How to rescue writers

December 15, 2008

studs-terkel.jpg

No one but a fool ever wrote but for money. So said Dr Johnson, but what happens to writers in a recession, when no one can afford to pay them?

The FT reminds us that Franklin D. Roosvelt was astute to this problem during the Great Depression. He went so far as to set up the Federal Writers’ Project, which saw 6,000 out-of-work writers, including Saul Bellow, John Steinbeck and Studs Terkel, hired to chronicle the 1930s Depression.

An excellent idea. Gordon – and Dave, for who knows what the future holds – perhaps you might care to emulate the estimable FDR?

Pictured: Studs Terkel, in fine fettle right up to his recent death at the age of 96.

 

2 Responses to “How to rescue writers”

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- Are You Riled Up? - » Blog Archive » How To Rescue Writers : Spada Professional Services Pr Firm on December 15, 2008 at 7:41 am

[...] No one but a fool ever wrote but for money. So said Dr Johnson, but what happens to writers in a recession, when no one …[Continue Reading] [...]

Posted by:
Barbara Marriott on December 16, 2008 at 1:34 am

I think putting our out of work writers to work is a fine idea. But what would they write? The Federal Writers project had several goals..put unemployed white collar employees to work, produce a series of state guide books that would get Americans traveling, and present a broad pictures of America and Americans as a country and a unit. What would we do today that is meaningful?

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Not so right said Fred

February 2, 2012
fred hat

So Farewell, then, Sir Fred Goodwin.

Now you are just Fred.

Not Right Said Fred, but plain Fred.

The Forfeiture Committee did for you.

No one had heard of it before,

But Dave said it had to act, and it did.

Trouble is that no one knows what to think.

Is it ‘Alas, poor Fred‘,

Or ‘Hurray! Sir Fred is dead!’?

We don’t know.

Do you?

By A. Mob, aged 1,378 and a half.

London Goes AWOL

January 31, 2012
CNN

STOP PRESS:

Fed up with being stuck on the Thames in south-east England, London yesterday decided to move. In a dramatic gesture which augurs ill for the Olympics, the city upped sticks and relocated to East Anglia.

Lawyers were not consulted about the move, and the city’s precise motivation remains unclear. However, financiers fear that London’s decision is a sign that it wishes to downsize. Moreover, a source from London said: “We no longer want to be Britain’s seat of power. If the Scots can deregulate, why can’t we? East Anglia is a nice place where nothing happens. It’s time for a quiet life. Please respect our right to privacy.”

Elsewhere, Birmingham did not do anything, but Manchester was seen to be packing its bags. “There’s an opportunity for us,” said Manchester. “We can become London.”

East Anglia said: “We don’t mind. It’ll be refreshing to be associated with something other than fens and flatness.”

A cartologist at CNN, which broke the extraordinary news, was later fired.

An excellent ad if ever there was one

January 25, 2012
legovader

We seem to be visually led this week but sometimes words proliferate far too much and letting an image do the talking is no bad thing. That’s another way of saying that ACCESS Agency’s work with Lego is absolutely top drawer.