LINK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/23/mediamonkey
I WAS tres amused and entertained on reading this leaked email sent by one of my favourite columnists – the excellent food critic, Giles Coren - to his sub-editors at The Times for hacking into his copy.
Essentially Giles unleashes an epic – and often hilarious – diatribe, towards those who were a little careless in appreciating the complex thought, time and effort behind his writing, and went on to send it to press incorrectly altered.
My editors – on the whole – are largely tasteful and compassionate when subbing my copy. But on occasions I’ve had some of my words mashed, and I can sympathise with his reaction.
Most notably I recall in 2007 when a painstaking interview piece I’d written for a magazine about a local actor was subbed to bits on the whim of ‘advertising imperatives’. In one foul swoop, the sub lost my witty introduction and punning sub-head, and effectively skewed the entire nuance of the piece. Livid, I was.
This aside, I have worked as a news editor before and can partially understand the pressures a sub works under. I can empathise in what it’s like to have to make cut-throat decisions about what goes in and out, what its like to work to deadlines, and negotiating demanding memos from upstairs, never mind economic pragmatics.
I recall during my newspaper days having to intervene to save a sloppy headline put over a vox-pop (four talking heads). Unwittingly it was entitled by our chief sub as “Our readers on….the sex offenders register.” Libel much? I think the bill for four cases of defamation could have amounted up to over a cool £ 1.5 million!
So here we are anyway. Have a read of Giles’ hilarious email if you are a journalist, freelancer, sub or editor. It may give you a few fresh insights, a sense of validation in your craft or some ideas for the future, perhaps.
Feel free to leave me any anecdotes of your own experiences, too; in the media industry working together always has its ups and downs.
