I've now lost count of the number of farewell parties in recent weeks for people leaving The Times and The Sunday Times as a result of redundancies, voluntary or enforced. The amazing thing is that these events always seem to have a great atmosphere, with people being upbeat, positive and happy.
Journalists not only seem capable of great optimism, but they also, even now, long after the demise of Fleet Street, still have a tremendous camaraderie that is stronger than any barriers or competition between different newspapers.
In the old days, rival newspaper offices were situated side by side or just a street or two away from each other. Their journalists met and mixed in the local pubs, and created a real feeling of community. Most of that was destroyed by the moves out of Fleet Street to soulless office blocks. Farewell parties have revived that community spirit with colleagues old and new gathering to honour their friends. But what happens after the last farewell party?
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