Profiling a blogger
There’s an interesting profile of Ms Fits in The Age, but Ari’s cranky because Ms Fits subscribes to the paper: “Hardy has been in the pocket of The Age” and therefore it would be unethical to interview her. Or something.
I remember the last time Ms Fits was profiled in the media, by Andrew Bolt. There was no advertising deal behind that column — just a phone call from a Young Liberal with a vendetta. That Bolt was “in the pocket” of the Young Liberals is no problem at all.
Tim Blair thinks the recent profile is wrong because “anyone who cares learned long ago that Hardy posts as Ms Fits” (aw, Tim cares) — but perhaps there’s another secret identity? Perhaps there really is a Diana Elgar!
Not cranky at all, Robert, indeed I wish her and her new show all the best. The point I was making in the post was that such a commercial arrangement between the interviewee and the publication publishing the interview should be revealed. By all means publish the profile – indeed I thought it was a good read – but don’t keep your readers in the dark about the full background.
“Perhaps there really is a Diana Elgar!”
You better believe it, Sweet Cheeks…
‘Hardy has been in the pocket of The Age’ – because she is a subscriber? Surely that means the reverse? that The Age has been in the pocket of Hardy.