Your humble scribe was contacted earlier this week by someone from the London Evening Standard. I refrain from mentioning names and giving details as it was a private email. However, the gist was that I was asked to comment on their story about the proposed driving licence changes, given my blog entry last year on the same issue.
By the time I had an opportunity to respond, the moment had passed. Not that I was too concerned by this as it wasn’t entirely clear what was wanted. It appeared from the context of the email and looking at the article on the Standard’s web page that I was being asked to do a letter to the editor type of thing. I have received no response to my request for more info, so I assume that the matter is now dead in the water. Besides, I had in mind to put some thoughts together for this blog and at that point wasn’t ready to make any detailed comment.
A couple of things spring to mind; on the one hand it is illuminating and flattering that the MSM is trawling the net looking for bloggers’ thoughts on the issues du jour. On the other hand, it is likely that they were looking for a freebie to bolster their comments section following the article (and doubtless the more contentious, the better). Now, while I am happy to do this blog for free; if the MSM want my considered opinion, then my current going rate is £100 for a 1,500 word magazine article – more than reasonable, I think.