By Who doesn’t love a good ‘gotcha’ question? Sophie Laughton shares the top moments when journalists called out their interviewees.
By Journalists are a dog’s best friend, but which pet belongs to which hack?
Here, six journalists give clues as to which four-legged friend is theirs. So, take the quiz and see if you guess correctly while checking out some adorable dog photos.
By A piece of Diyora’s mind: Video series
For the third instalment of the series, we’re hearing from Diyora Shadijanova, opinion and personal essays editor at gal-dem and freelance journalist for publications like Cosmopolitan and the Independent. She tells us about learning to grow confidence as a journalist, and her piece that got given a shout-out at a protest!
By Journalists’ tales of self-doubt and success
Everyone experiences self-doubt – or as it is often now known: imposter syndrome. The psychological condition affects 70 per cent of the population, and it isn’t limited to people entering a new profession or starting university – it can affect even the most seasoned of professionals.
XCityPlus spoke to three journalists to find out about their experiences with imposter syndrome, and moments in which they overcame it.
By Second name on XCity Award shortlist announced: Mary Fitzgerald
The outgoing editor of openDemocracy has been shortlisted for the XCity Award for her work in holding the government to account through its interrogation of social and political issues.
By Stay-at-home cinema: Film critics reveal the cinema set-ups that got them through lockdown
Attendance at British cinemas in 2020 was 75 per cent down on the 176m admissions in 2019. Among those unable to attend due to the pandemic were film critics. Four of the UK’s leading film critics reveal to XCityPlus the home cinema set-up that’s got them through lockdown and what they miss about the silver screen.
By A toolkit for journalists writing about trans activism
As our newsrooms continue to broaden and diversify, it’s important to ensure journalists stay as informed as they can be. Over the past few years, trans people have experienced a historic groundswell in media visibility: from celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner, Laverne Cox and Elliot Page on glossy magazine covers, to TV shows like Transparent and Pose.
By Tackling COVID-19 vaccine myths: Q&A with Laura Garcia
The COVID-19 vaccination programme is a light at the end of the tunnel for those whose lives have ground to a halt due to the pandemic. But the success of that programme is being impeded by myths being spread online. XCityPlus spoke to Laura Garcia about how misinformation and disinformation is spread and the causes behind vaccine hesitancy.
By From headlines to hops: Leaving journalism to open a brewery
Opening his own brewery was food writer Daniel Tapper’s dream. The brewer began his journalistic career, writing for the likes of The Guardian, Waitrose Kitchen Magazine and Delicious, but it was while freelancing full time that he began experimenting with home brewing.
By Light bulb moments: How to develop compelling ideas
As journalists we’re often told that ideas are our currency – as if cartoon-like ‘light bulb moments’ pop into our heads on demand. But how often have you found yourself uninspired? Does it ever feel like your well of pitches has run dry? Cara Laskaris speaks to Richard Klein, Oscar-winning factual TV producer and commissioner, about how to develop compelling ideas.
By Journalists in film may be more glamorous, but why are they so unrealistic?
In movies, journalists are often depicted as cool dudes with a latte in one hand and their Macbook in the other, like Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. But movies aren’t real life, and sometimes, fictional journalists are too ridiculous to believe. XCityPlus has identified some of the most ludicrous fictional journalist moments.
By Work-from-home wellbeing: How the UK’s leading health and fitness journalists are getting through the pandemic
For journalists working through the pandemic and the changes it sparked, it can seem impossible to balance a career and still take care of their mental and physical health.
But what about the people who write about these topics for a living? We spoke to some leading health journalists to find out how they stay happy and well when working from home – and what they’ll do going forward.
