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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think reproducing MN threads is very lazy journalism

28 replies

janegrey · 22/06/2009 13:15

Today's Independent has reprinted five pages of AIBU threads.

Great publicity for MN, bloody lazy journalism IMHO - we've written it for them!

There's not even any analysis of this "snapshot of modern family life" - just a reproduction of the comments on various topics including the ubiquitous children at weddings.

AIBU to think this?

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 22/06/2009 13:16

Dunno, link please!

Thunderduck · 22/06/2009 13:16

YANBU. And surely it isn't worthy of space in any newspaper?

Tortington · 22/06/2009 13:17

there was a link on another thread - iuts simply a list of AIBU - like - just a list.

its trez peculiar

Rhubarb · 22/06/2009 13:17

Actually, since I was featured in a piece once, I have personal experience of this. Other newspapers copied the piece, edited it and reprinted it in their papers. They don't even use their own journalists, they use freelancers and half the time they have no idea who the journalist is who's done a piece for them, they just know the name of the agency they came from.

'Tis very lazy.

KingRolo · 22/06/2009 13:18

Yanbu - and it's happened a few times recently. Wasn't there a Times 'article' lifted from MN a few months ago?

Do MN get royalties do you think?

Rhubarb · 22/06/2009 13:19

Nope, once it's in the public domain it can be reprinted anywhere.

Original poster
janegrey · 22/06/2009 13:20

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/mumsnetrsquos-messageboards-a-sn apshot-of-modern-family-life-1712088.html

It looks even worse online - at least the paper has given it some layout, albeit with stereotypical 50s mums on the cover.

OP posts:
ilovemydogandmrobama · 22/06/2009 13:23

someone should leave a comment linking to this thread

TrillianAstra · 22/06/2009 13:28

And I'm not even in it!

What's the point of posting hundreds of tis a month if I don't get into the papers?

Yes Rolo there was a Times article exactly like this a little while ago, just 'look at some AIBUs' without any kind of commentary or writing of any sort.

KingRolo · 22/06/2009 13:37

God, that's appalling.

It's no wonder the newspaper industry is going down the pan if that's what passes for journalism these days. Could have made an interesting article had there been some commentary or analysis.

I wanted to be a journalist when I was growing up. I became a teacher instead. Clearly made the wrong decision there...

ilovemydogandmrobama · 22/06/2009 13:44

Wonder if their job description is just: cut and paste?

I could do that.

blinks · 22/06/2009 13:45

proper lazy.

must have needed a filler in a hurry. cut and paste, bit of stock photography and voila.

did read it though and that thread about dropping your kids off at school in your PJs was ridiculously judgemental and not very representative of MN in my opinion. maybe it was edited to remove all the other slovenly mothers. my morning uniform is trench coat and dark glasses. maybe the kids will grow up thinking i'm a spy or summat.

troutpout · 22/06/2009 13:50

yanbu
and how blardy dare they not include my comments

Nancy66 · 22/06/2009 13:58

The Independent don't have a pot to piss in -they make a massive loss every week and it's unlikely they'll survive the year...so I understand why they've done it - cheap but, yes, lazy too.

merryberry · 22/06/2009 14:03

yes some folk i know are playing bankrupt sweepstake about them...didn't they fail to pay a big sum very recently?

screamingabdab · 22/06/2009 14:06

Here's the other thread on this topic (and even though I am not in the Independent piece, I AM in the other thread, being witty and erudite as per )

screamingabdab · 22/06/2009 14:09

AIBU, or is reproducing MN threads in other MN threads lazy ? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/777547-to-not-want-to-read-AIBU-in-today-39-s

LupusinaLlamasuit · 22/06/2009 14:09

I have mixed views on this. I only really mind when they do it as if they have done the interviews etc. If they're actually reporting that they found it on MN what's the harm?

LupusinaLlamasuit · 22/06/2009 14:12

I thought it was quite funny actually. Best on MN on there.

squeaver · 22/06/2009 14:13

Tomayto/tomato

Lazy journalism/good PR

troutpout · 22/06/2009 14:15

Oh really Nancy?

Oh well then they are welcome...cut and paste away little man!
Someone direct him to the classic threads

LadyOfWaffle · 22/06/2009 14:18

Wow, people get paid for this? I may become a journalist!

Nancy66 · 22/06/2009 14:22

troutpout - yep, afraid so. Many freelancers won't undertake commissions from them because they don't think they'll get paid.

I heard that they're losing £400k a week so i don't see how they can print much longer.

Longtalljosie · 23/06/2009 05:31

Well, if you don't like it, also have a word with MNHQ - it looks like a joint effort to me, there's a link to MN at the bottom.

From MNHQ's point of view, it's a win-win - it will be a great traffic-booster for them...

nooka · 23/06/2009 06:14

Some of those threads were very old - there were posters who have namechanged a while ago or gone. And they have been edited - what interesting MN thread is less than a few hundred posts?

Poor old Indie, it used to be a good paper once - long time ago now.