I write for the Daily Mail. AMA.

[Mailista]

Specifically, Femail. AMA.

[Mailista]

Smelly, I don't know how others who write for the DM vote. I have never discussed it directly with any of them.

[MrsSnootyPants2018]

Why do so many of your articles have spelling mistakes? Is there no procedure for proof reading?

[Mailista]

Calming, it's a bit of a mixture. I have sometimes written things just to get a reaction. But by no means all the time. And sometimes things get a reaction when you don't expect them to (and things you think will get a reaction get a bit of a 'meh' response).

[beenandgoneandbackagain]

Is it true that Daily Mail journalists get paid a bonus if they can come up with an anti-BBC story?

Do Daily Mail journalists that auto-correct phrases such as "XX was wearing a dress by XXXXX" to ""XX flaunted her legs / boobs in a £XXXX dress"?

Have you ever lied about who you work for, e.g. at a party or been too ashamed to admit it?

[Mailista]

Snooty, everything is proof read. I am glad to say (as a SPAG pedant) that I have never seen a spelling mistake in any of my pieces - but if you look at any newspaper, you will see howlers that slip through the net...

[Mailista]

Beenandgone: I have never heard that one! I'm not keen on the BBC myself, but the BBC has never been mentioned to me in the context of features.

[Mailista]

Beenandgone

Sorry - pressed 'post' too soon!

There is a degree of formulaic writing, 'tis true. I don't think anyone takes it that seriously.

I have never lied about what I do, but I do tend to preface it with an apology.

[DownHereInTheHorridHouse]

To the person who asked what I meant by 'huge' kill fees (sorry, can't load all messages at moment for some reason), as I said, this was over 10 years ago. You could certainly get up to 80%, but that would mean you couldn't take it elsewhere. They also had a lot of money to buy contacts - so, if I wrote a piece for another publication, I'd often get a DM journalist call me to ask for the person's phone number so they could do an article too. Never did that, but gave me a sense of how persistent they are when they want something.

[Mailista]

Trying now to see what I haven't answered...

Dangerrabbit, I voted Remain.

Vulva, I would love a regular slot in the Daily Telegraph. Or to be a present-wrapper at John Lewis. Working hours are variable - sometimes about three weeks of work get crammed into three days. Other times I wonder if I will ever work again...

Monkey, "the most overall"? Could you elaborate, please?

Languish (and others, too): I sleep at night because I have to do something to earn money, and I'm not sure anyone would pay me for my sexual services .

[MikeUniformMike]

These are general journalism questions, but I hope you will answer them please.
Why do articles about women always mention their age?
Why do sports sections feature so few articles about women's sport?
Why do journalists pad out their articles in an annoying way? (example is something like "It's a truth universally acknowledged that Actor Bloke is a sex god..." when it is boring and obvious that it is padding, and I don't particularly agree with it?
Why do people write about themselves and their children in the lazy section? Are their children going to be pleased about the 'oversharing'?

[TheWeeMacGregors]

My question - what do you think when we tell you that we do take this stuff (written about women) seriously? can you see that from our point of view?

[QueenOfIce]

Why does the fail sorry Mail always use the words SLAMMED in a headline.
'Z list celebrity SLAMMED for wearing Crocs' etc totally unnecessary!

[MikeUniformMike]

Of course it is unnecessary, crocs are brilliant.

[cheshiremama89]

How did you get the job?!
It's my dream role!

[LoveLifeLive87]

Why do you think it’s ok to highlight certain religions or ethnic groups in vile headings and context making it look worse and causing more hatred and uproar? Yet when it’s non religious and not of ethnic groups but similar or even worse stories the context is so much more mild in choice of words??

[nuttynutjob]

Have you met Samantha Brick?

[Mailista]

Mike

These are general journalism questions, but I hope you will answer them please.

Why do articles about women always mention their age?

Absolutely no good reason. Any more than there's any good reason to mention the value of someone's house. I think it's in fact yet another example of everyday sexism.

Why do sports sections feature so few articles about women's sport?

No idea, I'm afraid. I have never written a single word about sport (women's or men's) and have never participated in or watched sport of any description, so I'm probably the wrong person to ask! That said, I think it is probably because there is, for whatever reason, less interest in women's sport.

Why do journalists pad out their articles in an annoying way? (example is something like "It's a truth universally acknowledged that Actor Bloke is a sex god..." when it is boring and obvious that it is padding, and I don't particularly agree with it?

An interesting question for many reasons. I'll use your example, but it could apply to anything, really.

Let's say Actor Bloke is generally regarded as a sex god. I personally find him desperately unattractive. Yet there's a weird way in which things are repeated so often that they almost become true. And then they are repeated all the more, and become (apparently) even more true.

For some reason, popular culture seems to dictate that certain people/organisations/whatever are deified, while others are demonised. It's a very strange process, and is largely incomprehensible. In a similar vein, why did the colour grey suddenly become ubiquitous? Who dictated that grey was the only neutral that anyone would want to use?


Why do people write about themselves and their children in the lazy section? Are their children going to be pleased about the 'oversharing'?

Another very good question. People write about themselves and their children because those features command good fees and a lot of online comments. I think there comes a point where you can't use your children, however tempting the fee. But each to their own.

[Mailista]

Cheshire, it was my dream job too! Combination of luck and persistence...

[Mailista]

Why do you think it’s ok to highlight certain religions or ethnic groups in vile headings and context making it look worse and causing more hatred and uproar? Yet when it’s non religious and not of ethnic groups but similar or even worse stories the context is so much more mild in choice of words??

Lovelife, I don't think it's ok. I don't write those sort of features.

[Mailista]

Queen, I don't know. I supposed 'slammed' is a bit like estate agents using 'stunning' for every single property. It's just a quick shorthand.

[Mailista]

TheWee

My question - what do you think when we tell you that we do take this stuff (written about women) seriously? can you see that from our point of view?

Another good one. I hadn't really thought about it. If I had done, I'd have assumed that people would realise that it's all about selling newspapers/advertising/revenue. Can you give me a specific example of something that might be taken really seriously?

[whataboutbob]

Is it true that Paul Dacre uses the C word as freely as a chippy uses a bottle of sarsons vinegar? And how do his staff cope with his verbal abuse?

[TroysMammy]

Do you proof read your work for spelling mistakes before it goes into print or online? I've seen some awful examples of shoddy spelling and it doesn't project a professional image.

Oops! I've just outed myself as a DM reader.

[MikeUniformMike]

Thanks. Articles starting "A truth universally acknowledged..." really piss me off. The writer is not original or clever and I've seen it so many times
Trust me, there is plenty of interest in women's sports. Most of my middle aged colleagues become very interested in it when the Olympics is on. Beach volleyball particularly. Joking aside - there is, and I feel that girls and boys should see athletes and sportspeople as role models.
Sounds a fun job.
Regarding role models, I think that articles about women of the gushing variety who go on about slimness and weight quite dangerous. "Her tiny 6.5 stone frame" type things.
I think the Mail is toxic btw. That's why i don't read it.

[safariboot]

To what extent are those working for different sections expected to be "on message" with the paper's overall editorial stance? Have you written stuff and been told it's not "right" for the DM politically?

If somebody was working for the DM and open about their own left-wing views with their colleagues, how would that be likely to impact working relationships and promotion chances? (Let's say they write something that's not especially politicised, like sports or celeb gossip).