View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
February 6, 2008

Anonymous blogger reasserts right to privacy

By Martin Stabe wirepost

The writer behind the sex blog and book Girl with a One Track mind, has responded to the item in this week’s Axegrinder column noting that the Sunday Times has hired Anna Mikhailova, the journalist who exposed her real identity in 2006.

The blogger, who writes under the pseudonym Abby Lee, points to the editors’ code of conduct section on privacy and writes:

“I fundamentally believe that everyone, anonymous sexbloggers included, has the right to privacy; I will support, protect and uphold others’ right to this, no matter what. No journalist should expose information about someone unless a crime has been committed or it is in the public interest.

She also warns bloggers who write under a pseudonym that their anonymity may not be permanent and that they should always be ready to lose it in the way that she did.

In 2006, a Sunday Times story exposed Zoe Margolis as being the person behind the blog, leading to a furious backlash from bloggers, which was later directed at then acting news editor Nicholas Hellen after Margolis published an e-mail he had sent to her before the story appeared.

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network