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James Blunt seizes the scalpel of truth

Posted in Media, Branwell Johnson, Latest reporters' blogs October 20th, 2008 by Branwell Johnson

James Blunt to edit Metro International. That sounds like a headline from The Onion, or a scathing Chris Morris satire on celebrity and news values.

The announcement was made separately to Metro Int’s  third quarter results today by the free newspaper group Metro International and might possibly be some clever tactic to divert attention from falling revenues.

But it’s true and deeply bizarre. And looks like a scheme dreamt up by his record label Warner Music as there is large global marketing campaign supporting the initiative.

The idea of pop guest editors is not so strange in itself, Girls Aloud or Sugababes and other pop songbirds seem to hurtle through the doors of The Sun and The Daily Mirror to edit the showbiz pages with amazing regularity. Even Bono has edited the Independent (and make a better fist of it than the current team, some might say).

But James Blunt on an international newspaper group that does not even include the UK’s Metro?  The Metro Int PR machine has no doubt helped tool the following quote -  James Blunt said, “I have long been fascinated by the media and am excited to have the chance to go behind the scenes at Metro and experience things from the other side. With so much going on in the world right now, I am looking forward to editing a newspaper, raising the profile of subjects close to my heart and hopefully have a little fun along the way. I might even give myself a good review!”

The singer songwriter has not been particularly noted so far for insightful comment on international politics, the economic downturn or even the melting of the Antarctic. And I would not have thought he is among the most internationally famous of stars – or even that popular with the young urban demographic across Europe and the US that Metro Int argues it serves so well.

But who knows, maybe he is an undiscovered editorial talent. As a sensitive lyricist he might argue that the pen is mightier than the sword but right now I remain baffled.

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