Prompt's TechBlog
The Guardian gets it wrong
22 February 2008
Posted by Duncan Heaney
If you ever needed evidence that the media is still learning how to make use of Web 2.0, this is it.
When people post their views in comments sections across the internet, they are not shy about saying what they really think. The Guardian discovered this last week when it made... well, let's just call it an error of editorial judgement.
The Guardian's problems started when it published a travel blog on its site (click here to see the horror for yourself). The blog was to follow the 'adventures' of Max Gogarty, 19, as he embarked on a trip to Thailand and India. The Guardian readers were far from impressed, and their reaction was vitriolic.
It did not go unnoticed that Max Gogarty is the son of writer Paul Gogarty, a freelance writer that features regularly in the Guardian. The message boards erupted with accusations of nepotism. Commenter 'saxonwhittle' summed up the general feeling quite nicely.
"Oh God, please spare us from poor little middle-class children trying to tout themselves on Daddy's/Mummy's newspaper, so they can follow in their parent's footsteps."
The fact that the blog was hackneyed and patronising just incensed people further. After all, the worst thing that a blog can do is patronise the reader. Isn't it? Isn't it? Yes it is, oh you are a clever reader.
"He looks like a cliche, talks like a cliche, and is about to embark on a monumental cliche," wrote 'lameplanet'.
I must confess to having a little sympathy for Max, who could not have expected the torrent of anger directed at him. Having said that, a lot of the comments were valid - it is difficult to see how something of such low quality could be associated with the well-respected Guardian.
This will have been a valuable 'learning experience' for the Guardian, more aware than ever of the direct power Web 2.0 gives its readers. These readers have spoken and it is unlikely that we'll see part two of Max's blog.
Still, at least he's having a nice holiday.
When people post their views in comments sections across the internet, they are not shy about saying what they really think. The Guardian discovered this last week when it made... well, let's just call it an error of editorial judgement.
The Guardian's problems started when it published a travel blog on its site (click here to see the horror for yourself). The blog was to follow the 'adventures' of Max Gogarty, 19, as he embarked on a trip to Thailand and India. The Guardian readers were far from impressed, and their reaction was vitriolic.
It did not go unnoticed that Max Gogarty is the son of writer Paul Gogarty, a freelance writer that features regularly in the Guardian. The message boards erupted with accusations of nepotism. Commenter 'saxonwhittle' summed up the general feeling quite nicely.
"Oh God, please spare us from poor little middle-class children trying to tout themselves on Daddy's/Mummy's newspaper, so they can follow in their parent's footsteps."
The fact that the blog was hackneyed and patronising just incensed people further. After all, the worst thing that a blog can do is patronise the reader. Isn't it? Isn't it? Yes it is, oh you are a clever reader.
"He looks like a cliche, talks like a cliche, and is about to embark on a monumental cliche," wrote 'lameplanet'.
I must confess to having a little sympathy for Max, who could not have expected the torrent of anger directed at him. Having said that, a lot of the comments were valid - it is difficult to see how something of such low quality could be associated with the well-respected Guardian.
This will have been a valuable 'learning experience' for the Guardian, more aware than ever of the direct power Web 2.0 gives its readers. These readers have spoken and it is unlikely that we'll see part two of Max's blog.
Still, at least he's having a nice holiday.
# posted by Duncan Heaney at 3:55 PM 
Comments:
I'm actually pretty sad that his "weekly" blog updates ceased after the original installment.
I mean, it seems the public beating got to him... but I was ready for this to be weekly entertainment.
Can you imagine all the traffic the Guardian would get if he actually kept this up?
But as much as this idea lacked Web 2.0 understanding and the foresight to predict this backlash, the Guardian's travel editor actually had a pretty impressive response: read it here.
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