What’s the difference between a rich socialite and a struggling socialist?
By Emma.
Well for one thing, I’m a better writer.
Jemima Khan’s stint as guest editor of this week’s New Statesman coincided with me leaving my phone at home and needing something to read on the bus. Given that it was the New Statesman or Heat Magazine I opted for the former in hopes of intellectual stimulation. It was there sporadically of course. The basis of the magazine is sound and it has some great journalists working for it, not least Medhi Hassan who is a genuinely refreshing voice from the left.
But the problem, beyond Jemima’s rather bland sixth form essay into, was that she was clearly booked for her book, her contacts. Her who’s who of this week’s “journalism” include Russell Brand, Simon Pegg, Alain De Botton, Tim Robbins, Oliver Stone, A A Gill, Helena Kennedy, Rory Stewart MP and Zac Goldsmith MP (her brother).
Don’t get me wrong, I like and admire some of these people. And the piece where Hugh Grant bugged a journalist was a genuinely interesting idea. But these people are not bringing us anything new, they aren’t unpublished or unpublicised. So what did this guest editorship bring the New Statesman other than the increasing profile of rich socialite Jemima Khan?
A guest editorship should be a way to look at a publication afresh and challenge its internal assumptions. It could be a way to champion new voices and unearth different points of view. Sadly, even in intelligent publications like the New Statesman, It’s become a place for a bunch of celebrities to make each other feel good about the glossy sheen of their understanding of current events and politics.
Jemima got a pretty good scoop with Clegg’s self-pitying interview. But I still can’t help thinking that this was a misguided attempt to link our politics and celebrity culture. And I wonder what an edition of the New Statesmen with a truly challenging guest editorship could be like.
Tags: Jemima Khan, Mehdi Hasan, New Statesman
Saturday, April 9th 2011 at 10:43
Quite right. Except for the bit about Mehdi Hassan, who I disagree with on just about everything.
Wednesday, April 13th 2011 at 19:50
At least Jemima can spell Mehdi Hasan’s name right.
Wednesday, April 13th 2011 at 19:56
That education was worth every Penn of Daddy’s money then.
Wednesday, April 13th 2011 at 20:54
Not sure you need an expensive education, so much as ‘the ability to read or use Google’.
Interested to know: are there any guest editors of whom you approve?
Saturday, April 23rd 2011 at 12:34
Agreed Emma, but there were a few good moments in the Puddleduck edition. Maybe The Staggers is trying to do a Speccie? In which case, I’d have thought getting Nick Cohen back would have been a better idea…