Print journalism is a defunct trade, according to Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine.
Speaking at the Kit Kat Club at Notting Hill’s Pentagram, Vine compared print journalism to such redundant occupations as leech collector, child chimney sweep and alchemist.
“It’s very, very sad,” Vine said. “My apologies to anyone who’s in it and still thinks it’s a living profession. It isn’t.”
Vine recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of his Radio 2 news and call-in show. Before that he was a presenter on Newsnight, where he had a tense relationship with fellow presenter Jeremy Paxman.
“People were always asking me ‘How do you get on with Paxman?’ and I’d say ‘I don’t know, but if you have any ideas…’”
Vine also recalled the time when he asked Anna Ford if female newsreaders ever met up together to discuss their lives and innermost feelings. “Jeremy,” said Ford witheringly, “don’t let your fantasies run away with you.”
