When investigative journalism becomes stalking

Zoe recently posted this commentary on recent events surrounding Girl With A One-Track Mind, and specifically about his publication of her real identity by a certain Nicholas Hellen. I'm more than happy to join other bloggers in sanctioning this behaviour. Yes, blogging puts you in the public eye (especially, it has to be said, if you have a blog as provocative and well-written as Girl's), but this is no reason for unscrupulous journalists to invade personal privacy.

Since Zoe's eloquently stated the facts, I'll quote her rather than re-invent the wheel:

The Award-winning blog, Girl with a one-track mind got more than her fair share of publicity last year after her book, named after her blog, came out last year. The Sunday Times sent her a pretty unpleasant email from Nicholas Hellen Acting News Editor, that can be read on Girl's blog.

Journalists like him are what give journalism such a bad name, and if you feel angered in any way by his email, then please, do link to it, mentioning Nicholas Hellen's name and the Sunday Times, of which he was, at the time, Acting News Editor.

He should be ashamed of himself.

And I agree completely. The letter, which I encourage you all to read over at Girl's place, is egregious. I've been waiting for an opportunity to use that word, and this is definitely it.

There are a number of things about it that are offensive, but the ones that jump out at me are:

1. that he published her mother's name
2. that, with a photo already in hand, he basically demanded a better one (I guess paparazzi photographers generate crap pictures sometimes - what a surprise)
3. that he seems to expect gratitude; and worst of all,
4. the statement that basically reads "wear a nice frock to the photoshoot, and do your makeup".

That last one is also mysogynistic (there's another word that's been waiting in the wings) as well as being offensive in the context of the invasion of privacy.

Irritating man.