Journalism needs writers from all walks of life
This week, CreativePEC shared new research revealing that the number of people from working-class backgrounds in film, TV, and radio has plummeted to just 8% of the workforce, the lowest level in a decade.
Channel 4 News platformed some young creatives to talk about it. I can relate to Sam Oddie’s comments on mindset and self-belief.
Just read through the comments on X and saw this piece by Tom Walter, Journalism: Occupation of the Privileged?, which he shared ten years ago!!
Christ, it’s depressing.
Wrote this a decade ago, and I see no change. The idea of working-class lads from former Nottinghamshire mining villages, for example, taking unpaid work experience in London is becoming laughable. The same people again and again in the media.
I remember being in Mansfield Library (my second home) while doing my A Levels and wondering whether to bother applying for an internship at ITN News. Inner Aggie: “What’s the point? You won’t get anywhere with it, being from round here. You’re at a state school.”
But I’m a stubborn bugger, so I did apply. I didn’t get shortlisted, but you’ve got to try and keep pushing. And that’s been my mindset ever since.
After uni, I wrote 100 letters to production companies all over the UK and finally got my first job as a runner at Maidstone Studios for £80 a week. My bedsit was £40 a week – quids in!
Later, I won a scholarship with Emap to study magazine journalism and was over the moon. This was 2000-2001, pre-digital boom, and I knew I had to move to London to get my dream job in women’s mags. But I couldn’t afford to move there without a job and had no family to stay with.
A friend from my Maidstone days had relocated to London, and she let me crash in her spare room in Waterloo for a bit while I was on unpaid work experience at the BBC, Emap and IPC Media. I’m super grateful for that opportunity. I couldn’t have done it otherwise.
Always a side hustle. I had a Saturday job at Penhaligon’s and temped between media jobs to keep myself afloat. But even though I was working all hours I still managed to get into debt in London and spent the next decade paying that off.
Looking back, it’s a crazy life and a route to burnout. I can see how it’s shaped me: Working with writers’ orgs and a journo union to help freelancers survive and thrive in an expensive city and messed-up media industry. Here for the little guy!
It’s good to see lots of folks commenting on this report, sharing ideas, opportunities and trying to change the status quo. Jackie Oudney has just premiered a short film on exactly this from a female perspective (semi-autobiographical). Well worth watching; link below.
The 98% Pod has started a chain of working-class creatives to uplift wc voices. Please share if you know someone who needs a leg up with their creative career.
Levelling up? I am positive but I agree with Celine Haddad on the levy.
As always, it comes down to money.
Read, Watch, Listen
▶️What I Am — a short film written by award-winning director Jackie Oudney
▶️How and why to make a / now page on your site — a public declaration of your priorities | Derek Sivers
▶️Substack is completely gutting their business right now — followers vs subscribers | Jeanna Kadlec. And Simon Owens‘ take on it
▶️Welcome to SmallStack! A brand new library for small publications | Robin Taylor
▶️Journalists Pay Themselves — how indie worker-owned outlets are making money to fund their work | Lex Roman
Nika ✨
Thanks to Sophie Parsons for the fabulous illustration – it is me and I love it!
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Nika Talbot 