How graphology has been treated by
the media
By Nigel Bradley
Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Aim
Television
Radio
Magazines
Newspapers
Overview
Aim of this Presentation
 To document appearances of graphology in
the “Mass Media”
 To identify common themes or trends in the
use of graphology in the media
 To provide ideas that may help
graphologists to work with media owners
Method
 Inspection of media items in
=Graphology Bulletin=
 Television, Radio & print were examined
 Coverage is from 1997 to 2006 and
restricted to the UK
Scope
 Selected items are indicative, but not
comprehensive
 Related subject areas were excluded
(e.g. criminal cases with handwriting, paid adverts by
graphologists etc.)
 Exhibitions, webcasts, web sites etc. are not
included.
To assess, note if …
Local or national?
Front page or inside ? (odd page = impact)
An important month? (August = less news)
Popular channel/programme / title?
Prime time transmission?
Big news or filler?
Television 1997
Margaret White analysed party leaders on Sky
TV News for 3 minutes (15 April)
This Morning (Yorks TV 2 June) analysed
celebrities' specimens.
Television
1998
Television
1999
Elaine Quigley
appeared on BBC1
Breakfast Morning
News (19 Feb)
Duncan McIntosh
(Granada Satellite
June).
Adrien Stringer was
on the Livetime
Programme
(Granada Satellite
13 August).
Television
2000
Diana Simpson was
played by an actress
in a TV drama on the
Yorkshire Ripper
(ITV 2 Feb 21.00)
Olivia Graham was
interviewed
(Newsnight BBC2
TV 5 April).
Television
2001
Anna Koren and
Reed Hayes
analysed writings
for a Jack the
Ripper
Documentary (7
Feb Channel 5).
Television 2002
Graphology was featured daily for 7 weeks in a
programme that compared graphology with other
disciplines with Diane Simpson (ITV Sept 1-2pm
Mon to Frid)
Emma Bache on Big Brother's Little Brother
(Channel 4 July)
Elaine Quigley on Celebrity Big Brother (Channel 4,
Nov 28), the Watchdog Consumer programme
(BBC1 Oct 1 and 23) and on Crime Team
(Channel 4 Oct)
Television 2003
John Beck appeared on ‘Big Brother’ (Channel 4
July)
Elaine Quigley was on CBBC (July 30) and also on a
programme solving a murder of the past. (Channel
4 14 Sept - 18.30)
Emma Bache was on Bill Oddie's History Hunt
(BBC1), the Terry and Gaby Show (Channel 5 July 2003) and 'Textecution' (Channel 4 'Rise'
Breakfast Television)
Television 2004
Emma Bache was on Strictly Come Dancing
(BBC3, May) and also in The Interrogators –
professionals test their skills against members of
the public. (BBC3 and BBC2 May)
Big Brother 5 on Channel 4 had handwriting
analyses of contestants by Allan Conway with a
classic selling point for graphology:
"I'm much cheaper than a divorce". (11 June)
Television 2006
ITV News had the Brown story. Allan
Conway did a TV analysis of the main
politicians. It came over well. (Nov 11pm)
Bill Nighey, Sophie Dahl and others had their
doodles analysed by Emma Bache on
National Doodle Day to help raise
awareness for the Epilepsy Foundation.
(This Morning, ITV March)
Big Brother
Over 20 countries have a version of Big Brother, a
TV programme from Endemol Entertainment BV,
that features 'real people' rather than actors.
Graphologists have been asked to help in the
selection process and also to provide
entertainment by analysis on TV, in magazines, on
the radio or on the Internet.
Here are some graphologists who have helped:
Mirka Cesari (Italy), Elaine Quigley, John Beck,
Emma Bache, Allan Conway (United Kingdom)
and Yossi Vissoker (South Africa).
2. Television
Game shows
Reality TV
News
/documentary
Programmes
Radio
1997
Radio Leicester
featured Duncan
McIntosh (Feb)
BBC Local Radio
featured John Beck
(26 Feb 11.20pm)
Radio 1998
BBC World
Service/Radio 4
(John Beck, Eric
Rees)
Century 106
Nottingham
(McIntosh).
Radio 2000
Radio 2001
Jean Elliot analysed a
picture
graphologically
(BBC Radio
Sheffield 28 Feb).
