It is a well known truth in journalism that one of the best ways to get a story is to take another journalist out for a drink and get them to talk.
Sooner or later they will give you the inside story on something that they were not able to get into print or on air.
Why not? Their editor wasn’t interested, or they didn’t have time, or it was considered legally risky, or it was about the proprietor’s best friend. The reasons are endless.
Most journalists are bursting with information that the public never gets to hear.
And not surprisingly it is often the very information that is most interesting - the story behind the story. The real reason why Mandelson was brought back into Government, for instance, or the real reason why Prince Charles is still waiting to take the throne.
This is where we come in. Blatherskite is dedicated to bringing you the inside story.
Not only is this stuff highly interesting but we believe it ought to be more public. Why should journalists keep it to themselves?
In newspapers these are the stories that are sometimes published in the diary columns. Diary columns are more serious than gossip columns. Gossip is usually about celebrities and it is usually a little bit salacious. Diary writing is about the news and it is usually humorous, barbed, sidelong…..and intensely revealing.
There are some very fine diaries in the British newspapers - we rate them the best in the world. But there is nothing on the web. That is the gap we are here to fill.