Not Writing is the new Not Reading

Jack Shafer explains why journalists are so keen on writing about the Hollywood wrtiers’ strike and, more to the point, why we all root for the plucky scribblers in this fight. There’s a natural hack-to-hack sympathy here that might, one would imagine, infuriate teachers or postmen or miners or train drivers whose industrial action tends not to be portrayed quite so sympathetically. But it is also true that, as Shafer says, many (perhaps even most) journalists would secretly rather be a Hollywood screenwriter than a beat reporter or pundit.

There’s a fine New Yorker cartoon in which one journo wearliy says to his drinking partner – all such conversations must take place in bars you know – “I’m not writing my novel either”. Indeed, scan a few hacks’ profiles on Facebook and you’ll find more than a few who list “Not Writing” as one of their interests or hobbies.

So, having covered the importance of Not