC Political Editor, and former editor of the Independent, Andrew Marr.

My Trade certainly delivers on its promise to provide ”A Short History of British Journalism”, but rather than delivering a dry journalistic history, Marr injects copious amounts of humour and panache. He provides many personal anecdotes – some longer and more developed than others, but all entertaining – and passes judgement on developments in the media world, rather than merely reporting their occurence. The personal touch makes the copy much more engaging, and prevents it descending into a super-extended newspaper feature, like so many other books by journalists.

Anybody interested in British journalism would be well advised to read a copy of this book. It provides much background on how newspapers are put together, and how this has changed over the years. It even provides some history on the rivalries between newspapers, looking at (as an example) how The Mirror’s sales declined at the hands of The Sun, and how Marr’s own Independent set out to be different from everyone else, but ended up being much the same.

This is not intended to be – and nor is it – a detailed history of the development of the British media. Instead, it’s an enjoyable romp through the subject, stopping off at points of interest – particularly recent ones, and many of which you’d have thought he may have liked to avoid. He goes into some detail about Hutton and the problems of modern journalism, making convincing arguments for his point of view – which is, in part, critical of his BBC paymaster. It’s very clear from his writing that he’s experienced as a journalist, not just because he lists his many and varied jobs, but also because of the detailed insight he is able to deliver, and the apparent wisdom of some of his comments.

Certainly, this is a very easy-going enjoyable read, from a political editor who comes across as an affable kind of chap, and a book which I must highly recommended.

This review originally published on my blog, at http://sjhoward.co.uk/archive/2012/11...

[D.K. Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Marr's book (which is anything but short with 385 pages of dense text) is a surprisingly enjoyable journey into not just the history of British Journalism but also a good treatise of what makes the British Press tick.

The book suffers from bizarrely long paragraphs - considering his occupation where writing one sentence paragraphs which try to encapsulate immensely complex news information is a standard daily chore - and the chapters would benefit from much more breaking down into subheadings. I say this because this really isn't a book to try and sit down and read in one go (or two, or three...) but one where you want to digest some fascinating information or insight from Marr and go away to ponder it for a while many times over.

Certainly, despite the length of the paragraphs, I found myself quoting huge chunks of his book on my Facebook page because he had something important to say. I could have done this with almost every page even right up to the very final one and I came away with no doubt that Marr is a terrific communicator and a sensible chap to boot.

This book won't be everyone's cup of tea. If political journalism and the art of writing is of no interest then don't think of picking it up out of a whim. But if you do set out to read it, it should come as no surprise that you might just come away realising (as I did long ago) that it simply isn't worth your while buying another newspaper again. Though Marr ultimately praises the Press and clearly loves it, I came away more certain than ever that the news we read in the pages each day is filtered through the biases and political persuasions of so many hands (not least the reporter's) that you might just as well go ask your neighbour next door what they think.

[Sam Hailes · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a journalist, I found this to be a fair, insightful and interesting look at my trade. For anyone outside of the media, you'll most likely find this a little hard going. (Unless you're a historian!) But for insiders, it's fascinating. Marr's comments on today's journalism are particularly enlightening, although since it was published back in 2004, it could do with some updating to take into account the political (and technological) changes since. Yes, it's a bit long. But overall I thought it was a great read and definitely required reading for any student journalist. (I should have read this years ago!)

[Miriam hoimir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing that it was published twenty years ago, this is a bit outdated of course on issues such as the rise and rise of citizen journalism and more importantly, the rise of "alternative truth". Looking forward to his take on how to handle that.

Marr is a very experienced journalist who has worked (and still does) in all classic forms of the trade - paper, radio and tv. This book is what it says on the tin - it's about how journalism works, and it contains an abundance of stories about his past experiences. Lots of nodding from this old hack along the way. It's very pleasant to read that yes, there are still journos in the UK who can think for themselves, and who actually have a proper voice and a platform.

For me this is not a book to read in one go, but great to pick up every now and then for some of those trade stories.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a paean to a dying, possibly already past the point of no return world, and one probably in need of a DNR notice. Considering how important journalism is in a (supposed) democracy, it is exposed as insufferably inward looking, and a self-regarding boys’ club. Occasionally mildly amusing anecdotes about people who sound like they ought not be left alone with a pair of scissors, never mind be at the helm of national media, often veers into tedious name dropping and homage to big guns, with tedium levels worthy of Alan Partridge.

[Andrew Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled a bit with this, forcing myself to read c. a third of it in the last 3 days. Whilst a good overview of the history of British Journalism, it's a bit dated now (the contemporary context was against the backdrop of the Blair government, and things have moved on in both paper and television terms). It's strength - that it is part-memoir, part history - and therefore from a place of personal knowledge and research, is also it's weakness as it has a feeling of being incomplete in places.

[Crissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, although a bit long in places. I like Andrew Marr. He writes the same way that he speaks, so you feel yourself being carried along at pace. Although unlikely to read again, I found this a useful review of journalism and I now know a lot more about the history of journalism as well as the many characters involved.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. Takes you on a tour of a British journalism, from its beginnings to the decline in readership of print media in recent years. Written before the closing of the News of the World, some of Marr's comments and observations seem prophetic.

[Roo O'brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crikey! Egghead Marr romps through the history of British journalism! A bit dated now (shhh! Don’t mention phone hacking!) No need for the cheesy jacket but those Victorians eh? Phwoarrr! Who’d have thought it?

[Sayde Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun! Highly recommended.

[Sarah Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for anyone wanting to know about a journalistic career. He keeps it all quite impersonal though. It wouldn't make me want to read anything else he's written.

[Chulachat Kanjana-oransiri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall an informative and interesting book but quite dry at times.

[Angela Gostling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most engaging and enlightening insight into British journalism.

[Gerald Sinstadt]

Andrew Marr has been everything open to a journalist from junior sub editor to reporter to columnist to editor, except serving as a foreign corespondent. In My Trade, he traces the history of journalism, describes the functions of its various parts and people, and muses upon the ethics and morality of both print and broadcast media.

Readers of or more daily papers will do well to heed Marr's advice about how to recognise exaggeration (which he suggests is common) or plain invention (which he claims is not unknown). His portraits of editors great and less great, and of owners inspirational and dictatorial, are enlivened by revealing anecdotes.

By the end, a picture emerges of a trade with high ideals which it mostly fails to respect. But as much as this is an account of a working life, it also the confession of a love affair with an addictive means of earning a modest living.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the Scottish Independence referendum in September I felt devastated by the state of the UK media and the bias of the BBC. Having been brought up to be proud of our national broadcaster, I wanted to find out what had gone wrong and when and how. This book was informative and funny and although it's now ten years out of date I'd recommend it to anyone. He's a snappy writer.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Considering that Andrew Marr is a journalist, this book is very long and wordy. It gives interesting insight into the British news scene, but it would probably be more interesting to someone familiar with all the famous British news casters. It's thoroughly researched and very detailed, but I did not enjoy reading this book and I would not recommend it to anyone.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been fascinated for a long time about the history of journalism. Andrew Marr starts from early journalism in this country, from Danial Defoe 17th c to modern day. He gives an account of what makes a good story and what goes wrong when journalism is at it's worst.

The account seems quite comprehensive, but poses more questions than answered.

[Jake Goretzki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice primer, but - being from 2004 - showing its age (a new edition would now need to cover hacking, blogging, social media, RT/Press TV disinformation, fragmented viewing and listening, etc). Oh, and seems Fisk and Pilger were always 'controversial' - Marr's diplomatic term for the other variety of c-word.

[Terence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly very interesting account of Marr's life in journalism. It gets a little less interesting with his move to the BBC and his growing celebrity, with the sense being given that there is now more at stake and consequently more to hide or mask. Sometimes a little repetitive, the book still makes fascinating reading in our age of the eclipse of newspaper culture. I would recommend it.

[Cathrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andrew Marr, a well-known BBC journalist, digs into history of journalism with both interest and wit. It's a fascinating book which tells you the story behind the scenes when it comes to UK current affairs and political life.

[Smita Magar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a present from my UK Mom and Dad (Lynn and Peter) when they visited us in Nepal.
This book introduced me to the journalism of Britain. Loved it from the moment i got it...:)
Thank you so much...best present ever...:)

[Jacqueline · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I'd love this as the subject matter is really interesting, but after battling through several chapters, I gave up, bored. Surprising given he is a celebrated journalist, it was overly long and took too long to get to the point. A shame.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining and informative read, particularly good on his first interview at The Scotsman. Candid and very funny about his brief tenure as editor of The Independent and a perfectly carved cameo of arch-bully, Kelvin MacKenzie. Should be read as a companion piece to Evelyn Waugh's Scoop

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually like Andrew Marr (theres something about his voice...) but I loved this book. Informative and witty at times, it didn't bore me like I thought it would.

[Bryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic insight into the world of British journalism. This book inspired me to go out and look for stories. A real page-turner, very difficult to put down.

[Jessica Staines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into the world of journalism! Good overview on the history of journalism etc! Well worth a read!

[Mark Underwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great writer on his pet subject should produce magic.... it is rather boring in places and doesn't engage

[NED ALI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfamiliar with certain aspects of British journalism's history, I found large chunks of details in the second half of the book, boring to an extent one would feel that entire chapters went unedited.

[Garry Nixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's best on the pre-Wapping days of drunken camaraderie. Just another job, now.