When it was announced yesterday that
the rightwing blogger Cameron Slater had become the new editor of the Truth
newspaper, both his fans and detractors were probably mouthing the full name of
his blogsite (in an Irish accent): ‘Whale Oil Beef Hooked’. After all, Slater
is a larger-than-life blogger with a reputation amongst his fans for being a
fearless and straight-talking battler against ‘socialism’, and a reputation
amongst his detractors for meanness, irresponsibility and buffoonish
muckraking. Whatever Slater does online always has more than a touch of
controversy about it, and both his critics and fans can probably agree that his
editorship of the Truth newspaper will be fascinating. The full announcement by
Slater can be read on his Whaleoil blog – see: Announcement: Whaleoil appointed editor of
Truth. Interestingly,
Slater says he will turn Truth from a newspaper to a ‘views-paper’. [Read more below]