The death of the private conversation

‘Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading the newspapers,’ said the American writer Ben Hecht, ‘is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock.’ This is as true of commentary as of news, and presents a Fleet Street commentator with a dilemma.

‘Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading the newspapers,’ said the American writer Ben Hecht, ‘is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock.’ This is as true of commentary as of news, and presents a Fleet Street commentator with a dilemma. Useful commentary needs perspective. Perspective is gained by standing back. A good way to stand back is to wait until the hullabaloo has died down. But the end of the hullabaloo usually coincides with a story’s passing from the news, and from public interest.

It’s no good us columnists getting too precious and complaining about that.