Friday 5 July 2013

Media Quotes of the Week: From would Mick Jagger have found satisfaction as a journalist? to being resigned from the editorship of The Times


Mick Jagger interviewed by John Humphrys on the Today programme: "There're a million things that you would have loved to have done, a politician, a journalist. I thought of being a journalist once."

The Sunday Times [£] in a leader: "Let’s imagine that young Mick had decided on a career in journalism. Like Mr Humphrys, he might have been a distinguished foreign correspondent. Like Mr Humphrys, he might have built a reputation as a fierce no-holds-barred interviewer. And last week, just like Mr Humphrys, he’d have trudged through the crowded fields of Glastonbury on his way to interview a wealthy rock star — probably wondering where it all went wrong."

Rupert Murdoch in a meeting with Sun journalists, leaked to Exaro and broadcast by Channel 4 News: "The idea that the cops then started coming after you, kick you out of bed, and your families, at six in the morning, is unbelievable. But why are the police behaving in this way? It's the biggest inquiry ever, over next to nothing."

NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet in a statement: "News UK's response has been to say that Murdoch was showing ‘understandable empathy’ with his staff. He’s about as empathetic as he is humbled. Murdoch set up the Management and Standards Committee and, at the same time as setting up shop with the Metropolitan Police, he threw his staff to the wolves. Data was handed over to the police as an act of corporate damage limitation – there was no consideration of public interest tests, there was no thought to the consequences of outing journalistic sources, and there was no consideration the impact on staff who’ve worked loyally for Murdoch’s titles and done as they’ve been told."

Lynn Barber on Liz Jones in the Sunday Times Magazine [£]: "At 54, she is single, childless, friendless, facing bankruptcy, still anorexic and, of course, completely bonkers. On the other hand, this is all meat and drink to her fans."

on Twitter: "Abject apologies to all who helped with Liz Jones and now can't read because of effing paywall. I objected but no joy - sorry"

Mail on Sunday in a leader: "Lord Justice Leveson’s report on the press is not wearing at all well. Like a week-old party balloon, it already looks faded and deflated."

Trevor Kavanagh in the Sun: "It is now clear the Leveson Inquiry was an establishment stitch-up. It was intended to move fast, avoid scrutiny and deliver its report in time for swift, irreversible legislation. Instead, plans for a royal charter are bogged down in discord and controversy, making a laughing stock of Britain’s hard-won reputation as a bastion of Press freedom. After this fiasco, it would serve MPs right if the newspaper industry now withdrew from the process, flatly rejected Press regulation — and challenged Parliament to do its worst."

Mark Wallace on Comment is Free: "The Daily Telegraph has cut itself loose of its party ties, and adopted a far more pugnacious, champion-of-the-people worldview. In fine conservative style, it has dedicated itself to historic principles whilst using the very newest technologies to promote them. The Torygraph of old may be dead and gone, but it has grown into a beast that is just as important – and all the more tricky to handle."

Mike Darcy, chief executive of News UK, quoted by Press Gazette: "It is better to sacrifice reach and preserve sustainable profitability.“Moreover, when we sacrifice this so-called reach, what have we really lost?  A long tail of passing trade, many from overseas, many popping in for only one article, referred by Google or a social media link, not even aware they are on a Times or a Sun website, wholly anonymous. That passing trade was good for the ego, if unique user stats do that for you, but they don’t really add to our purpose at all.”

James Harding, speaking at the Journalists' Charity annual lunch,  on leaving the editorship of The Times: "I resigned…err…I was resigned from The Times.”

[£]=paywall

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