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Hack: Sex, Drugs, and Scandal from Inside the Tabloid Jungle Paperback – 14 Mar. 2013

by Graham Johnson (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 65 ratings
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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 scoring a front-page story.

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.
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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster UK
  4. Publication date
    14 Mar. 2013
  5. Dimensions
    13 x 0.08 x 19.8 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    184983878X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1849838788
  8. See all details
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Product description

Review

The nation's fruity new sweetheart Rebekah Brooks, 43, former chief executive of News International is traduced disgracefully in a new memoir, 'Hack', by snivelling former employee Graham Johnson, 44. He writes: 'Tall and slim, an English Rose with a killer streak, deadly as nightshade. But in the flesh she was strangely sexless, her femininity scraped barren by a corporate zealotry incongruous with her alabaster skin and floral prints'
- Ephraim Hardcastle --Daily Mail

For a large chunk of his life, Graham worked as a self-confessed 'tabloid terrorist'. He worked for Rebekah Brooks during her infamous stint as the editor of the News of the World. During this time, he did a lot of very nasty things, which he has decided to write down and release in his new book --VICE Magazine

Even if you re not a tabloid reader, this peek inside The News Of The World is a timely expose of a murky business. Johnson reveals how stories were fabricated, lives were ruined and privacy invaded. But what happens when News International turns on one of its own? A compelling read --Shortlist

Going into far more detail about the tabloid journalist s craft than any of the Leveson-inspired newspaper articles, this is an enlightening warts-and-all expose of the methods Johnson used while working for The News of The World and the mind-set that went with it.... A hard book to put down --The Glasgow Herald

About the Author

Graham Johnson is an investigative journalist and author of the highly acclaimed true crime titles Druglord and Powder Wars (both published by Mainstream).

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster UK (14 Mar. 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 184983878X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1849838788
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13 x 0.08 x 19.8 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 65 ratings

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Graham Johnson

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
65 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book great, wonderful, and current. They say it's thought-provoking and gives excellent insight into the pressures of a busy newsroom. Readers also mention the humor is amusing and laugh-out-loud funny.

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ReadabilityThought provokingHumor
12 customers mention ‘Readability’12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book great, wonderful, and current. They say it's enjoyable, shocking, and the best book on tabloid journalism out there. Readers also mention the sentences are short and the stories compelling.

"Don't be put off by the headline of my review, this is a truly sensational book but - unlike author and self-proclaimed former 'tabloid terrorist'..." Read more

"...His writing is taut and urgent. The sentences short; the stories compelling...." Read more

"...she is totally innocent of any crimes against humanity, a beautiful, wonderful, warm human being, who loves Dai Cam lots (Lol) and is the sort of..." Read more

"Excellent...the best book on tabloid journalism out there written by an insider who's been there, done it and turned them over...." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Thought provoking’6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, excellent, and astonishing. They say it gives a good insight into the author's past. Readers also mention the book is depressing and uplifting.

"...the World and, later, at the Sunday Mirror, and some of his admissions are genuinely astonishing - revealing the subterfuge, chicanery and, on..." Read more

"...Brilliant investigative reporter/author." Read more

"A good read which was very amusing in places. This gave me an excellent insight into the pressures of a busy news/features room and the utter..." Read more

"A seemingly honest account of the authors career to date. It begs less 'morning glory' and more 'in depth' story" Read more

3 customers mention ‘Humor’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the humor in the book amusing, laugh-out-loud funny, and enjoyable. They say it's a must-read.

"...Laugh out loud funny, with all the 'dark arts' revealed, 'Hack' is a must-read for anyone interested in red top journalism and how it functions...." Read more

