Why it's OK to fucking swear

I gave a talk yesterday and opened by introducing our site. When the home page was projected to the audience of about 60 people, I noticed the headline 'Alastair Campbell tells BBC to fuck off'.

"Apologies for the expletive but it's Alastair Campbell's fault, not mine," I said.

A similar, cheeky smirk came to my face when discussing the new site design with Tim Gopsill, editor of the NUJ's The Journalist. When he first saw the home page he muttered: "Journalism... oh yes... tells BBC to fuck off?" and I could detect something in his voice.

It might have been surprise - or shock and disapproval. Probably mixed with a feeling that we had been unprofessional in not censoring Mr Campbell's colourful language.

Swearing isn't big or clever but it shouldn't be taboo. It's language in everyday use, we're a website for adults - and clearly Mr Campbell thinks it's professionally acceptable to tell the BBC to fuck off. Even if it is in an email to his colleagues.

More news from dotJournalism:
Alastair Campbell tells BBC to 'fuck off'

Comment? Email me.



Comments

From Seamus McCauley, 10:53 16 February 2005

Jemima - I very much enjoy your column on journalism.co.uk.

Regarding your article of 11th ('Why it's OK to fucking swear'), I heartily recommend to you Stephen Fry's excellent article on the subject ('Saying Fuck') in which he
makes a similar point and which you can find in his collection 'Paperweight'.

Michael Duggan, 20:52 18 February 2005

Keep it up. You do not need to defend yourself from a plenitude of blathering carpers for your carefully-written and succinct  chosen and balanced summaries of journo news.

In my view, you have been for a long time spot-on and brief in handling any number of sensitive issues and insensitive gripers and self-promoters along the way.

I also appreciate your revamped and enhanced journalism.co.uk website, eg. the jobs summary on left hand of the opening page. Without this the jobs list in the weekly Thursday webcast may seem otherwise a bit of a textual walk in the woods.

Your news and links section is and remains without paragon.

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).