Forget top slicing, I can save the BBC money

So, my BBC South East Today interview in London yesterday was, predictably, outside in the wind and rain, though not as bad as my first interview. luckily you’ll never see it because it wasn’t recorded

But, the point of the story is that the journalist who interviewed me should be sacked. In an attempt to avoid not knowing the answer to a question like on GMTV last week, I asked what the questions might cover. Her response, and I quote, “oh I don’t really know. To be honest, I didn’t write the questions and I haven’t even looked at them. I don’t know anything about the story, I’ve just come down to ask the questions.”

Great help. Not only was it annoying because it meant that I had to think on my feet when she asked something I didn’t know, but mainly it winds me up that the BBC employ such useless people when there are so many people who would kill to have her job.

Before I started at Fubra, Brendan told me that journalists are inherently lazy and all need to be shot. Or something to that effect. And I stood up for them, arguing that the majority properly research and balance stories, and that he was being unfair. Having been on the receiving end of calls from journos asking how many litres are in a gallon (what, Google too difficult?), asking for info I already sent them but they couldn’t be bothered to read, and generally not appreciating the jobs they’ve got, I have to say I tend to agree with him.

Yorkshire Post

Not front page, but a good article:

Yorkshire Post, 29/04/08

Local papers LOVE petrol prices. Although they didn’t bother to ring to make it specific to Yorkshire. I’ll start putting that on the bottom of the press releases actually.

Another Express front page!

After being front page on the Express on Saturday I really didn’t expect another front page story so soon… but here it is:

Front page Express, 29/04/08

Only problem is I have suddenly become an ‘industry analyst’, and nothing to do with PetrolPrices.com… must have a word :s

Other stories today…

Daily Telegraph
Guardian, who can’t work out the price of a gallon from a litre…
WebUser Magazine, an interesting way to make the Grangemouth strike techie

Also, discovered an awesome website this morning where you can view pics of all the major newspaper pages for free (you’d think the paper’s websites would do it, but not all do):

http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx

You get more features for free than I’d expect too, so I’m going to investigate using this to measure coverage.

Another hectic day today, just done an interview with BBC Radio Gloucester, and got another in an hour or so on BBC Radio Newcastle, talking about prices rises as a result of Grangemouth, and the combined £7m profits that BP and Shell have announced this morning.

Later today I’m heading up to Westminister to do an TV interview for BBC South East Today and BBC London, which will go out after the main BBC news at 6pm! Transaction 2007, part of one group who were involved in the 2000 fuel protests are organising a protest in London so I’m going to comment on that and also the BP and Shell profits again.

Ok… now best go decide what to wear…

Front page Telegraph, Mail and Express

Ok, so here is my first post. I’ll try to add new coverage as often as possible, but also backdate previous coverage too.

So in the last month or so, I’ve had front page stories on the Daily Mail, the Express (twice!) but today, I’m moving up in the world… today, my name AND PetrolPrices.com URL are on the front page of the Telegraph! Next stop, front page of the Times I think. Then move onto a more eco angle to get the liberals

Front page Telegraph, 28/04/08

Front page Express, 26/04/08

Front page Daily Mail, 23/04/08

Front page Daily Express 22/02/08:

Interestingly… compare this with my original press release… spot the difference!

This was printed as a front page story, without even ringing to confirm, ask questions or even check the source. I couldn’t believe it at the time, but you’d be amazed at how much it happens.