Bloggers bite back at 'bullying' hack

An online row has broken out between bloggers and a journalist at the Sunday Times.

Abby Lee, a pseudonym used by the writer of the award winning Girl with a One Track Mind blog who has published a best selling book of the same name, was last year outed by the newspaper. 

Lee wrote about the experience and disclosed an email sent to her by Sunday Times journalist Nicholas Hellen. 

The email reads: "We propose to publish the fact that you are 33 and live in [my address] in London, and that your mother [her name] is a [her address]-based [her profession].

"The article includes extracts from your book and blog, relevant to your career in the film industry. We also have a picture of you, taken outside your flat.

"Unfortunately, the picture is not particularly flattering and might undermine the image that has been built up around your persona as Abby Lee.

"I think it would be helpful to both sides if you agreed to a photo shoot today so that we can publish a more attractive image.

"To avoid any doubt we will, of course, publish the story as it is if we do not hear from you."

The email outraged fellow bloggers, who have referred to it as 'blackmail' and 'odious', and have published the contact details of Hellen so that others can register their disapproval.

The resulting furore has made the blog the top ranked search return for Hellen on Google. 

Lee explained in an interview with vnunet.com that she posted the email because she found it "of an intimidating, coercive nature", and wanted to highlight what she feels are unethical tactics by involving her family in the story.

She said that she was tempted to cooperate, but that her mother advised her to "hang tough".

"Within a day or so of my posting the email from the Sunday Times on my blog, other bloggers had picked it up and begun linking it. It just snowballed from there really," said Lee.

"I've been gobsmacked how many bloggers have got on board, especially the ones who've openly stated they're not fans of my blog or writing, but who have been so outraged and shocked by the newspaper's approach to me, that they felt compelled to voice their support."

See also:

French blogger fired for online journal

Je ne regrette rien  21 Jul 2006

Sacked spy's blog takes on MI6

Intelligence community shaken and stirred  22 May 2006

First professional blogger calls it a day

Jason Kottke admits defeat  23 Feb 2006

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