Mic Wright

Bad Press Awards

Recognising the Worst of the Worst of British Journalism

The Copper-Plated Comma
for Convenient Quotes

“I don’t know how she does it”. That was the central question of Allison Pearson’s 2002 novel about working and motherhood. I’m going to borrow it here and apply it to Pearson’s more regular profession as a columnist.

How, after decades of being required to have a strong opinion on a weekly basis, does she keep on pumping out the invective?

One answer is that she seems to have access to a continually expanding cast of characters that offer just the right quotes at just the right time.

A recent column by Pearson, headlined (with typical restraint by the Daily Telegraph’s slavering subs) “Our complicit elite is to blame for every sexual assault by an illegal migrant” – provided several perfect examples of the ‘convenient quote’ in action.

This is the Paywall

We pay our journalists to investigate stories that matter. So we make some of our best articles and investigations available exclusively to paying readers. This is one of those articles; to read it, sign in or subscribe.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Get access to the Byline Times Digital Edition and read this article now

It costs £3.95/month or £39.95/year
Find out more and compare ways to read Byline Times

Get access now