Elaine Quigley on
BBC Radio 5 Live
(22 Nov 8.50)
BBC Radio 4 (24
August 16.55)
discussed a
graphology on-line
website
Radio
2002
Alex Tulloch on
Radio Kent
(March)
Jean Elliot on
Radio Sheffield
(16 Sept)
Radio
2003
Barbara Harding on Woman’s
Hour BBC R4
Diane Simpson on BBC
Radio Leeds (3 Feb 10am)
E. Quigley on Penny Smith
(LBC 10 June 15.45)
Emma Bache on Libby
Purves. (BBC Radio 4
'Midweek‘ Apr), BBC
LDN - Vanessa Feltz Show
(Sat 27th Dec)
Radio 2004
BBC Radio 4 had Erik Rees on Questions,
Questions (6 May 3pm) and Ruth Rostron
on 'Tales From the Stave', which examined
manuscripts by Beethoven (11 May), and
Handel (18 May).
Eric Smith analysed Britney Spears (The Sun
9 Nov pg.21).This led DJ Johnny Vaughan
to say that his mother is a graphologist on
Capital Radio.
Radio 2006
Margaret White was on the 'Charlie Crocker Show'
for 15 minutes -Monday 18th September at
8.15p.m. Radio Kent/South East.
Emma Bache analysed handwriting of David
Hasselhoff and The Sugar Babes. (Jo Parkerson
Show, LBC Radio November)
Sarah Mooney gave her reaction to politician
analyses (PM BBC Radio 4 28 Nov)
Radio
Interviews
Others
Listeners
analysed
4. Magazines
Magazines fall into many categories:
– For Women
– Trade Press
– Educational
– Special interest
– Company
Magazines 1997
People Management had a supportive article
mentioning Elaine Quigley, Erik Rees and
Lawrence Warner, to 87,000 subscribers.
(15 May pp.34-38)
Article by Bernadette Keefe appeared in
American in Britain Magazine (May p.29)
Frits Cohen was in Print Week (5 Sept p.30)
Magazines 1998
Diane Simpson started a weekly column in
Marketing (26 March pg.22) to analyse
well-known people in advertising, feedback
on accuracy is given. Still running.
James Burke described graphology as
"accurate" in Scientific American (June)
Magazines
1999
Magazines
2001
Office Angels
recruitment
consultants
featured
graphology and
Elaine Quigley in
their News
Bulletin (Feb).
Lorraine Herbert,
Erik Rees and
others (Personnel
Today 4 Dec
pp.20-21)
Magazines 2002
A positive article by Raj Persaud in New
Scientist (9 March pp.40-42).
Diane Simpson analysed scripts of Coronation
Street actors in Woman's Own (2 Sept
pp.14-15)
Elaine Quigley appeared in the new magazine
'Spirit & Destiny' (Oct)
Magazines 2002
Peter Marshall
(b.3/2/1912) wrote
a monthly column in
Prediction from
1976 -2002. He took
over from Joan
Cambridge. In 2002
the magazine
carried news of his
death.
Magazines
2003
Magazines
2006
Diane Simpson
started another
regular column in
Legal week and an
occasional one in
UNISON
magazine.
Emma Bache analysed
handwritten
Christmas greetings in
a 3 page article
'Christmas Cards say
you're Crackers!'
(The Field November)
Magazine coverage
Celebrity analysis
Others
Reader
analyses
Newspapers
Newspapers fall into many categories
– Daily
– Weekly
– Local
– National
– International
Newspapers 1997
Boulevard Magazine (Sunday Express 23 Feb pp.1821) had 21 celebrity signatures analysed by Mary
Nicholson and Corinne Corre.
Margaret White was featured in an article on
assessing job candidates (Financial Mail on
Sunday 30 March pg.39).
Tony Blair's writing was examined on 3 April by
Diane Simpson (Guardian) and Andrea Lyttleton
(Daily Telegraph front page)
The Independent on Sunday Review (25 May pg.45)
discussed graphology in medical diagnosis.
Newspapers 1997
Allan Conway has been featured in local
publications (Limited Edition May pg.11 and
Times Group August).
Pg.2 of the Daily Telegraph's Connected (1 July)
reported the Handwriting Analyzer software
designed by RI Software.
The Sun 7 July p7 asked whether Camilla ParkerBowles would make a good Queen. Erik Rees and
Margaret White agreed that she would!
Erik Rees was in the Evening Standard, 7 Oct.
Newspapers 1998
Valentine Day analyses were made for Express
Newspapers by Bernadette O'Keefe (13 Feb) and
Pamela Brown (14 Feb).
