Venice: 'Ink' Team and Baz Bamigboye Revisit 1980s Tabloid Excess
In a Venice Film Festival piece, Deadline columnist Baz Bamigboye recalls a 1982 incident when his editor ordered him to board Concorde to follow Jerry Hall. The anecdote is shared in the context of the film 'Ink,' directed by Danny Boyle and written by James Graham, which explores the world of tabloid journalism. Bamigboye's story highlights the era's extravagant newsroom culture.
The anecdote underscores how tabloid journalism in the early 1980s operated with unchecked urgency, where editors dispatched reporters on costly, impulsive assignments without concern for budgets. This era predates digital news cycles, relying on physical travel and payphones. The film "Ink," set against this backdrop, dramatizes the rise of Rupert Murdoch's Sun and its aggressive tactics, with Bamigboye's personal recollection serving as a real-world touchstone for the movie's themes of ambition and media power.
This story may resonate with audiences reflecting on media ethics and the evolution of news culture. It could prompt discussions about how far outlets once went for scoops, contrasting with today's data-driven, often cautious reporting. Journalists and media consumers alike may see parallels in current tabloid practices, while filmmakers and historians might use such anecdotes to frame debates on press freedom and accountability.