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.
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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!
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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.
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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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