Q&A


What made you become a journalist? We had a fortnightly newspaper at Manchester Grammar School, and it was such a thrill to see my words in print. That led to editing the student paper at Oxford. Until I was 32, I saw journalism as a stepping stone into politics. Suddenly, I was offered the prospect of a Labour seat but then realised overnight that journalism was much more interesting and fun. After that, I felt liberated and no longer worried that my journalism might impede my political career.


What other job might you have done/have you done? When I left university, I briefly set up a tiny publishing business, and I always wonder how far I might have got as a businessman.


When did you join the NUJ and why? Within days of joining ITN as a graduate trainee in 1980, because I’ve always believed workers have more clout when they organise together. I’ve subsequently been very grateful to the union for helping me through a couple of stupid scrapes.


Are many of your friends in the union? Sadly, I fear not.


What’s been your best moment in your career? That’s very difficult to answer. In some ways, I’m happier now as a


NUJ & me Michael Crick is a broadcaster


and author. He has covered politics for Channel 4 and the BBC


freelance than I’ve ever been – still very busy, writing the odd book and occasional article, doing broadcast punditry, and running my Twitter feed – @tomorrowsMPs – about parliamentary selections. The latter is unpaid, but fascinating, addictive and fun.


What advice would you give someone starting out in journalism? Specialise. Keep in touch with people who are clearly going places. Put huge efforts into collecting people’s contact details. Never assume there’s nothing more to say about any story.


What is the worst place you’ve ever worked in? A turkey slaughterhouse.


And the best? ITN, 1980-90. The company had an amazing ‘can do’ spirit in those days – anything was possible even


if your deadline was only a few minutes away. We worked hard but also played hard in an era when there seemed to be no shortage of money. Also, unlike the BBC (I discovered later), there was no social division between journalists, technical teams and other staff. We all mucked in together, and you still see that togetherness at ITN staff reunions.


Who is your biggest hero? Robert Caro, legendary biographer of Robert Moses and Lyndon Johnson.


And villain? Vladimir Putin.


Which six people (alive or dead) would you invite to a dinner party? Jesus Christ, Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson, Mahatma Gandhi, and Pamela Harriman.


What was your earliest political thought? I remember my mother saying to me, around 1966, when I was about eight: “Harold Wilson – I had such high hopes in that man.” It’s the story of politics really – the Left disappointed by successive leaders, not just in Britain but everywhere.


What takes up your spare time? Following Manchester United. I’ve been going to about two-thirds of all United games in England, home and away, for 53 years now. It’s not cheap but not as costly as some addictions. And now I’m also starting to enjoy the very different pleasures of non-league football.


What are your hopes for journalism over the next five years? That local papers and other local media can be revived.


And fears? That AI will drive many journalists out of work.


How would you like to be remembered? For helping younger colleagues.


theJournalist | 19


IANDAGNALL COMPUTING / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


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