Gillette Stationery Product Group mentioned
graphology in a recruitment advert.
(Telegraph Appointments 19 Feb p.20)
Frits Cohen appeared in Brainpower supplement
(The Sunday Times 15 Feb p.20).
Lawrence Warner and Jacqui Tew were featured in
an article (Daily Telegraph 9 April p.A7).
Newspapers 1998
The Derbyshire Times (16 April p21) Dr. Peter Scott,
a Direct Analysis Society Diploma-holder
analysed four local residents.
The Express (21 May p68) featured Pamela Brown
and Frits Cohen.
Long-term critic Adrian Furnham said graphology
tests are nonsense but that body language is
invaluable.
(Telegraph 18 June p.A6).
Eric Rees in The Daily Express (13 August).
Newspapers 1999
Erik Rees analysed a letter sent by the
Bramley Family who disappeared on Sept
98 with two children they had fostered.
(Express 14 Jan)
The Times (23 Jan) ran an analysis by
Lawrence Warner.
The UK Times section inter//face described
Bart Baggett's web pages (27 Jan p2).
Newspapers 1999
Documents released by the Public Records
Office show that the British Intelligence
Service (MI5) used graphology as early as
1940 in their work.
The records have a graphological analysis
of Vera Erikson, a German spy caught in
wartime Britain on 30 Sept 1940.
(Telegraph & Daily Mail 27 January)
Newspapers 1999
Ruth Myers analysed the writing of "mass killer"
Rose West. (The Sun 15 Feb pp1-5)
Employment Agency H W Group say graphology is
used by 6% of large and medium-sized companies.
(Telegraph Appointments 29 April Pg. A1).
Graphology was featured in the UK News of the
World (6/6/99 pg.29) in relationship compatibility.
Newspapers 1999
Bridget Hickey was interviewed
(Edinburgh Evening News 19 Sept and 19 Nov)
Ruth Myers wrote on Jeffrey Archer's handwriting
(Daily Express p5; Daily Mirror/Record p3 Nov 26)
Bernadette Keefe was mentioned
(Independent 15 August pg.11 and 22 Dec pg.12)
The Express featured graphology (UK 27 Dec pg.50)
Newspapers 2000
Margaret Webb and Pat Leeson analysed the serial killer
Shipman (Daily Mail 1 Feb p13 and Express 1 Feb p10)
Elaine Quigley spoke of handwriting variations
(Telegraph 5 April pg.21).
Three British Graphologists were mentioned in an article
(FT Magazine 8 April pp.32-35).
Sue Pritchard and Elaine Quigley were mentioned in the
Independent (25 June p8 and 6 August p 7 respectively).
Graphology was used to confirm that Douglas Fairbanks Jnr.
was involved in a 1956 sex scandal (Telegraph 10 August).
Newspapers 2000
The London College of Graphology recruitment Campaign
appeared in The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday
Times, the Mail and the Evening Standard in September.
Elaine Quigley & Erik Rees
(Sunday Mail Financial Section 29 Oct p51)
Allan Conway's forthcoming book
(Telegraph 25 Oct p28).
Erik Rees & Frits Cohen were featured in weekend
newspapers relating to a document 'leaked' from Downing
Street. (Sunday Times 26 Nov p1).
Newspapers 2001
Lord Hollick and Carol Galley's
writings were analysed (Sun Times
Business 21 Jan p16).
Diana Simpson wrote a Valentine's
special (Daily Mirror 14 Feb pp.2-3)
Then we had September 11…
2001
Eric Rees
describes
Osama Bin Laden
in the Times
25 Sept
Front page
2001
Murray, Mullan &
Herbert
describe
Osama Bin Laden
in the Telegraph
25 Sept
Front Page
Newspapers 2002
On Sixsmith: "This is a sensitive person with immaculate
integrity. I would trust him with my last cent. He is a quick
thinking man but never hasty. He is absolutely balanced,
well-controlled, with strong self-discipline. To a large
extent he is a private person who considers what he does
carefully before he does it."
On Byers: "This is a very arrogant and conceited person.
