The Hull Daily Mail today investigated the adult entertainment industry links of the creator of a local news website on its patch called HU17.
In the story headlined : Town Web Publisher’s Porn Business the Mail reveals how Paul Smith “designed thousands of hardcore pornography sites”.
The Mail sent an undercover reporter, posing as an escort girl, to see Smith and it reports that he agreed to design a website for her for between £150 and £250.
At time of writing more than 200 comments have been added to the story, most of them critical of the Hull Daily Mail and many point out that Smith’s local news website covering Beverley could be seen as a competitor for the paper.
Jon R from Beverley says: “I just cannot see the value of undermining someone who is trying their best to make a real difference in Beverley. The story comes across as though Mr Smith has some kind of Porn Empire, when it appears the reality to be here is a local man working in an industry which rightly or wrongly seems now to be part of everyday life trying to earn a living.
“I am sure the HDM makes far more money than Mr Smith from the Escort, Massage Parlour and Private Services adverts listed in most of its publications and websites.”
Meanwhile HU17 has published its own story headlined: The truth behind the shocking headlines in today’s Hull Daily Mail, which rejects many of the claims made by the Hull Daily Mail.
UPDATE: Hull Daily Mail editor John Meehan has now issued a statement in response to the row.
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