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David Hendy

@davidhendy.bsky.social

6.1K followers 1.8K following 770 posts

Writer & broadcaster, Prof. Emeritus University of Sussex. 'The BBC: A People's History' (2022). 'Noise: A Human History', BBC Radio 4 (2013). Rep: Caroline Dawnay, United Agents https://societyofauthors.org/soa-member/david-hendy/

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 27d

John Reith of the BBC: ‘a soul in torment’?

My piece for the BBC looking back at the publication - 50 years ago this week - of the extraordinary ‘Reith Diaries’

Reith's Diaries

How the publication of private diaries fifty years ago this month changed forever the public image of the BBC’s first Director-General - John Reith.

canvas-story.bbcrewind.co.uk

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 4h

'... fast becoming a British version of The Wire'

‘The best cop show’: Blue Lights just gets better with every single episode

This rivetingly tense Bafta-winning drama crackles with raw energy. Its third series is its finest yet – and is rapidly becoming one of the greatest TV series in existence

www.theguardian.com

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 10h

All my undergraduate and postgraduate history was medieval (with shards of ancient and prehistoric) - and I only ended up with focus on C20 when I reached my early middle age.

Reposted by David Hendy

Dr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 12h

I got my first taste of archival research when visited the BBC written Archives as a 3rd year undergrad in 2001 to research my dissertation.

I studied the papers relating to radio programme 'Ack-Ack Beer-Beer', broadcast in WWII for Anti-Aircraft and Balloon Barrage personnel.

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12h

For reasons, it would be v. helpful to have information from a broad range of academic and non-academic (incl. GLAM) users of the BBC Written Archives OTHER THAN historians, briefly on: 1) What you've used it for and 2) How the proposed changes would impact on your research.

Reposts welcomed.

Historians dismayed by ‘scandal’ of BBC cutting access to...

Critics say new limit to trove of information sounds knell for independent research

observer.co.uk

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Reposted by David Hendy

Justin Colson @justincolson.bsky.social · 12h

At @ihr.bsky.social we can now offer PhD by Publication in History! For those with a substantial body of existing published research (within past 10 years), but without a PhD, should be of particular interest to #heritage professionals and independent scholars!

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Elizabeth Darling @archhistdarling.bsky.social · 4d

📯📯 Important blogpost!

Ian Greaves @greavesian.bsky.social · 4d

My campaign colleague Kate Murphy has written today about the plight of women's studies in light of the BBC Written Archives Centre's withdrawal from the world of independent study. The policy changes, in her view, are 'nothing short of catastrophic'. cstonline.net/defending-th...

Defending the WAC: recovering the invisible women of the BBC by Kate Murphy

My first visit to the BBC’s Written Archives Centre was in 2002. I was working as a producer on Woman’s Hourand had applied for a three-month attachment to what was then the Diversity Centre…

cstonline.net

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Reposted by David Hendy

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 4d

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to María Corina Machado on.ft.com/4nTWp5l

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to María Corina Machado

Win for Venezuela’s main opposition leader dashes the hopes of US President Donald Trump

on.ft.com

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 5d

Not forced, maybe, but likely to be attracted to the idea

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 5d

Yes, it is specific - which is precisely the benefit of keeping highly localised decisions over licensing - the kind that can take into account the circumstances of individual pubs in certain densely populated mixed residential areas.

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 5d

It loses me. Sorry

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 5d

What if you’ve been close to a pub, and everyone -residents, landlord - agrees that the current level of noise and anti-social behaviour is liveable with - tolerated with no complaints - but a significant extension of opening into the early hours of the morning would probably wreck this consensus?

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 5d

A hellish prospect for those of us who live very near to a pub and just about tolerate current noise levels and anti-social behaviour - through gritted teeth at 1am or so on Friday and Saturday nights.

The current truce between residents and landlord would not survive this stupid, stupid proposal

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 6d

Pubs to stay open until early hours in move to boost UK growth

Exclusive: Plans for England and Wales would help ailing hospitality sector but health experts criticise move Pubs, clubs and restaurants will be able to open into the early hours as part of Labour’s drive for economic growth, a move which critics say will lead to more drunken disorder. Ministers are pushing ahead with plans to allow premises that sell alcohol to extend their opening hours in order to boost “the British night out” and help the hospitality sector. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Hendy

Jaka Bartolj's Media History @mediahistorynow.bsky.social · 6d

Reminds me of a Rothko painting!

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 5d

Yes!

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 6d

Wednesday morning walk, Dungeness

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flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 6d

“Why haven’t the protests against successive governments’ complicity in genocide stopped”, a mystery that is apparently beyond our finest political minds to fathom

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The TLS @thetls.bsky.social · 6d

'This attempt to decentralize human experience in theatre aligns Cow | Deer with “deep ecology”, a philosophy that has growing influence on systemic approaches to the planetary emergency.'

Amber Massie-Blomfield on theatre that invites us to listen

Noises on

www.the-tls.com

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Reposted by David Hendy

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 6d

ME/CFS is a devastating condition that has long been denied, dismissed, psychologised and underdiagnosed. Research is at last starting to catch up with it, with glimmers of hope for those who have been left untreated for so long.
There's a huge BUT coming ...🧵
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Scientists develop first ‘accurate blood test’ to detect chronic fatigue syndrome

Research could offer hope for ME patients – but some experts urge caution and say more studies needed

www.theguardian.com

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 6d

‘ … it takes a special type of person to enthuse this Dignitas-adjacent crowd.’

Honest Bob gets the party started – the Reform party. It’s tough being a Tory | John Crace

Robert Jenrick gives Conservative conference delegates permission to be the worst possible versions of themselves

www.theguardian.com

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 7d

Monday evening walk, Dungeness

David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 7d

Tackling the scourge of modern ‘quality’ journalism: false balance.

James Gleick @around.com · 7d

Dear New York Times,

Henceforth, forbid the tired formulation "both sides." Just don't allow it.

Likewise the cliché "war of words."

These should be red flags. They encourage laziness and sloppiness.

Report what they say. And use your superpower—reporters on the ground—to report what's true.

Reposted by David Hendy

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 8d

Tory Conference debate on free speech. You see? Sometimes being "cancelled" is a mercy.

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 8d

‘an exquisite study in dwindling celebrity’

Alan Partridge is back at rock bottom – and it’s the funniest he’s been in years

After stadium tour success, the delusional broadcaster is back where he belongs: self-funding a series about the nation’s mental health. As comedy goes, it couldn’t be more pleasurable

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by David Hendy

Caught by the River @caughtbytheriver.bsky.social · 14d

Our friends at the brilliant @littletollerbooks.bsky.social have just launched a new crowdfunding project for 'Looking for Mr Schwitters' — an innovative and finely illustrated book about the émigré artist Kurt Schwitters’ final years in the Lake District www.caughtbytheriver.net/2025/09/look...

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks for the tip off - just two left now!

Reposted by David Hendy

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 8d

It helps to be able to spell the country you say only you are competent enough to run.

Goody-bag merch from Tory Conference branded "When Labour negotiates Britian loses" and signed "Kemi Badenoch".

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