![Matt Johnson of The The, photo by John Claridge](https://martinbelam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/matt-150x150.jpg)
“I just got a bit fed up with singing and dancing for other people’s profit” – interview with The The’s Matt Johnson
Earlier this year, with Theresa May putting troops on the street during a general election campaign in the UK, I got in touch with The The’s management to see if Matt Johnson might share his thoughts on the political situation…
![Thirty years of watching The Fall](https://martinbelam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_0536-150x150.jpg)
Thirty years of watching The Fall
It’s an amazing anniversary today. No, not two months since I last updated my blog. It’s thirty years since I first saw The Fall play live. It’s a gig that has lived long in the memory. I must have seen…
Friday Reading S06E13
Friday Reading is a weekly series of recommended reads from the Guardian’s Social and New Formats Editor Martin Belam, covering journalism, media and technology. It is also available as an email newsletter – sign up here A difficult week. On…
Friday Reading S06E12
Friday Reading is a weekly series of recommended reads from the Guardian’s Social and New Formats Editor Martin Belam, covering journalism, media and technology. It is also available as an email newsletter – sign up here It’s been a decent…
![Friday Reading S06E11](https://martinbelam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/mushy-150x150.jpg)
Friday Reading S06E11
Friday Reading is a weekly series of recommended reads from the Guardian’s Social and New Formats Editor Martin Belam, covering journalism, media and technology. It is also available as an email newsletter – sign up here I blogged about this…
The ‘alt-left’ media, memes, algorithms, and the price of the MSM not taking the internet seriously
A couple of very good pieces about the impact of online activity on elections that I recommend you take a bit of time to read. First up, Jim Waterson with “The Rise Of The Alt-Left British Media” It’s a look…
![Friday Reading S06E10](https://martinbelam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/18209175_10155047876775708_6738659487034925752_o-150x150.jpg)
Friday Reading S06E10
Friday Reading is a weekly series of recommended reads from the Guardian’s Social and New Formats Editor Martin Belam, covering journalism, media and technology. It is also available as an email newsletter – sign up here This is why we…
![“You are part of our gang” – running news social media accounts during an election campaign](https://martinbelam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/guardion_twoot-150x150.jpeg)
“You are part of our gang” – running news social media accounts during an election campaign
Having run social media accounts for both the Mirror and the Guardian during election and referendum campaigns, here’s a long rambling brain dump about the whole thing… I suppose one of the things that has driven my career over nearly…
![Friday Reading S06E09](https://martinbelam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Picture-699-150x150.png)
Friday Reading S06E09
Friday Reading is a weekly series of recommended reads from the Guardian’s Social and New Formats Editor Martin Belam, covering journalism, media and technology. It is also available as an email newsletter – sign up here. This week I’ve mostly…
![(L-R) My dad, James, some bloke a couple of rows back, and me, at Leyton Orient on Boxing Day 2016](https://martinbelam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/15747618_10154649351780708_8525875369326061069_n-150x150.jpg)
What if taking my son to Leyton Orient is ruining football for him?
A couple of weeks ago my wife and children had just landed in Cyprus, and she texted me: “On the bus to the hotel – we’re the first stop – thank God! Flight was fine – no bumps. James wants…