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David Hendy

@davidhendy.bsky.social

6.1K followers 1.8K following 760 posts

Writer & broadcaster, Prof. Emeritus University of Sussex. 'The BBC: A People's History' (2022). 'Noise: A Human History', BBC Radio 4 (2013). Rep: Caroline Dawnay, United Agents https://societyofauthors.org/soa-member/david-hendy/

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 21d

John Reith of the BBC: ‘a soul in torment’?

My piece for the BBC looking back at the publication - 50 years ago this week - of the extraordinary ‘Reith Diaries’

Reith's Diaries

How the publication of private diaries fifty years ago this month changed forever the public image of the BBC’s first Director-General - John Reith.

canvas-story.bbcrewind.co.uk

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 24m

It loses me. Sorry

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 26m

What if you’ve been close to a pub, and everyone -residents, landlord - agrees that the current level of noise and anti-social behaviour is liveable with - tolerated with no complaints - but a significant extension of opening into the early hours of the morning would probably wreck this consensus?

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 1h

A hellish prospect for those of us who live very near to a pub and just about tolerate current noise levels and anti-social behaviour - through gritted teeth at 1am or so on Friday and Saturday nights.

The current truce between residents and landlord would not survive this stupid, stupid proposal

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 3h

Pubs to stay open until early hours in move to boost UK growth

Exclusive: Plans for England and Wales would help ailing hospitality sector but health experts criticise move Pubs, clubs and restaurants will be able to open into the early hours as part of Labour’s drive for economic growth, a move which critics say will lead to more drunken disorder. Ministers are pushing ahead with plans to allow premises that sell alcohol to extend their opening hours in order to boost “the British night out” and help the hospitality sector. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by David Hendy

Jaka Bartolj's Media History @mediahistorynow.bsky.social · 3h

Reminds me of a Rothko painting!

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 1h

Yes!

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 14h

Wednesday morning walk, Dungeness

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Reposted by David Hendy

flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 16h

“Why haven’t the protests against successive governments’ complicity in genocide stopped”, a mystery that is apparently beyond our finest political minds to fathom

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Reposted by David Hendy

The TLS @thetls.bsky.social · 16h

'This attempt to decentralize human experience in theatre aligns Cow | Deer with “deep ecology”, a philosophy that has growing influence on systemic approaches to the planetary emergency.'

Amber Massie-Blomfield on theatre that invites us to listen

Noises on

www.the-tls.com

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Reposted by David Hendy

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 16h

ME/CFS is a devastating condition that has long been denied, dismissed, psychologised and underdiagnosed. Research is at last starting to catch up with it, with glimmers of hope for those who have been left untreated for so long.
There's a huge BUT coming ...🧵
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Scientists develop first ‘accurate blood test’ to detect chronic fatigue syndrome

Research could offer hope for ME patients – but some experts urge caution and say more studies needed

www.theguardian.com

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 1d

‘ … it takes a special type of person to enthuse this Dignitas-adjacent crowd.’

Honest Bob gets the party started – the Reform party. It’s tough being a Tory | John Crace

Robert Jenrick gives Conservative conference delegates permission to be the worst possible versions of themselves

www.theguardian.com

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 2d

Monday evening walk, Dungeness

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 2d

Tackling the scourge of modern ‘quality’ journalism: false balance.

James Gleick @around.com · 2d

Dear New York Times,

Henceforth, forbid the tired formulation "both sides." Just don't allow it.

Likewise the cliché "war of words."

These should be red flags. They encourage laziness and sloppiness.

Report what they say. And use your superpower—reporters on the ground—to report what's true.

Reposted by David Hendy

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 2d

Tory Conference debate on free speech. You see? Sometimes being "cancelled" is a mercy.

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 2d

‘an exquisite study in dwindling celebrity’

Alan Partridge is back at rock bottom – and it’s the funniest he’s been in years

After stadium tour success, the delusional broadcaster is back where he belongs: self-funding a series about the nation’s mental health. As comedy goes, it couldn’t be more pleasurable

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by David Hendy

Caught by the River @caughtbytheriver.bsky.social · 8d

Our friends at the brilliant @littletollerbooks.bsky.social have just launched a new crowdfunding project for 'Looking for Mr Schwitters' — an innovative and finely illustrated book about the émigré artist Kurt Schwitters’ final years in the Lake District www.caughtbytheriver.net/2025/09/look...

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks for the tip off - just two left now!

Reposted by David Hendy

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 2d

It helps to be able to spell the country you say only you are competent enough to run.

Goody-bag merch from Tory Conference branded "When Labour negotiates Britian loses" and signed "Kemi Badenoch".

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 2d

Monday morning walk, Dungeness

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 2d

‘Corporations, being artificial, immortal colony-organisms that use humans as their inconvenient gut flora, do not have consciences to appeal to.’

Cory Doctorow on The Great Enshittening - and what to do about it

Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

Sick of scrolling through junk results, AI-generated ads and links to lookalike products? The author and activist behind the term ‘enshittification’ explains what’s gone wrong with the internet – and ...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Hendy

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 3d

*gasp*

“Everyone thought we’d come in and there were going to be these huge costs we could cut away but there just aren’t,” said a third senior Reform cabinet member in Kent.

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Reposted by David Hendy

Graham Macklin @grahammacklin.bsky.social · 3d

Police investigating a suspected arson at a mosque in East Sussex have issued images of two people they wish to identify.

Peacehaven: Police release photos of mosque arson suspects

The images are of two people in balaclavas seen outside the mosque before the large blaze spread.

www.bbc.com

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 3d

Ah thanks. I do realise - as an ex BBC journalist - that these things change continuously. Still, overall, nationally, I feel the significance of what happened will end up being underplayed.

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 3d

Yes, I saw the Sky News and the BBC. I realise it’s not being totally ignored. But unless I’m mistaken the BBC news coverage appears to be local only; my feeling is that it should have v quickly been categorised as national news. I’m sure it will at some point.

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 3d

And yes, coverage in Poland.

Wakey wakey UK media

Gazeta Wyborcza @wyborcza.pl · 3d

Policja prowadzi śledztwo w sprawie podpalenia meczetu, do którego doszło w nocy z soboty na niedzielę w mieście Peacehaven w hrabstwie East Sussex na południu Anglii #Wyborcza #Anglia wyborcza.pl/7,75399,3230...

Nieznani sprawcy podpalili meczet w brytyjskim mieście Peacehaven

Policja prowadzi śledztwo w sprawie podpalenia meczetu, do którego doszło w nocy z soboty na niedzielę w mieście Peacehaven w hrabstwie East Sussex na południu Anglii. Śledczy uznali, że do pożaru dos...

wyborcza.pl

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 3d

Well, CNN are covering it at least, even if the British media are largely uninterested

UK mosque set ablaze with two people inside, police investigating suspected hate crime | CNN

A UK mosque was set ablaze with two people still inside in a suspected arson attack that police are treating as a hate crime.

www.cnn.com

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