"A good read which was very amusing in places...." Read more

"An enjoyable (and shocking) read...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Matt Nixson
5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply thought-provoking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 April 2013
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Don't be put off by the headline of my review, this is a truly sensational book but - unlike author and self-proclaimed former 'tabloid terrorist' Graham Johnson - I'm not in the business of hype! Johnson writes engagingly and openly about his trade, sometimes with jaw-dropping honesty. Hack specifically details his time at the News of the World and, later, at the Sunday Mirror, and some of his admissions are genuinely astonishing - revealing the subterfuge, chicanery and, on occasions, sheer fabrication carried out by newspapers in the bad old days of Fleet Street. Some of his tabloid tales made me laugh out loud on the Tube, drawing strange glances from fellow travellers. Others made me mentally hold my head in my hands. Needless to say, this book is no hagiography, or rose-tinted, nostalgia-inducing memoir. Indeed, I suspect some hacks might well chide Johnson for lifting the lid on the dark arts behind the headlines. In the current climate of crackdown, amid 6am police raids on journalists and general ill-will towards the tabloids, he's certainly a brave man to do so. I've no doubt some of his former colleagues are languishing on police bail for far less, though I should make clear, as Johnson does, that he did not get mixed up in the bête noir that is phone hacking and the events of this book mostly pre-date the period now under scrutiny. What is clear is that Johnson was an exceptional reporter, albeit one who buckled under the pressure, falling into some pretty questionable behaviour. I don't believe he is an every-journalist in any sense. I have always thought newspapers were a bit like sausages; no matter how tasty, you really don't want to see what goes into making them. Having said that, this is a brilliant, thought-provoking read and I'd heartily recommend it.
8 people found this helpful
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Scribbler
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping tale of sex, drugs and kiss 'n tell tabloid journalism
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 June 2013
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From the very first sentences, it's easy to tell why Graham Johnson became a valued predator in the tabloid jungle. His writing is taut and urgent. The sentences short; the stories compelling.

But instead of banging out front pages and 'page leads' about celebs, footballers, criminals and other staple redtop fodder, he has turned out a torrid, page-turning account of his hair-raising, nerve-jangling years as a reporter on the News of the World and later the Sunday Mirror.

It's not edifying stuff, nor for the feint-hearted: he fesses up to making up shock-horror stories, fondling kiss and tell buy ups, drinking heavily, lying, cheating, exaggerating and smearing and generally acting without any scruple in pursuit of the perfect story. Not necessarily an accurate story, but the best story.

What lifts this book from being 'merely' a vacuous albeit eye-popping romp through the redtops is the author's unexpected personal journey, which made him look more deeply at mass media - and life. My only criticism would be that a shaggy fog story about the Beast of Bodmin tops and tails the book in a seemingly contrived way, and I like verbs in almost all of my sentences. Overall, though, Hack is a compelling and highly deserved five stars. I read it, enthralled, in three rapt sessions. Buy it.
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Ms GeeGee
3.0 out of 5 stars I'd rather not 'Hear All About It...'
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 January 2016
Verified Purchase
Very contradictory in places, one minute Rebekah doesn't like him, two chapters later he's telling us how he was her golden boy and how his colleagues hated him for it. I kept skipping pages until I saw a name I recognised and would read that paragraph and skip off again. If you want to read about 'drug barons' 'page three girls' or how other 'hacks' glare at each other menacingly across their desks whilst trying to put expenses in to keep 'kiss and tell' birds locked up in a hotel out of sight and sound of other papers so they can get their story this book is for you. If you prefer reality and not some bloke trying to make himself into a cloak and dagger James Bond type character who lives in a bedsit this isn't for you. Wish I'd have saved my money.
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Rob Griffin
4.0 out of 5 stars Depressing - and uplifting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 January 2013
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When I first started out in journalism some 20 years ago, I had this notion that the role of a reporter was giving a voice to those that couldn't defend themselves (these were pre blog and Facebook days, remember) and I have always vociferously defended my trade against attacks by those who love to criticise newspapers and magazines.

The first half of Hack, the biographical tome by ex News of the World and Sunday Mirror reporter Graham Johnson, however, made me challenge everything I believed about journalism and left me feeling thoroughly depressed. Call me naive but I was stunned by the casual way that Johnson - who has since repented his sins after finding philosophy - recounted how he completely made up numerous stories. And by made up I mean really made up, to the extent of getting his mates to pose as drug dealers in photos that were published in the paper. Then there was his desire to turn over people who, at best, were low level chancers and Del Boys rather than proper, grown-up criminals.

Now there's no doubt that Johnson was a very capable reporter when he could be bothered and the latter stages of the book chart his rebirth at the Sunday Mirror and his eventual path away from the hotbed of tabloid journalism. It all makes for a fascinating insight into the way national newspapers work, the prejudices that are inherent on news desks, the insular black-and-white nature of tabloids generally, and the giant egos that stalk so many newsrooms.

Rob Griffin
[...]
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Top reviews from other countries

Katie King
3.0 out of 5 stars A shocking story
Reviewed in the United States on 14 August 2013
Verified Purchase
It's hard to like the author of this autobiography. By his own admission he's done some pretty nasty things in the name of tabloid journalism. It's surprising this book hasn't caused more of a stir in journalism circles, but maybe that's because it's difficult to see Johnson as a reliable narrator.
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