Journalists raise money and offer direct help to Haiti

Posted by Michele Weydert on 19 January 2010 at 10:11
Tags: Broadcast, International, Journalism, National Newspapers, New Media, Newspapers, Online, Radio, Television

In the wake of the Haiti earthquake disaster last week a number of news organisations have been quick to get aid initiatives off the ground to help raise money and ease some off the communication problems caused by the collapse of the domestic telephone network. (more…)

Kirsty Wark: I earn less than £500,000 a year

Posted by Michele Weydert on 18 January 2010 at 11:46
Tags: BBC, Broadcast, Journalism, People, Television

Journalists need to have a ‘fairly thick skin’, Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark tells the Guardian in an interview.

Wark, who joined Newsnight in 1993, says that journalists have to expect some criticism. “It comes with the territory and you have to have a fairly thick skin,” she says.

A few years ago Wark was criticised by commentators who thought she was ’setting herself up as a celebrity’. “There were several things that happened that they latched on to, but you just keep your head down, get on with your homework, and try and do the best you can.”

“I joined the BBC when I was 21, and all I am is a journalist. And what journalists do is try and ask the right questions. Often we fail, but you don’t set yourself to be anything other than that.”

When quizzed about her income she said that her annual pay from all sources, including much non-BBC earnings, is “south of” £500,000 a year.