The dark air of PR invades journalism...yet again

BLACKWOOD, AUSTRALIA Trying the ascertain the difference between UK and Australian journalism, I sought the views of British-born award-winning journalist Sharon Mascall-Dare, who lives and works in Adelaide for various international news organisations, including the BBC.

According to Mascall-Dare the line between journalism and PR is blurred.

"You have lots of people who work in PR who regard what they do as journalism and you have journalists who have no problem with them doing that. I think they have a different interpretation of the word journalist here," she says.

Page three of The Advertiser today bears out Mascall-Dare's opinion. Half the page - a major news page in any paper - devotes itself to "news" of a new cometic launch. Read the intro and weep.

Fair maidens are crossing to the dark side this winter, casting smoky eyes over blackened talons.

Cult cosmetics brand MAC and French fashion house Chanel are setting the trend, the latter creating a Black Pearl nail polish that was inspired by Tahitian pearls.

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