Rose Collis publishes new book 'Accidental Journalist'

Earlier this year, Rose Collis noticed that the 40th anniversary of the start of her ‘accidental’ journalism career was coming up.  So rather than publish a ‘memoir’ or just a selection of articles taken out of context, she felt that readers might be interested in what the great political journalist Philip Webster calls ‘the stories behind the stories’, as well as articles not available via online sources.

That is the criteria by which she selected the 25 pieces featured here, in her 18th published book, including Derek Jarman, Lynda La Plante, Sinead O’Connor, Frankie Howerd, Anita Roddick, Melvyn Bragg, Sandra Bernhard, Neneh Cherry, Susan Sontag, Armistead Maupin and Prisoner: Cell Block H.

The published articles in this anthology are exactly as they were originally printed, except where she has been able to correct some typos, etc. Rose Collis’s ‘accidental’ career in journalism started in October 1985, when London-based magazine City Limits appointed her to be the first lesbian co-editor of the highly influential ‘Out in the City’ section, founded by Brian Kennedy.

At that time, City Limits was the weekly magazine that writers wanted to write for, and readers - in and outside of London - looked to as the guide to all things alternative: socially, politically and culturally. It was a workers’ co-operative - the largest in England - which meant that all staff, regardless of what department they worked in, had an equal say in it, and all staff were paid equally, pro rata. 

The magazine was launched in 1981 by many of the former staff of Time Out who had left during a protracted dispute after owner Tony Elliot ended the system of equal pay for all staff. Its distinguished rollcall of staff journalists included Nigel Fountain, John Fordham, Penny Valentine, Lyn Gardner, Duncan Campbell, Beatrix Campbell, Lucy O’Brien, Quentin McDermott, Melissa Benn, Sheryl Garrett, Michele Kirsch, Ros Asquith and Cynthia Rose. 

But, as Rose recalls, no-one was more surprised than she was to be appointed to the magazine: ‘At that time, I had no ambitions at all to be a journalist (let alone an author) and if anyone knew how blasé I was about the whole thing, I probably wouldn’t have been taken on.’

"Since 1985, my work has appeared in The Times, YoursRetro, Gay Times, The Independent, Time Out, Spare Rib, Everywoman, Women’s Review, Diva, Shebang, Kennedy’s Gay Guide To London, Tribune, Chic, Marxism Today, WorldAIDS, New Socialist, Xtra (Canada), New Insight, Sussex Life, Venue, Independent Cinema, The Bookseller, 3Sixty and one80.

"Other editorial work has included programme notes for the National Film Theatre; essays in the Oxford New Dictionary of National Biography and being a freelance sub-editor on publications including TV Times, Total TV Guide, Bella, Diva, Good Homes, She, What’s On TV and BBC Worldwide.

"Being a journalist has taken me into places and situations and encounters with people I could never have imagined, nor ever envisaged. I hope this anthology conveys some of that enjoyment, improbability, wonderment and acquired knowledge."