Failure, it is thought, is what sells, and what people want to hear and read about. I am not so sure.

In this quote, Alastair Campbell challenges the common belief that failure is the most compelling or interesting topic for people to engage with. He suggests that failure is often seen as a major selling point in media and storytelling, with many people believing that it is what audiences want to hear or read about. However, Campbell expresses skepticism about this idea, indicating that he is not so sure that failure is inherently more engaging or valuable than other aspects of life.

Campbell’s statement draws attention to the media's portrayal of failure and how it often dominates headlines and narratives. The idea that failure sells reflects a broader trend in which stories of defeat, struggle, or setbacks are sensationalized because they resonate with audiences’ emotions or offer dramatic tension. However, Campbell is questioning whether this focus on failure truly reflects what people are most interested in or whether it simply fills a certain narrative that the media has created.

By expressing doubt about the belief that failure is what people want to hear about, Campbell encourages a reflection on the type of stories we value and consume. He suggests that perhaps there is more to human experience than just the dramatic moments of loss or failure and that other narratives, such as those of success, resilience, or growth, are also worth exploring.

Ultimately, Campbell's quote calls for a more balanced view of storytelling, one that doesn't reduce human experiences to just the moments of failure, but also highlights the complexities and nuances of success and the other aspects of life. His skepticism invites a broader conversation about how we engage with and consume stories in the modern media landscape.