Gavin Ellis, astute media commentator and former Editor-in-Chief of The New Zealand Herald, suggested the other day that ‘list’ articles are just lazy journalism. I agree. But I’m feeling a bit lazy, so here is a list of five things … Continue reading
There was a time when newspaper readers who wanted to comment on a particular news item or opinion piece would sit down and pen a Letter to the Editor. The editor – or more often a sub-editor – would then … Continue reading
My mother – who is old and, therefore, can sometimes pass as wise – reckons that the first TV programme I ever saw was Andy Pandy. Or, possibly, Bill & Ben the Flowerpot Men. She may be right. I don’t … Continue reading
‘Works of imagination should be written in very plain language; the more purely imaginative they are the more necessary it is to be plain.’ – Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Many, many years ago, I managed to convince the powers that be at my secondary school that, rather than studying French or Latin in my fifth form year, I should be allowed to study art. As I recall, this encompassed … Continue reading
I don’t think that my grandfather, who died in 1948, ever saw TV. There was a time when I thought that this was something of a deprivation. I think that he would have enjoyed watching sport, particularly equestrian sport. And, … Continue reading
My first serious girlfriend trained as a school teacher but earned her living as a journalist. Her successor was a journalist who worked in PR before going on to edit a weekly magazine. And her successor was a journalist who … Continue reading
It was early November – just before or just after Guy Fawkes Night. I can’t remember which. I was five years old; soon to be six. Our teacher began the day by reading us a story, and then called for … Continue reading
Getting someone to change their mind is never easy. When I was growing up, we had a neighbour, a retired accountant, who held strong and often controversial views on pretty much any topic you cared to name. Give him an … Continue reading
From my office window I can look down on the parking lot attached to a nearby indoor netball facility. We are not talking here about the kind of venue that hosts international contests, or even matches between national league teams. … Continue reading