Mark's history of the Hollywood publicists - how the Fixers, Fakers and Star Makers Created the Celebrity Industry.
Journo gaffs
February 7th, 2008 | 
Author: I often comment on the stupidity of PRs, but idiocy in media land is not only demonstrated by publicists, but also journalists. I was told two corking tales by a very well placed journalist friend of mine involving two astounding hack faux pas.
The first was about none other than Britney Spears; a story was filed which really sent sub editors into a spin. The story claimed that Britney had been involved in a binge drinking session while she was fourteen months pregnant.
When the journalist was questioned, she either hadn’t grasped the rudiments of biology, or simply didn’t recognise her foolhardy mistake.
Another showbiz journalist – now a well known blogger – filed a review about the remarkable performance of a famous pop starlet’s gig, which had actually been cancelled. Moreover, on the evening the journalist was supposed to be reviewing this cancelled gig, they were actually having dinner with the pop starlet’s record company publicist.
Posted in Mark My Words
Prior to today, the last time the BoE met to discuss whether interest rates should go up, down or stay the same, a well-known newspaper ran a story (online) immediately after the rate announcement detailing the BoE’s decision to cut rates.
The story included quotes of employees from the big financial institutions on why the government made the right decision: To help consumer confidence, lower property interest rates etc.
Thing is though, the bank didn’t cut interest rates at all. They kept them the same. But someone stupidly published the wrong pre-prepared story.
By the time they took it down from the site they already had a number of comments by bemused readers.