Best books for hacks – vote for the 8 tomes every journalist should read
Orwellian
Naturally, I am delighted that my own SuperMedia has made the cut, in the section described as ‘Journalism Critique’ alongside an all-time favourtie of mine, George Orwell, and a contemporary influence, Jay Rosen.
I am not sure I deserve to be in such exalted company, but that shouldn’t stop you voting for SuperMedia 
On a more serious note, the survey sensibly allows you to suggest other works not on the list. This is good because it is a bit American, male and perhaps, overly serious.
So in keeping with the intellectual approach, I would offer a book that has underpinned my work here at Polis, Roger Silverstone’s Media and Morality.
For an understanding of the craft of writing, I would submit the immortal Keith Waterhouse Mirror Style Guide.
But perhaps you can learn more about journalism through satire – and because it is supposed to be fun, after all – I would offer the (inevitable) Evelyn Waugh Scoop and the less predictable, but equally hilarious and truthful, Towards The End of the Morning by Michael Frayn.
Make your choices here
July 29th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Have you read ‘Hollow Sunday’ by Robert Harling? For me, it was a fun read with a nice fix of libel law at its core.