News don't come for free…
France is popping. The early spring sun is
flashing its tanline on Australia’s east coast. America hasn’t been
overthrown by a pro-Iran/Shark/Dora troika.
Yet. The world turns.
So, I apologise in advance for doing this. But there’s something
Ben Marcus said last week I want to examine. A tiny morsel of
interest hidden in the OuterKnown of his plucked carcass that
could, if it’s cooked the right way, deliver a tender intellectual
treat.
BeachGrit’s owned by the WSL.
Yeah, I know.
The guy’s like a Jesuit priest in Tokugawa Japan, preaching his
outdated scriptures to a dead-eyed audience. His roots cannot hold
in this laissez-faire world.
But this particular conspiracy theory is not the craziest thing
he’s ever said. In fact, he could even be right.
WSL could be funding BeachGrit. And we’d all be bit
players in a grand false flag attack.
It’d fucken suck if it was true. Wouldn’t pass the pub test, or
comments section, for a second.
But, in today’s media landscape it’d be no more surprising than,
say, discovering Trump doesn’t write his own speeches.
News don’t come for free, baby.
Of course, BM’s way off the mark. The Wozzle is too scared of
its own shadow, too risk averse, to ever consider being associated
with this glorious bin fire.
And Derek and Chas strike me as many things, but
Machiavellian ain’t one of
them.
Yet, we know the Woz froths on a good content partnership. They
love to crow about them. Show ‘em off to the world. A big green
tick on some god forsaken ‘key engagement strategy pillar’
somewhere within the Santa Monica high tower.
Pay Rolling
Stone money. Get positive ‘independent’ media
coverage. Watch middle America come flocking.
It’s sponsored content, and everyone’s doing it.
I’ve written before about
surfing’s need for a fourth estate. No, we’re not the
United Nations. This isn’t life or death stuff, for the most
part.
But dissent is important. Critical opinion is needed. Walls of
positive noise can only hold so long. The masses are smarter than
they’re given credit for, and somebody needs to keep the bastards
honest.
So, who pays the bills?
For BeachGrit it’s Cheezstix. Bemboka luxury blankets.
Lonely singles in your area. Yeah, those fucking annoying pop-up
ads and videos are this site’s lifeblood.
And, for the best surf reporting in the free world, I reckon
it’s worth it.
Sure, BG could take the road of
TheInertia.
As per their media kit:
Between our website, social, and OTT channels, we’ve built a
comprehensive network of surf, mountain, and health enthusiasts
whom we talk to every day. We can effectively integrate your brand
into our channels to ensure you’re speaking to the right audience
wherever they go.
Just check out their sponsors list. Samsung. Corona. WSL.
Michelob ultra lite.
What’s it mean? Every word they publish is tainted. And unless
you’re a single-use plastic, there’s nary a dissenting opinion to
be found.
TheInertia
presents itself as an army of woke, environmentally
conscious warriors. But its business model is built on the most
insidious form or post capitalism out there. Paid editorial. Where
church and state are no longer separated, and corporate brands are
allowed to infiltrate our lives so completely that we’re no longer
just consumers, but unwitting advocates in their pursuits for
profit margins.
It’s crass commercialism dressed in whatever political and
social trend is popular at the time.
We all make a faustian pact when we come online. Everything’s
for sale, including and most especially you.
But at least on BeachGrit we’ll look you in the eyes
when we fuck you.
Of course, BM could be right and BG might actually be a WSL
apparatchik.
In which case, Mr Logan,
I’m a skilled corporate communicator with over a decade’s
experience with some of the world’s leading
brands.
Please find my resume, buried under the southern lifeguard’s
flag at Newcastle beach.
