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Whilst on the subject of the Cutty Sark, I eventually got out of bed, did the usual routine and made my way to work safe in the knowledge that what would await me on the bbc would include, at the very least: (1) a report of the fire; (2) some photographs — mainly amateur, but with a few professional shots; (3) some video footage (most likely amateur and, in that most likely case, caught on a mobile phone); and (4) an interview or soundbite from a relevant figure.

As far as scores go, 4 out of 4 isn't bad, but I couldn't help but wonder what would have happend in, say, 1910. Assuming for a second the Cutty Sark would still be considered an important national landmark in 1910, I could only really envisage an artist's impression of the fire in the following day's paper. In this case, the "instancy" of the news reporting was pretty dispiriting. Though I'm not asking for a return to hand-drawn impressions (though I will admit to a disproportionate enjoyment of court drawings), the desperate rush to secure news coverage all felt a bit predictable.

I suppose I'd better post this entry under "post-material malaise".

Tags — Newspapers