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Airhead

The Imperfect Art of Making News

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Airhead

By: Emily Maitlis
Narrated by: Emily Maitlis
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Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Airhead, written and read by Emily Maitlis.

As anchor for the BBC's key political news programme, Newsnight, Emily Maitlis has interviewed some of the most powerful and controversial figures on the political scene. She plans each interview meticulously, knowing what she wants to ask and where she wants it to go, but as one of the most experienced journalists in her field she knows that no interview will ever go to plan. Anything can throw it - from the atmosphere in the room to her own feelings at the time to the mood of the subject. Often she leaves the interview with an entirely different perception of the interviewee, while sometimes it is all too sadly re-confirmed.

Airhead explores just these moments. All we normally see are the interviews, but what were the conversations that preceded them or the shouting matches that ended them? From her interviews with US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton and the last five British Prime Ministers, to Hollywood film directors and powerful internet and entertainment moguls like Sheryl Sandberg and Simon Cowell, Emily Maitlis explores how these powerful personalities came across. In the process she throws an illuminating torch on them, not just for what they represent, but as individuals in their own right - with all their flaws and charms.

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Critic reviews

Anyone who has spent this election campaign shouting at the TV needs a copy of Emily Maitlis's Airhead in their Christmas stocking. It's funny and subtly smart, taking the reader behind the camera
Maitlis has written a deliciously funny book about the high-wire act of broadcasting and the madness that surrounds it. Lots of famous presenters have written books but Maitlis' is different . . . Irresistible. She sounds great company . . . Her book's a romp
Maitlis paints a vivid picture of the intensity and unpredictability that come with her assignments, which punctures the perceived glamour of life reporting the news . . . Her writing is excellent: precise, economical and accessible
She is a superb writer, used to throwing together pacy, engaging scripts at a second's notice. Each chapter is dedicated to one of her interviews - it is a sort of greatest-hits compilation
[Emily] is so absolutely of the moment, a quasi-memoir could not be better timed. Airhead is a compilation of her greatest hits. And boy are there many . . . narrated in her snappy, chatty style . . . her asides are acerbic, her observations hilarious
She recounts the interviews of her career, from the great, the good and the questionable, offering insights into the questions that illuminated their characters and the ones they dodged. A chapter on being the target of a stalker reveals her more vulnerable side in this compelling book
Airhead is, like its author, funny, wise, self-deprecating and insightful
Smart, funny and brilliantly told stories about what goes on behind the scenes of television news. A joy
Revelatory, riveting and frequently hilarious. A joy from beginning to end
A remarkable journey through the jungle of newsmaking. It combines razor-sharp analysis with compelling narrative drive and wit. A must-read
All stars
Most relevant
fascinating accounts of newsmaking events through her unique perspective, wonderfully read by resilient, human, Emily.

intriguing

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I don't watch Newsnight and didn't really know much about Emily Maitlis, other than I once watched her present some awards at a dinner and I knew she was a BBC journalist.

This is a collection of reminiscences and anecdotes. It curates the life of a broadcast journalist and the bric-a-brac of being a celebrity who is paid to talk to the famous, infamous and passingly interesting people for public consumption (plus Piers Morgan). It is all the better for being read by the author, who seems to have written it to simultaneously assuage guilt about the voyeurism of her profession and to shed some light on what it is like to broadcast everything live, whether triumph or tragedy and then go home to live your own real life.

She comes across as smart, funny and self aware. There is the hint of the diva, but its not clear if that's a role she plays, an unavoidable consequence of the job she does, or a character trait. I thoroughly enjoyed it and, as one who listens to Audible daily on a 3 hour commute, I found myself sitting in the car in the garage when I got home, listening to the end of each story, before going to see my family.

Honest, Funny and Revealing:A few Hours Well Spent

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Great insights into what must be the hardest working person at the BBC. Real analysis if pivotal moments shes witnessed and been part of. Her realisation of the juxtaposition in her situation and those caught up in the grenfell crisis was as real as it gets in terms of being able to be truly self reflective. Great Read and those impressions (particularly the dalai lama) had me creased

Those impressions 🤣🤣🤣

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Fantastic listen, really rather funny as well. found myself laughing at the stories and spot on impressions of the interviewees.

Listen to this ASAP if you're into current affairs.

Brilliant listen!

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A collection of interesting stories and behind the scenes insights that gives the listener a better understanding of what Emily and her colleagues need to do to get the insights delivered on a regular basis.

Interesting Listen

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