Comments on: Us & Them http://heatherbrooke.org/2009/article-where-is-the-uk-version-of-the-wire/ Heather Brooke is an award-winning writer, journalist and activist Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:17:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: PhilC http://heatherbrooke.org/2009/article-where-is-the-uk-version-of-the-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-1800 PhilC Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:43:08 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/?p=649#comment-1800 Season 3! A certain online retailer is due to deliver season 2 to me very soon. Does it live up to Season 1? And yes, as a freelancer like yourself, I am painfully aware of the lack of funds for investigative journalism. America seems to be finding a way round this with co-operative ventures and pooled resources backed by philanthopic investors; just wondering if the UK can't do the same..... Season 3! A certain online retailer is due to deliver season 2 to me very soon. Does it live up to Season 1?
And yes, as a freelancer like yourself, I am painfully aware of the lack of funds for investigative journalism. America seems to be finding a way round this with co-operative ventures and pooled resources backed by philanthopic investors; just wondering if the UK can’t do the same…..

]]> By: heather http://heatherbrooke.org/2009/article-where-is-the-uk-version-of-the-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-1799 heather Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:49:26 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/?p=649#comment-1799 PhilC - not to get into a wage-off but I'm pretty certain my salary is about one-third of most full-time TfL staff members and I'm not funded by the taxpayer. There is absolutely NO money in investigative journalism in case you were wondering. Sad but true. Thanks for the other comments. I've just bought the book 'Homicide' and can't wait to get into it. I'm now on Season 3 of The Wire. PhilC – not to get into a wage-off but I’m pretty certain my salary is about one-third of most full-time TfL staff members and I’m not funded by the taxpayer. There is absolutely NO money in investigative journalism in case you were wondering.
Sad but true.

Thanks for the other comments. I’ve just bought the book ‘Homicide’ and can’t wait to get into it. I’m now on Season 3 of The Wire.

]]> By: JPFife http://heatherbrooke.org/2009/article-where-is-the-uk-version-of-the-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-1798 JPFife Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:28:40 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/?p=649#comment-1798 Maybe we all should be friends with a judge, as David Simon was in this recent article, and information from police would be more forthcoming? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022703591_pf.html Maybe we all should be friends with a judge, as David Simon was in this recent article, and information from police would be more forthcoming?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022703591_pf.html

]]> By: JPFife http://heatherbrooke.org/2009/article-where-is-the-uk-version-of-the-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-1797 JPFife Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:01:32 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/?p=649#comment-1797 Aside from the reasons given by you there isn't a culture of quality in UK film and TV that there is in America. The short season format of UK TV doesn't generate tradesmen as it does in the US, only journeymen. The Wire is a great TV series but after Season 3 it started to get on its' soap box, which derailed it from the compelling stories in my view. Having said that even at its worse it's better than most British TV. If you read the Book, Homicide, written by David Simon, you can actually see elements that made it into the series. When he talks about the cops there is such detail that you can easily identify characters in The Wire. So, your point about the reality is "spot on." (If you've seen season 2 you should get the spot on reference.) Simon also spent time with Drug dealers and documented this in 'The Corner' due out in Britain soon, so therein lies his ability to put both sides. TfL? Despite the media insistence that everyone in Britain know every little detail about London we don't, please don't use abbreviations without explanation. Aside from the reasons given by you there isn’t a culture of quality in UK film and TV that there is in America. The short season format of UK TV doesn’t generate tradesmen as it does in the US, only journeymen.

The Wire is a great TV series but after Season 3 it started to get on its’ soap box, which derailed it from the compelling stories in my view. Having said that even at its worse it’s better than most British TV.

If you read the Book, Homicide, written by David Simon, you can actually see elements that made it into the series. When he talks about the cops there is such detail that you can easily identify characters in The Wire. So, your point about the reality is “spot on.” (If you’ve seen season 2 you should get the spot on reference.) Simon also spent time with Drug dealers and documented this in ‘The Corner’ due out in Britain soon, so therein lies his ability to put both sides.

TfL? Despite the media insistence that everyone in Britain know every little detail about London we don’t, please don’t use abbreviations without explanation.

]]> By: Riz Din http://heatherbrooke.org/2009/article-where-is-the-uk-version-of-the-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-1796 Riz Din Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:50:57 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/?p=649#comment-1796 It's no Wire but the upcoming three-part crime drama on C4, called 'The Red Riding', should make for interesting viewing. It’s no Wire but the upcoming three-part crime drama on C4, called ‘The Red Riding’, should make for interesting viewing.

]]> By: PhilC http://heatherbrooke.org/2009/article-where-is-the-uk-version-of-the-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-1795 PhilC Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:03:33 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/?p=649#comment-1795 Maybe you should instead do a shift with TfL alongside one of their members of staff, who probably earns about half your wage, before spouting off easy cliches about "my fares pay his wages". I also fail to see why the Met refusing you permission to visit a nick is evidence of a fortress mentality. I was at a parish council meeting this week where a beat bobby and the sector sgt spoke openly and honestly to the public for 30 minutes about local policing. Neither of our experiences should be used as evidence for sweeping claims about either secrecy or openess. And going back to easy cliches, The Big Issue must have sacked all its subs to let tired phrases such as 'champagne socialists' through. BTW: The Wire is brilliant and I've just finished the first series. Am desperately hoping not to learn what happens in the next lot. The book 'Homicide' is one all journalists should read. Maybe you should instead do a shift with TfL alongside one of their members of staff, who probably earns about half your wage, before spouting off easy cliches about “my fares pay his wages”.
I also fail to see why the Met refusing you permission to visit a nick is evidence of a fortress mentality.
I was at a parish council meeting this week where a beat bobby and the sector sgt spoke openly and honestly to the public for 30 minutes about local policing.
Neither of our experiences should be used as evidence for sweeping claims about either secrecy or openess.
And going back to easy cliches, The Big Issue must have sacked all its subs to let tired phrases such as ‘champagne socialists’ through.
BTW: The Wire is brilliant and I’ve just finished the first series. Am desperately hoping not to learn what happens in the next lot. The book ‘Homicide’ is one all journalists should read.

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