The Great Architect

After all the dealings and endless wild goose chases with EMAP over publication of viral images in ZOO Magazine, I was expecting nothing less than a heated ‘kerfuffle’ with the ’soarway’ Sun over the Spice Girls parody image used by them in their ‘Bizarre’ column last week, (Mentioned in the entry below)

However, I have had a VERY fast turn around in communication, (after a couple of emails were sent) and the Deputy Editor of the ‘Bizarre’ Column got in touch earlier today with a courteous and polite email, offering an amicable settlement for the use of the image in the paper, and nothing short of an apology if he thought that they had handled the situation badly.

Far be it from me to suddenly start singing the praises of the tabloids, but if this matter resolves itself to its promised conclusion at the same rate as the communications have, then it shows a level of responsibility on the Suns’ part that they are willing to acknowledge, thank, and pay the ‘viral’ image creator as they would any other supplier of image content, without any fuss or bother.

The result (to date) was both surprising, and a welcome and refreshing change of attitude to deal with over the issue of my viral images being published without prior consent. It does appear that even large publications can ‘get it right’ so it still amazes me that EMAP, and their ZOO magazine, can’t. (or rather, won’t)

Hopefully things will progress as planned. Must just say a BIG thank you to Tim at bloggerheads and Neil at Beau Bo d’Or for their help and guidance. They have helped a bewildered country bumpkin from Norfolk enter the dark and murky world of dealing with journalists and publishers, and I am eternally grateful.

Hmmmm, first the Daily Sport. Then NUTS. Then EMAP and ZOO magazine. Today seems to have put me on the next (still very, very low) rung of the ladder with the appearance of one of my images in the super, soaraway SUN ‘Newspaper’

The image in question being the one directly below, and appearing not only on their official website: HERE

but also in print, here:

(Thanks to Tim @ Bloggerheads for braving the Newsagent to actually buy the ‘Newspaper’ – I owe you 30p.)

Thanks to the eagle eyes of a few people over at B3ta.com there is now an issue with more ‘de-tagging’ of created images. You’ll notice that the online version (in the link, above) has been deliberately photoshopped by ’someone’ to cover up my original tag and yet the printed version (main pic.) still has a partial tag visible. It’s a quandry, isn’t it.

Will probably get in touch with the Sun later on, with the aid of a few others, and see what happens, and will certainly report back here on the progress.

I wouldn’t mind if it was some of my ‘better’ photoshopping they used, but I cringe every time I look at the image in more detail. Still, I’ve never claimed to be a good photoshopper, and thankfully I don’t have to rely on it for a salary. A point also observed and backed up in some of the ‘less than postive’ criticism by some guys over at Fark.com – HERE. – Hey guys, I didn’t ASK for it to be nicked, de-tagged and printed, ok

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about what I should ask for in payment terms, seeing as they’ve printed it without any attempt to contact me directly. Do I go straight in with a request that page three stunner Keeley, 21, tells us her thoughts on the current state of the Middle East in her next topless appearance specially dedicated to me? Or do I hold out for something a little bigger, like one of their super soaraway £9.50 holidays to Skegness?

Suggestions welcome.