Justin Webb Interview

Justin Webb – BBC America


What were you doing when you were my age?

At 19 I was working in a Black and Decker power tool factory in Maidenhead, taking a year off before university.

How did you get to where you are now?

I went to university at the London School of Economics and at the end of my course I applied for the BBC News training scheme. I got a place although delayed it by a year so that I could work for a political PR company, but basically went straight from university into the BBC; which nowadays is quite unusual.

What are your memories of reporting during the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland?

My first proper job was with Radio Ulster in current affairs, working mainly for Good Morning Ulster. It was around the time of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, so needless to say it was quite a busy period indeed. I still have very strong memories of living there, and a great fondness for Belfast. The sight of the city in those days, with pouring rain and helicopters above, troops and police on the ground, and the whole infrastructure of how it looked, but also the warmth of the people there. I was always shocked by how easy going people were about English reporters coming over, naturally trying to advance their own careers, but reporting none the less, they didn’t seem to mind. It was definitely a great time to be there and experience the whole atmosphere.
I was covering such interesting times, but as an outsider not involved. I got to know people like George Seawright, Gregory Campbell as well as quite a few from Sinn Fein that I perceived had quite obvious connections to violence; but to me there was never an issue about which side you were on. Us Brits were just so completely outside of the loop.
It was strange to me that these were people living risky, sometimes criminal lives; on the fringe of or inciting violence, and yet to someone like me they could be incredibly warm and interesting, and you felt both repelled but at the same time rather attracted to them.

Is journalism becoming increasingly regarded as a fame-seeking career?

Anyone who goes into journalism to become famous is probably wasting their time. It was possible 10-20 years ago. Kate Adie is a famous person; her equivalent in 10 years time won’t be anywhere near as famous. People view less news, different things and have far more choices than ever before. The BBC is at present being challenged to work out what we can offer to separate us from the others. Nowadays users can click on yahoo to know what’s going on. So we need to put forward those who, whether or not you agree with them all the time, can put across a sense of integrity and be respectful to the audience.

How much have you enjoyed the opportunity to keep a successful web journal, and how integral will it be in the coverage of the impending election?

When I was first approached with the idea I viewed it with real trepidation. I thought that it would be a lot of work and not much reward. It has been the complete opposite. It has been enormously rewarding to engage with people, and know that those on the Internet are not just complete nutters, but have real knowledge and interest in the subject.
The problem with this election as a news story is the extent to which everyone in Britain feels they have heard it all before. Arguably the biggest election for Britain was Obama-Clinton. To put it bluntly, what we have to do now is persuade people that John McCain is as interesting as Hillary was, and he is. We have to put it to Britain the very real possibility that McCain could win, a fact that it perhaps not that widely thought of outside the U.S. It may be less Shakespearian but fascinating all the same.

With the headline grabbing aspects of the Obama campaign, has it been difficult to maintain fairness and equality with respect to both candidates?

If he makes more news you have to cover it. When Obama speaks to 200,000 people in Berlin, that may have resulted in a net loss at home. McCain may or may not have persuaded more votes that day, who knows. McCain was at the same time in a German restaurant, but might have won more votes that day.
I have just written a book called ‘Have A Nice Day’, which comes out this September; it looks at how the US is semi-deliberately misunderstood as a country. Now, post-Bush, there are many people now taking a new look at America, and these are two candidates that both represent great change. There is a public awareness now that this is a moment in history to re-evaluate the United States, and that things are changing.

Do you prefer to be reactive to current affairs, or proactive in searching out a story?

I like to have a mix. To be frankly honest we reporters do little research. There is just so much out there that needs to be reported that the idea of me making calls to sources is slightly unrealistic. The best you can hope for is to embellish and add to stories through your own contacts, but the idea that I may go out and discover a plot to do something is very unlikely

Who do regard as the most influential person in your life?

John Humphreys. An incredible character; I first knew him when working on ‘The Today Programme’ and was always impressed by how approachable he was. He has this unstoppable enthusiasm for doing his job that is very important, and a real example to anyone who wants to be a reporter.

What do you value most in life?

I think Radio 4 actually. I feel that it is Britain’s most valuable cultural institution. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world and you truly realise that living here.

What advice do you have for university graduates hoping for a career in the media?

My advice would be to do it, but to be very, very aware that it is a time of enormous change. It may well not be the career it looks to be. You will have to be very flexible to this change, but I do not doubt that the world will still need to have reporter.