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Abstract
Confessional journalism has become a staple of contemporary journalism, either in the form of first-person real-life experiences (often ghosted by journalists) or regular columns by journalists detailing intimate details of their lives. The form is now recognised as a distinct genre but what has not received attention, except as an internal debate within journalism itself, are the consequences of this form of writing for journalism and journalists. There is mounting evidence that editors are exerting pressure towards this form of writing, favouring particular types of writers. This review investigates the compelling ethical implications for writers and their subjects within the genre and argues that these implications are producing distinctive journalistic responses and strategies.
Notes
1. Not only is there a fascination with stories from real life, these stories are also likely to be more intimate, and extreme, addressing moments previously off limits, like a TV programme about Siamese twins which focused on their sex life. Big Brother embodies these shifting boundaries. With each new series the possibility of privacy is reduced: now the contestants sleep in the same bedrooms increasing the chance that some of the contestants will have sex on screen. Meanwhile on Celebrity Big Brother or I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, the central drama is to see how celebrities manage a lack of privacy in the context of exposure to extreme experiences.
2. For example James Frey has been accused of wildly exaggerating his experiences in A Million Little Pieces Citation2003 .
3. The Front Page agency.
4. This discussion on Mumsnet website made it clear that many parents objected strongly to the narcissism of the writer of this column and the exposure of her children.