A Reflection on Two Weeks at The Independent
Not many Newspapers bore me as much as the Independent but after a short stint on the travel desk i may pick it up occasionally, that’s if they are still in operation after this year.
I had the opportunity of spending my first week with Simon Calder, chances are you won’t know the name but whenever GMTV or BBC Breakfast have a quirky travel story, Simon will be there in an open collar linen shirt having arrived on a bicycle 5 minutes before they go live. Along with Simon I worked with Kate Simon, editor of the Independent on Sunday Travel, Ben Ross, Editor of the Traveller magazine and Sophie Lam, a highly efficient editorial assistant for Simon.
Based near Canary Wharf, the office comprises three floors with the news and senior editorial on the top floor which gives the phrase ‘I’m not sure the guys on the top would approve’ a literal meaning- it may also be a deliberate attempt to exert authority but the extent of the editorial independence afforded to the sections made this seem unlikely. The travel desk is near the sports section which surprisingly was the tidiest area on the floor, the largely male contingent made a good job of filling the extra space they had with talk-sport- esque banter regardless of the time of day. I recall some conversations about a work experience girl and how they had only invited her because she was single, attractive (in a rather less eloquent fashion) and knew something about the champions league.
Another odd portion of the day was when the obituaries desk had their roundup chat about who had died last night and why. I almost felt sorry for the editor who would regularly call up newly made widowers and ask if there was a chap who could write their obit. Generally though, they are extremely hard working and have, from what was overheard, perfected the art of obtaining information from relatives of the deceased. Not a job I would want to do but anyway.
Apart from opening the mail every morning, I was largely accepted as a member of the editorial team for the two weeks, editing, fact checking, proofing and writing daily for them. Although I rarely had time to leave for lunch, it was a pleasure working in such a motivated environment and one with industry professionals at the top of their game. I was given two articles to write which will feature in the traveller magazine some time this Jan, I will post the links once they are uploaded to independent.co.uk.
With 90 people to lose their jobs and a relocation to Northcliffe house, the home of the Daily Mail, this informative and often overlooked newspaper should hopefully survive. Who knows, maybe the move in with the DM will kick them up the backside and start producing some interesting and controversial debate flourising their readership, either way i will pick up a copy occasionally vainly hoping that my £1 will keep them afloat.