There is that huge capital 'S' of Stephen. The 't' is dwarfed
by this huge, swan-like 'S'. If you take that away, what do
you have left? (Eric Rees in The Mirror 26 Feb)
Newspapers 2002
In August 2002 two ten-year old girls were murdered
in Cambridgeshire. Suspects analysed for the
News of the World by Lorraine Herbert (13 Oct)
& Daniel Goodman (20 Oct)
Analyses of Princess Diana and butler made by
Emma Bache (Sun 12 Nov pg 6)
The front page of the Times carried a graphological
analysis by Erik Rees of the new Archbishop of
Canterbury (3 Dec)
Newspapers 2002
A FRIEND of Diana hit back at Prince Philip
yesterday by insisting she had seen his
letters calling the Princess a "harlot" and
"trollop".
"I clearly remember the day I saw them. We
were looking at a book on graphology, and
she took out letters so we could analyse the
handwriting.” Mirror 25 Nov 2002)
Newspapers 2003
Simpson, Rees, Conway and Quigley in the
Guardian (3 Feb)
NACF used Elaine Quigley to inspect Mary Queen
of Scots. (The Times 13 April)
Graphologist Jennifer Crosse, 41, was asked to be
chief bridesmaid at a wedding. Crosse had chosen
the husband's handwriting from replies to a
"Lonely Hearts" advertisement. (Sun 23 April)
Newspapers 2003
The Times appointed a ‘resident’ graphologist Emma Bache began her Saturday column in the
Times in February 2003 and it ran weekly.
The UK ‘Psychologist Magazine’ carried letters of
protest (May and July).
The Times continued to carry other graphology
articles e.g. Mary Queen of Scots (13 Oct) and
Princess Diana (22 Oct)
Newspapers 2004
Denise Young wrote portraits of celebrities’ doodles for
National Doodle Day. (The Sun, 19 March p56)
An article on Margaret Thatcher included a graphological
analysis by Elaine Quigley (Times 3 May p10).
Elaine Quigley commented on a survey by Joslin Rowe
Recruitment Agency. It indicated that graphology is
becoming interesting to recruiters in accountancy,
management consultancy and legal companies.
(Evening Standard 8 June page 61).
Newspapers 2005
February: Emma Bache (Times), Elaine Quigley
(Daily Mirror) and Helen Taylor (Independent)
interpreted notes attributed to Tony Blair.
They were in fact doodles made by Bill Gates
Elaine Quigley described Gordon Brown (Daily
Telegraph 19 August 2005).
.
Newspapers 2006
– Elaine Quigley made an analysis of the Moors
Murderer Ian Brady (Sun 21 February)
– The Shadow Chancellor Osborne taunted Gordon
Brown in the Commons with a graphological
analysis (The Sun and others 28 Nov)
– “Sir Paul McCartney’s estranged wife Heather is
a liar who lives in an unreal world of her own, a
handwriting expert claimed last night.” (The Sun
1 Dec 2006)
Newspaper coverage
News articles
Others
Letters
Pages
Key Media Graphologists
– For each medium and for each year a
graphologist was identified and underlined
– This is a view of the impact I feel the
person had based on my knowledge of the
item.
– This identifies people who have experience
and may feel able to offer practical tips on
handling the media. So who are they…?
Television
Allan Conway (2)
Olivia Graham
Anna Koren
Elaine Quigley (3)
Adrien Stringer
Margaret White
Radio
John Beck (2)
Jean Elliot
Sarah Mooney
Elaine Quigley (2)
Ruth Rostron
Alex Tulloch
Magazine
Emma Bache
Lorraine Herbert
Peter Marshall
Elaine Quigley
Eric Rees
Diane Simpson (3)
Newspaper
Emma Bache
Frits Cohen
Mary Nicholson
Elaine Quigley (3)
Eric Rees (4)
Diane Simpson
Margaret White
Key Media Graphologists
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Elaine Quigley (9)
Eric Rees (5)
Diane Simpson (4)
Emma Bache (2)
John Beck (2)
Allan Conway (2)
Overview
 Graphology has had less coverage and less
impact than we might think
 When used in entertainment (games shows,
reality TV, listener’s portraits) it is not
portrayed negatively
 Whether the coverage is negative or
positive, it is often “buried” in other stories
and therefore “lost” after a few days
Questions to Discuss later
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Were you selected via Yellow Pages?
Why were you selected?
Why did you agree to do the work?
Why did you refuse some assignments?
What role does money play?
Graphology & the Media
By Nigel Bradley Email [email protected]
Harrow Business School,
University of Westminster
A paper presented to the conference:
"Graphology - Building a Positive Media
Image" 3 March 2007
The Novartis Foundation, 41 Portland Place
London W1B 1BN