Checking the audience, Guido asks “Who knows the blog?” Half the suits put up their hands, together with the political bloggers and the BBC types. Those saving the world and wanting to be proper Media Tarts look blank. Conclusive proof that monging on this blog will not help save the world, which is a relief.
Ran through the presentation, cracked a few Rosie Winterton jokes. Argued with a drunk Tim Ireland. Got introduced to Mr BBC, Mr Yahoo and Mr Other Important Suit. Mr BBC was a Guido RSS subscriber and everyone else’s boss, Mr Yahoo had windswept hair and looked like he had badly overdone the sunbed. Clearly had no idea where he was or why. Perhaps he was fire damaged. Judging by the simpering of Media Tarts around them, these were important suits.
Note to Biased BBC, you are getting under their skin. You will be pleased to know you are the recognised enemy. BBC types representing all shades of opinion spoke at length, from those that want to extend the licence for another decade, to those that want to increase the licence merely in line with inflation and those that think it is a disgrace that we even have to discuss the hallowed licence fee. One speaker talked entirely about the disgusting idea of advertising. He thought it would be a threat to the BBC’s impartiality.
Things Guido learnt : Some people think blogging will change the world. They each have blogs read by 7 other world-changing type people. They think Reuters, News Corp. and the BBC will be dethroned from the elite heights of Media Tartdom by using trackbacks and through backpacking American undergrads taking pictures of demos in Nepal, which they upload from their digital cameras to the internet. Bloggers will especially dethrone Murdoch and the bad King of Nepal (possibly not in that order). The Media will be better for it. The suits were very quiet during these bits. Blogging about blogging will save the world. Some of the world-saving bloggers intend to make money from this. They are the suits of the future.
