The guide confirmed many of my prejudices about blog writers acting as newspaper columnists. I reckon that Unity, for example, would make a great researcher, but even the shortened posts here on LC are too blunt and wordy. The posts lose their reading compulsion too quickly. Few other bloggers have found a voice, and I am dubious about those shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for them.

James Graham’s quote from the Orwell Prize site that “They are awarded to the book, and for the journalism, which is judged to have best achieved George Orwell’s aim to ‘make political writing into an art’” deserves special emphasis. It is a really high benchmark, so perhaps a more sober Nick Cohen might have proposed that you only give the award for something worthwhile — as journalism and as fine writing.

Regarding Nick Cohen’s incoherence, I doubt whether that was the three minute speech that he had prepared. Perhaps somebody wound him up during the pre-event cocktails and he forgot the rule that Anger + Booze = Twice as Drunk. His argument about sacking journalists is immediately contradicted by the BBC’s continuing employment of contrary presenters such as Paul Mason. Although, as Mason writes, “I was one of the first bloggers on the BBC. On and off I’ve been shooting from the lip here since July 2005 – as far as the BBC editorial rules will let me.”

Cohen himself writes pieces that are essentially positive spin for policy exchange – he did so only the other week which is why he got so spectacularly pwned by Sunder.

I can understand seeing something in some of his comments, but the problem is that it’s a glaring example of drunken hypocrisy.

Much of the mainstream media resembles a mouth-piece for department of propaganda (sorry ’spin’). At the danger of sounding like a twatty student who has just read ‘flat earth news’ (which i am) take the Iraq war for example, who (apart from Gillingham) actually questioned and investigated the absurd govt claims about Saddam? *tumbleweed*

Have a look, as someone said up there, at Nick Cohen’s writings on Iraq. found in a certain periodical called the Observer – which was rather heavily featured in the Iraq parts of Flat Earth News…

By the way, that book deserves a prize.

you see the likes of Derek Draper and Paul Staines and assume all bloggers are like that.

Aye, the existing media narrative on what bloggers are and are about hasn’t really changed, just now instead of mocking they want to belittle.

Draper’s new to the whole thing, and is palpably an arse, Staines is at least honest about what he wants to be, wholly in it for himself and for the money, not interested in policy. He’s the diary/gossip column of a tabloid, nowt else.

They reckon between 5 & 10% of the UK population have a blog of some sorts–this is one of the best, if not the best, non partizan site, most are small scale with about 20 readers at best, but that’s good.

As for parties? I refused to have anything to do with the party in my hometown while they were in office–I campaigned for the MP but the Cllrs could get stuffed, absolutely useless. But they got wiped out at the last elections–wonder why. So don’t worry about attacking “your own side”, if they’re being useless, call em on it…

I myself am a journalist student with spectacularly bad timing, so I hope my self-righteous sneers havn’t burnt all my bridges with possible employers. And as if to prove my Orwellian credentials, as much as I love the Lib Dems, they are my party of choice, I am writing a pretty damning article my local Lib Dem council.

keep up the good work

Of the main contributors, several journalists (Sunny and Cath write for the Guardian) or wannabe journalists, there’s an accountant, an IT manager, a couple lawyers, a barmaid, and a lot of people I can’t tell you much about.

Basically, Sunny got together a bunch of people who were already blogging or campaigning, and suggested a site where we could argue amongst ourselves but still come together on stuff we agree on might be a plan. I think he’s right, hence I’m here—I post less than I should, but I comment a lot.

There’s no “we all think this” line (I suspect some of the contributors like Cohen, but I reckon they’re a minority), and it’s very much a shifting coalition with some basic requirements.

Many of us are actively involved in politics (I’m chair of my local Lib Dem branch), but for a lot of different parties, or simply for campaigns or causes.

Meh, look at me, one line question, a billion paragraphs in the answer…

One of the many things I admire about Orwell was although he was a committed socialist, which in itself I have nothing against and i see myself as leaning to left, he constantly challenged his beliefs and was never blinded by dogmatic political baggage, again, i’m sure people could argue differently. Tyranny of the consensus majority no matter where on the spectrum is a very limiting to any argument. That is the motive, if you like, behind my original post.

I will try and read those things if I get the time, thanks MatGB for the recommendations. Out of interest, what do most people in this ‘parish’ do? politics, journalism etc?

I don’t know anything about Cohen, his writings or politics, so really can’t argue on those points.

Ah, see, therein lies the problem. Cohen is well known in this parish, as in previous places many of us hung out in.

Given your obvious dislike of the Iraq invasion (which I share), I recommend looking his stance on it up. While you’re at it, have a laugh at a) The Euston Manifesto (which he helped write and b) The Mornington Crescent Manifesto, which was a shorter translation into reality-speak.

I do agree with his assertion that Orwell would be dismayed by the toadying nature of the relationship between much of the media and political establishment. I havn’t seen many examples of its traditional fourth estate role in hold those in power to account.

Much of the mainstream media resembles a mouth-piece for department of propaganda (sorry ‘spin’). At the danger of sounding like a twatty student who has just read ‘flat earth news’ (which i am) take the Iraq war for example, who (apart from Gillingham) actually questioned and investigated the absurd govt claims about Saddam? *tumbleweed*

If you’ve think i’m mistaken then prove me wrong. Otherwise grow a pair and take on those lying, conniving reptiles called politicians.

Cos they’re crass and simplistic?

Seeing as the modern Britiswh Conservative movement is increasingly turning itself into a version of the American Right wing, I don’t see the point in debating with liars, morons and hypocrites.

The man is a moron!

Well, if they do insist on employing you…but seriously: it’s almost as though Nick is waiting for the editor of the Observer to terminate his contract (fluffy white cat and pool of man-eating sharks optional) so he can say ‘I told you so – they’re all seven-foot tall lizards with death rays’ (in policing circles this is allegedly known as ‘suicide by cop’). Nick just needs a nice cup of tea – and a lucrative contract with, say, The Times (well it worked for that other heroic teller of things people don’t want to hear, David Aaronovich).

Actually, there Nick Cohen isn’t too far off from Hitchens – who also blames all of the world’s ills on the vast leftwing conspiracy.

We actually do try to. I have been sent a review copy of his recent book by his publicist for review on this site.

It’s completely incoherent rubbish, I’m having problems reading through the introduction without giving up in frustration.

It’s not that we don’t want to engage with people. It’s just that there’s nothing worth engaging with in the case of Cohen–he’s become a parody of himself.

Of course, but that’s not the point here

If Hitchens has been shortlisted, then it clearly is a liberal lefty conspiracy! and the Guardian is to blame!