My Trade: A Short History of British Journalism (2004)

How do you decide what is a 'story' and what isn't? What does a newspaper editor actually do all day? How do hacks get their scoops? How do the TV stations choose their news bulletins? How do you pursuade people to say those awful, embarassing things? Who earns what? How do journalists manage to look in the shaving mirror after the way they sometimes behave? The purpose of this insider's account is to provide an answer to all these questions and more. Andrew Marr's brilliant book will act as a guide to those of us who read newspapers, or who listen to and watch news bulletins but want to know more about the process behind the scenes. Andrew Marr. He explains how journalists get stories and write columns, examine the styles and power of the great editors, contrast broadcast and written journalism, asks unpleasant questions about the compromises and corruption of the trade, and talks to most of the major players today.