Category Archives: Hacked off – journalism issues

LeftLion 54: Decade

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decadeThe latest issue of LeftLion 54 just happened to be our tenth anniversary issue and so we went to town as much as we could by interviewing as many ‘big names’ as possible. It’s a bit of a celebrity wank-off in some respects, but it was an occasion that needed to be marked. Cramming it all in meant we extended to 54 pages which is cause for celebration in itself. Although I think the front cover looks great there were many faces missing who have done a great job for the Lion over the years, notably designer Dave Blenkey, Nathan Miller and of course Al Needham.

From a literature perspective this included a double page feature on Ray Gosling and a gentle invitation to Councillor Jon Collins to give this incredible man the keys to Nottingham. It was great to be able to write a ‘proper’ informed article and goes to prove that there is space in LeftLion for serious articles (e.g. one’s you have to read rather than flick through). The Q&A format is great for publications read in pubs and cafes but people do take LeftLion home to read as well.

One recurring question I keep being asked is whether I like Ray Gosling. Of course I frigging do or else I wouldn’t have wasted three years of my life following him around. Good journalism is about telling the truth, showing all sides, it’s not about kissing arse. Ray has wild mood swings and there’s no point lying about this, though in hindsight I could have been more diplomatic about his hygiene. Either way it’s my best headline to date: RayG Against The Machine.

hsim225Dramatist Michael Eaton kindly allowed us to republish his Left/Right commission for the Nottingham Playhouse’s 50th birthday celebrations which features a dialogue between our favourite two lions. There was also a spot for Rhiannon Jenkins Tsang, author of The Woman Who Lost China, which takes us back to the beginning of the Maoist communist onslaught of 1949. This was an opportunity to get in a Smiths reference in the headline: ‘How Soon is Mao: There’s a republic if you’d like to go. You could meet 1.3 billion people who really love you.’ This is what LeftLion is really about, witty headlines, irreverent comments, not taking ourselves too seriously – everything our egocentric cover is not…

WriteLion featured a specially commissioned poem by MulletProofPoet, one from Rosie Garner who helped out LeftLion back in the day and a typical Lord Biro offering. In their differing ways they all capture the spirit of this factory town. We featured two self-published books, one by Jack Croxall and the other by an incredibly entertaining eccentric called Susan Beecroft. Our favourite adopted scouser Paula Rawsthorne and a short story collection from the Notts writing group took the other slots. We also found space for three poetry reviews: Helen Ivory, who helped adjudicate the Alan Sillitoe Poetry Competition, the Nottingham Lace Anthology which was published as part of the Festival of Words (and also includes short stories) and an offering from NTU graduate Daniel Campbell, because he sent the most entertaining accompanying letter I’ve read in eight years of slogging my guts out for nothing. Katie Half-Price got stuck into the latest pseudonym from JK Rowling and tried to figure out what exactly Bradley Manning has done wrong.

Al Needham finally got to interview Su Pollard and so can die a happy bunny. Al is an absolute genius and is one of my commissioned writers on Dawn of the Unread. I learned a lot from Al when he was LeftLion editor and he taught me the value of asking difficult questions. One question that was not asked of White Dolemite (our centrespread and the person who did the front cover) was about his grotesque sexual imagery. All The Girls Are Dead is a particularly brutal sexualised image that has already caused offence to a few people I’ve spoken to and we missed an opportunity to allow him to respond to these valid criticisms. Given the ridiculous rise of misogyny we’ve seen recently on Twitter or the backlash at women for daring to want Jane ‘Pounds and Prejudice’ Austin on a bank note (what do men want, Steve Austin?) publications like LeftLion need to be more responsible. So soz, for that.

Dear Jon

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raygCouncillor Collins, for the past three years I’ve been following Ray Gosling up and down Mansfield Road, discussing his life over a pint or two for an article published in the current issue of LeftLion. It’s not been an easy journey at times but certainly an experience I will never forget. To be perfectly honest with you I didn’t know that much about Ray when we first hooked up other than he’d written a couple of books and spent a fair few years in broadcasting. I am now completely astounded as how much he has achieved in a life dedicated to fighting for the rights of ordinary people, be it in giving them a voice on the screen or ensuring they have some say in their everyday lives, as with St. Anns. Hence my title for the piece was: RayG Against The Machine.

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Photo David Parry for LeftLion.

I can think of no better person more deserving of being given the keys to Nottingham than Ray. This seems particularly fitting at the moment given that gay marriage has finally been given Royal Ascent, representing a lifelong fight by Ray to justify his sexuality. His documentaries on bankruptcy, pensions and old age are even more relevant today given the current economic climate and the difficulties faced by ordinary people. But my favourite documentary, and the one I think best sums him up, is the one about Whittingham Hospital Asylum, which he describes as “a community of very sensitive people”. Simple, compassionate, and absolutely on the nail.

The rebel city

I am led to believe that Nottingham is rebranding itself as the rebel city. Yes, that chap in green tights will certainly be useful for tourism – as last week’s Robin Hood festival proved – but a broader and deeper interpretation of rebellion would allow you to celebrate the many figures who have stood up and fought for the rights of ordinary people or against perceived injustices in the system. Alan Sillitoe did it in literature by creating an authentic working class voice. Ray Gosling has done it on screen by celebrating, and giving voice to, the ordinary lives of people, offering an alternative view of history to Ken Clarke’s Civilisation.

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Photo David Parry for LeftLion.

Gosling is a rebel. He’s a surrogate son of Nottingham who has fallen in love with the city and has the bruises to show for it. But he’s getting very frail and weak and now is the time to celebrate an extraordinary life dedicated to ordinary people. Yes, he’s a pain in the arse who likes a drink but as far as lives go, it’s hard to think of one more deserving of recognition.

It would mean a lot to Ray as well. As much as he claims he doesn’t need anyone, validation is important, particularly given the way his career has been reduced to a tabloid headline and those one thousand radio documentaries have been conveniently forgotten.

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Photo David Parry for LeftLion.

Nottingham is heading in the right direction at the moment, people have got dirt behind the fingernails and the Creative Quarter and other developments suggest that we’re slowly linking together and forging an identity that may finally put Shottingham to rest. Ray is an inspirational figure who symbolises what can be done with a bit of grit and self-belief. Nottingham needs to shout about such figures because he’s been shouting for us for fifty years.