Although he is best known for novels such as Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens was also a journalist and responsible for the launch of several newspapers. According to an article posted Jan. 21 by Poynter, by his early twenties Dickens was already considered the best Parliamentary reporter in England. Poynter is published by The Poynter Institute, a global leader in journalism education.
[…] By 1829, he began working as a freelance court stenographer. In 1831, he served as a shorthand reporter for the Mirror of Parliament where he shared news from the House of Commons and House of Lords and he “became known for his quick and accurate courtroom reporting.” In fact, by his “early twenties, Dickens was already considered the best Parliamentary reporter in England.” […]