Hack: Sex, Drugs, and Scandal from Inside the Tabloid Jungle

by Graham Johnson

Graham Johnson was a fresh-faced journalist with an ambition to break the big news stories and make his name as a star reporter when an offer came in to work at a leading tabloid… he couldn't say no. Instantly, he found himself drawn into a world of sleaze, spin and corruption - where bending the law was justifiable in the hunt for the big-selling story and bending the truth was the norm.

Against his better judgement, Graham found his niche in this new world and, what's more, he found that he was good at it. In his time at first the News of the Worldthen the Sunday Mirror, he made a name for himself as a man who could deliver the story, no matter what - a kind of tabloid terrorist who rifled through celebrity's rubbish bins, staked out politicians' hotel rooms, and paid-up page three girls to seduce Premiership footballers, all in the name of selling newspapers.

Hackis a compelling and intoxicating story of one man's time in the tabloid jungle - a world that in its heady mix of sex, drugs and casual immorality is reminiscent of the City - and how he ultimately saved himself.

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

There is more than one author in the database with this name. Not all books on this profile belong to the same person.

For the British musicologist, see Graham Johnson, listed on Goodreads as Graham^^Johnson.

Reviews

[Akhlaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book truly elevates and highlights the culture at the News of the World & also with tabloid journalism where speed, not accuracy, seems to be the key. You understand, although not condone, the behaviour of NOTW execs who hacked phones as the environment pushed people to its limits. GJ’s book is humorous, shocking and enlightening about behaviours as NOTW. But also about the Sunday Mirror, it shows every tabloid has a darker side to it in terms of behaviour and pressures. So much so the journalist fabricated, exaggerated stories to the misery of people. Shows how showbiz culture dominated tabloids to the extent that a change to serious news agendas were rebuffed as shown by Piers Morgan’s spell at the Mirror. Johnson’s good work as a journalist were shown in the drugs cases that he took on that shows underneath was a good journalist drowning in showbiz and salacious stories when a more focused agenda would have reaped stronger benefits.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice read, although the sub title is a little misleading. There's only a very small chapter about the phone hacking scandal. However, I was very surprised to learn just how much news is / was made up, newspapers out to deliberately ruin people's lives for a story whether true or not. I like Graham as an author and have read the majority of his books but this one annoyed me a little..... His writing in this book is different, he writes in short sentences. Like this. Where he uses full stops. Where anyone else would use. A comma.

See how annoying that is? I would deffo read it though!

[Susan Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Providing an insight into the world of journalism from the perspective and experiences of Graham Johnson. It felt like a no holds barred account of his tabloid journalism career. Whilst I wonder how biased his version of events is, it still provides food for thought and was eye opening on what goes on in the pursuit of a good news story.

[James Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very revealing and interesting, but considering it's from a journo not very well written! The style betrays his red top career! Fascinating to read as a journalist myself though.

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[Harry Parkhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stinging expose of tabloid news and how it descended into the phone hacking scandal. Graham Johnson’s writing style is compelling, with a delightful “Everyman” quality to it - unsurprising considering he wrote for tabloids for decades.
The stories are compelling, but not overwritten and each anecdote never outstays its welcome. What it reveals about the red tops in the early 2000s is truly remarkable - from stories completely made up, to lives deliberately ruined and the descent into criminality is extraordinary.
Reading it at a time when tabloids and their methods are in the news again, it’s hard not to wonder how much has changed (if anything at all).

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[Liane Christi Silliman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful glimpse inside the media the solidifies why we should only view news as a biased and corrupt institution.

[Teri Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Graham Johnson has his fingers on a lot of throbbing pulses and his quill nib stuck into a lot of undoubtedly rich veins. From footballer’s whose wives sleep with gangsters to powder puff pussies, drugs, cartels (hold on, don’t cartels deal with drugs?) and even that great sun-worshipper old El Diablo himself; enter Rupert “hit me with your rhythm stick” Murdoch and his big red-headed sidekick, she of the kickback and call-back fame. Yes, the News of the World, remember that, kids? Gutter journalism at its finest, a constantly-running river of cheap sleaze and make-believe stories concocted over bar tabs and Sky News feeds. It’s all here in Johnson’s “revealing” tome. The inside gossip, manufactured footage, beat-up beauties, hoaxes, pranks and skank factor ten.
Reading this extended English Sunday newspaper article, one doesn’t really learn anything knew about down-on-all-fours reporting. It’s about cash, who you know, who knows you, the loudest voice, the wackiest scenario, what mug has to get the next round in. Johnson, the “fresh-faced” cadet, didn’t get to work for Lou on the Globe after all, he got to rummage through celebrity garbage cans and pop tart starlet’s underwear drawers, and all for a princely sum and the espresso elevator ride to the Jacuzzi on the roof of Wapping Towers. What this book is actually about, apart from a potted homage to Cockney slang and safari parks, I have no idea whatsoever. Johnson must do, he wrote it, or maybe someone wrote it for him, maybe it’s just another beat-up? The synopsis is that the author, with a nose for a story and an offshore bank account, eventually tired of holding vast sums of cash and smoking guns and became a best-selling author instead. The tabloid jungle indeed, more like the tabloid tea party. Hack is precisely per the Fleet Street definition.

[R · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading this book. Is like a form of Chinese water torture. The authors style. Is comprised entirely of. Sentence fragments. That don't make sense. Isn't this harder to read? Than a normal sentence? I rarely give up. On books. But this one. Wasn't worth the time.
My recurring thought was how the hell has this barely literate idiot has managed to make a living from writing?

[Helen Croydon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting read and an eye-popping insight into the 'old school' days of tabloid journalism. I liked the candid but remorseful style of the writer. He keeps no secrets. Don't pick up if you are offended by bad language though!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really intriguing view of how newspaper journalism works. Definitely feel like Graham Johnson has learnt from his mistakes and can actually laugh at how ridiculous his career was at News International. A great read in Nonfiction November 2019 and a worthy 4* read.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book almost as must as I hate tabloid journalists.