For a moment, we thought the combination of the sweaty smoggy haze of Dubai and pre-vacation excitement had turned us soft and fluffy, when we let this piece in Gulf News slip through the cracks. Luckily, we woke up with hangovers today and wanted to vent.
Could we have reached new depths in the UAE with Gulf News' My car saved me from death? We would urge you to read it in its full glory. Stand-out quotes from the driver include:
"I felt safe and protected in my Volvo S80... During the accident I really praised myself for driving a Volvo."
Good job that the manufacturers were on hand to provide a quote as well:
"The testimony of Eric Brouwer demonstrates that the Volvo S80 has been developed to make it one of the safest cars in its class....[He} is a living proof that Volvo is committed to manufacture vehicles with high safety criteria."
Next week: a news story about how many hot women are attracted to a convertible. Brought to you by the makers of Porsche.
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27 comments:
That's fucking insane. But then again if you buy Gulf News, you deserve it.
well done to the PR for getting it printed (and writing it of course)
They should have taken it further bringing in other brands..
A group of four labourers in a Skoda were less fortunate, their bloodied, headless corpses burning fiercely in the shoddy and cheap looking interiors. I am sure their fatherless children will now be saying "If all daddy had bought a Volvo" etc etc etc
It is pretty dodgy but it was in the automotive section, not the news, so "reviewing" cars isn't completely off the point.
Volvo tried to flog it off to The National's news desk until the PR was reminded that the crash actually happened in March...
haha thats ogilvy at work.. good show gals ...
it was in the business section, not automotive.
Good show? It's hardly worth praising the PR company, they did not have to do much...Robin Chatterhead and the gang are not the sharpest tools in the box
"All the options were still working and I witnessed all the safety and technology features coming to life and eventually saving me from a terrible death."
beautiful.
Was this labeled as an 'advertorial' in the paper? Or did they really attempt to pass it off as a genuine article?
If it was the latter, the simple fact that ANY journalist applauded this says all you'll ever need to know about Dubai.
Horrifying journalism. Gulf News should be ashamed, but probably think it's a world exclusive
Anon @ 20:39
Nobody has applauded it, universally the opposite, so what does that say about Dubai?
It caused quite a few raised eyebrows within GN too, or so people who work there tell me.
yeah, i'm sure it did, because GN would never normally repurpose a press release and publish it....
Yeah - because no newspaper in the world ever does that do they? Never get NYT, der spiegel or the Times moving around a press release and publishing it would you?
I think the point was that - contrary to implied postings - GN wasn't exactly thrilled with the fact the story somehow made it into the paper.
I've worked on advertorials for major international newspapers and these are clearly marked as such. In many countries it is actually illegal not to flag up advertising.
If this volvo piece had been flagged as an advertorial - no problem. But it wasn't.
I am not based in Dubai and already this story is making the rounds - it makes Dubai journalism look like a total joke.
Yes I am sure the world class staff at Gulf News were angry that the story "somehow" made it into the paper. Amazingly, a crap, barely thought through story made it in the next day as well. And the next. Luckily, their blistering poll: "how many pairs of jeans do you own" took the heat off. NYT are looking to syndicate that. Robin Chatterhead, we salute you.
Sure, never underestimate an editor's need to fill a page, but no, the point is not that GN wasn't pleased that this story "somehow" made it into the paper. That's absurd. Story got in the paper because someone put it in the paper. Ironic or sincere, you decide.
who was the pr responsible for this, anyhow?
A poster at ITP dirt made some rather weird threats to both that blog and DMO.
The poster kicks off with the rather odd statement that - "DMO is like a cockroach and it has to feed on people's blood."
They go on to state that members of staff at ITP's publication, Arabian Business "are not the sort of people you want to upset" and that Arabian Business "was going to "out" the people behind DMO but pulled back at the last minute, because it is likely DMO founders would be arrested."
Their final pay-off is "Something to think about next time the door bell rings....."
Funny stuff - but obviously a bit sinister and slightly weird in a stalker kind of a way.
Hasn't Anil got form for grassing journalists/colleagues? Isn't he 'editorial director' of ITP's business output?
well, Anil did roll over on his accomplice at the Mirror fairly quickly. Allegedly. But I seem to recall reading that he said he had been "corrupted" by the prevalence of low morals at the Mirror, as exemplified by Piers Morgan. So you can all blame Piers for it really...
The Anil-Piers relationship is an interesting one. Yes, im sure i recall Anil turned Piers over during Mirrorgate - supposedly they were sworn enemies.
But then last year the two of them were seen swigging champagne together at 360 in Dubai, looking like best mates. The mind boggles...
Allegedly? Didn't Anil get community service while his pals got 2years? Something like that.
Corrupted by low morals at the Mirror? So he is so spineless that he couldn't take any kind of independent moral or ethical stand? No wonder he ended up in Dubai.
what about this masterpiece in the business section today:
"Lotus One 'serves the best dessert'
Staff Report
Last updated: August 15, 2008, 12:12
Dubai: Lotus One, the fusion restaurant and lounge bar, brings delectable moments with a winning touch.
Selected as the best dessert in the Live Dessert Cooking Show held at Chocolate Event, as part of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2008, Lotus One's Yin Yang Chocolate Dumplings sweeten your sessions with a great taste of chocolate and ice-cream.
It serves best with Thai tea Anglaise in a shot glass and homemade Choco-chip Ice-cream."
This is not a newspaper. It is spam.
and here's another possibility - Volvo gives special attention to your nose. hehehehe - well done GN!!
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