David Randall died as he lived, writing, while working on the new edition of his latest book, Suburbia. He was at home in Surrey, England, and on the morning of July 15th he had a heart attack. He was seventy.
He was a very special person, professionally and humanly. Those who read Internazionale began to know him almost twenty years ago: his first column was published in the issue of March 7, 2003 and explained how the web, still young at the time, was about to transform the press.
Randall was an extraordinary journalist, a man of “machine”, as they say in the jargon, of those who run entire editorial offices behind the scenes. But his talents extended to writing, always bright and dry.
Then he was a media theorist: he thought a lot, and often critically, about his profession. He wrote a fundamental book, The almost perfect reporter, translated into Italy by Laterza, a text that anyone who wants to be a chronicler should read.
His reflections did not end with articles or essays. Because Randall was also a good teacher. Over the years he had lectured around the world and the many people who were lucky enough to attend one of his workshops at the Internazionale festival in Ferrara remember how sharp and funny he was.
Finally, Randall has been a mentor, a counselor, a generous guide for generations of journalists, British and beyond. It was to him that one turned for an opinion on a new project or for a professional suggestion. He had a rare sensitivity, he was curious, he listened to his interlocutors carefully and always knew how to find the right, useful, never banal words.
John Mullin of the Telegraph recalled him thus: “There is no newspaper in the world that would not have been better with him.”
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