A former daily reporter has made a journalist the protagonist of her debut novel.
Marilyn Chapman (nee Brown) drew on her time as women’s page editor of the Lytham St Annes Express, in Lancashire, for Baggy Pants and Bootees, which follows the story of Yorkshire-based cub reporter Sophie in the search for her long lost father.
Marilyn, pictured above, began her journalistic career at The Gazette, in Blackpool, as a general reporter in the late 1960s, before moving to the nearby Express.
She later freelanced for national newspapers and magazines including the Daily Mail and Woman.
Discussing her inspiration for the novel, which is set in the 1960s, she said: “Instead of doing reports on the Women’s Institute, I was standing on my metaphorical soapbox and burning my metaphorical bra.
“Journalism back then was almost exclusively male territory, but women were beginning to make themselves heard.
“I focused on women achievers rather than conventional cookery and fashion features, and not everyone approved.”
Baggy Pants and Bootees is currently available from www.amazon.co.uk and on order from all good book shops.
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
Sixties newsroom? Would that be the one on a weekly with loads of reporters, at least two on sport, a news editor. A chief sub, a handful of subs. An editor, an in house ad department, a reception open to the public , reporters living locally, parish council meetings, other council meetings and, court covered several days a week and pages checked several times before going to press.
Fast forward to two rooky reporters and front office shut.
Report this comment
Yes – nine reporters plus the editor! Heaven help us if anyone found a typo! A shame it’s no more than a little bit of history now.
Report this comment
The sixties newsrooms at The Gazette employed only one woman in each of the district offices. We were there to write for the women’s pages in the main, but had more opportunities to pick up hard news stories than the two women in “head office”. It certainly gave me greater opportunies. I trust news editor Len may be mentioned?
Report this comment