Publish and be damned

The Gaurdian has a go at Heat. Bless.

In 'giving us what we want', Heat shows only contempt

I had a pop myself. But some have a better measure of this flighty bird.

AstroFungalInfection Sep 11 08, 11:37am

STOP PRESS!
Hack with socio-political book to tout turns on former employer.

Actually, I have come to realise that no one is reading the Gaurdian for the articles, but to basically tear apart the hapless authors of these sad efforts in public, including a few Labour pols today who seem to have the misguided notion they are on safe ground.

Kinda killing the goose that keeps laying big golden, steamy piles. But mainly implosion from to much inbreeding, I'd hazard.

Telegraph - John McCain flops while Sarah Palin passes media test

I'm just wondering...

Are all the major papers creating 'journalists' like that fake mum in the OXO ads, to act as some kind of pinata to attract reader/commentership?

The actual original content has such little value as to beggar belief a human is paid to create it, but there is some vicarious fun I guess to be had in reading the trouncings they inspire.

One other notion is that these are in fact cunning ways of further undermining the various people and causes they claim to espouse. Polly T is doing great over at the Grauniad.

Fun, but hardly serious news, and once the novelty wears off you tend to have lesser regard for those who hired them.

If you seek contrary views to balance the overall brand that's fine and laudable, but for heaven's sake make 'em credible, competent and cogent.

Guido - The Worst BBC Forecast Since Michael Fish, via BBBC

He seems to be one of a growing number of 'journalists' allowed by their employers to assemble choice moments to add to their CVs for when they apply to be the PRs for the Black Knight from Monty Python's 'Life of Brian'.