Editor (sort of) BigDaddyMerk
Posted by Merk
March 5th, 2009
I’m Merk, I’m the site owner & co-creator of Mailwatch.
Years ago myself and a fellow drunk Jon were sat in a pub having a beer, and someone had left a copy of the Daily Mail on the table. We leafed through it and managed to get ourselves annoyed at the content; so annoyed in fact we had to drink more to forget what we’d read.
At some point between lager and wine we decided we should start a website to analyse the Mail and it’s exploits, discuss its mistruths and misdirection. We’d laugh at the absurdity of its headlines. That was it, we’d start tomorrow – we never really did get going as planned.
We launched the site with good intentions but time and effort mainly meant I just posted the front pages and allowed people to comment. Jon moved to Paris and we never really wrote any of the biting stuff. Still, the site has been going for over 4 years – we have published nearly 2000 posts and 35,000 comments, as well as a lively discussion area by way of the Mailwatch forum, we have been featured in the Guardian and Independent as well a turning down an invitation to talk to Newsnight (it was a bad week).
Now things are going to change. With much help from Tim, we are to change Mailwatch for the better, we will of course still be posting front pages for you to laugh, cry and pour scorn over but we will also be looking more in-depth at the stories, lies and misdirection that may come our way – I of course say we, but what I really mean is Tim and a band of trusty editors, backed up by Dave who will be helping with any of the Technical gubbins that goes on behind the scenes.
Why am I doing this?
I set this place up because I hated how the Mail passed off opinion as fact. I think it was an article about single parent families being the sum of all evil. I read this on my way to a new well paid job after gaining a place at one of the best state schools in the land, going to College and University – non of which would have been possible without my hard working single Mother who bought us up on a council estate. I’ve not once set fire to a car or robbed an old lady of her pension.
Why change the site?
I have accepted Tim’s offer of help because it’s what this site needs, it’s what it’s always needed.
Will I still be around?
I will be still posting the front pages and hopefully the occasional blog post if time will allow but I’ll always be watching, especially you at the back….yes you.
p.s we hope to show the latest front page on the side bar with a link to it’s discussion page very soon, until then you can find the front pages via the link on the sidebar.
Categories: Housekeeping | Tags: editors
Thank you Merk. without whom……….
Bloody well paid jobs. Give you cancer you know.
Thanks Merk. I despair at the level of mentality of the DM and the intellect (or lack of) of its readers and the tory astrotufers who pack its comment columns. If they are typical of folks back home in the UK these days, I’m not going to hurry back. I really do fear for the future of the country, when as you say perverse opinion is peddled as fact, and everything and anything revolutionary, radical or plain reasonable is ‘outrageous’ . Keep up the good work, and my blood pressure down!
Thanks for use of the hall, Merk.
Thank you Merk. I would like to say more in appreciation but I think it would sound a bit mawkish. Just to say that this site is needed and the current development sounds very exciting.
I’m scared
Thanks Merk, looking forward to the new developments!
I manage a rather geeky and eclectic site called Tasneem Project Scrapbook which includes a media page called The Daily Terror (linked). DT just links to news and blogs, but I look forward to linking to some of your posts, insha Allah, coz we all know how much the Mail loves us Muzzies!
“I.T. GRAVY TRAIN – and guess who’s paying!”
I do not wish to piss on your parade but “we will also be looking more in-depth at the stories, lies and misdirection that may come our way ” might need to be revised so as not to upset the Mail legal team. Other than that I must say I look forward to the revised site with some anticipation.
Stories, lies and misdirection that MAY come our way – nothing wrong with that.
So this is what you’ve been Twittering on about!
Nice one guys. This is truly a star amongst websites. Keep up the good work one and all.
Have to say I’m really not liking the “Your Comment is Awaiting Moderation” thing. What I’ve always really liked about this site is that you let anybody say anything! That’s an attitude that’s pretty rare nowadays.
I’d much rather you continued to let anybody (including the Mail apologist headcases) say whatever they like without interfering with or even delaying anything. It’s what makes you better than them.
What a load of tosh… The Daily mail is the only newspaper in Britain today that tells the People THE TRUTH. Long may it live!
Have you considered setting up a similar site looking at some of the lies that the other papers come up with. I read a Guardian the other day and it was full of inaccuracies.
Hello,
I have just stumbled upon your website and I find it extremely interesting! The reason that I am here is because I am researching how often the Daily Mail use immigration as a front page headline – do you know of a way that I can find this out, for example how often in the last year?
Best regards and keep up the good work.
Tom
Hello,
I am the News Ed of Gay Times amagazine. I am currently writing a feature about the Daily Mail and wondered if you would be free to comment or contribute?
P
Hello,
Do you guys have a Facebook group? I ask merely because joining such a group would be the easiest way to permanently advertise the existence of this website (as opposed to occasionally posting the webpage address as a status update).
Sites like the Daily Mash, and News Arse, seem to be pretty successfully using both a main website, and a complimentary Facebook group – would you consider doing likewise please, so I can introduce more of my friends to this site.
Thanks
Haha I found this site after typing “I hate daily mail” into Google; it was number 1 in the listings! I absolutely love this site – Keep up the good work!
Keep this site updated and leave it possible to like or support this page on the home page.
Thumbs up to you.