An Illustrious Link - Lluís Bassets of El Pais

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June 7, 2008 · Filed Under This blog

I was a little surprised, to say the least, to discover that one of the sites sending me the odd reader or two was one of Spain’s major national dailies, El Pais.

Oh, well, I thought, someone has placed a link to one of my posts about something or other, and this was why El Pais was showing up as a referrer.

However, my curiosity got the better of me, and I had a go at tracking down the origin of the link, which, I was even more surprised, and pleased, to note came that visitors were coming from the ‘De Alfiler a Elefante’ blog of one Lluís Bassets, who is, if I have understood correctly, and allowing for the fact that my Spanish is dire, the chief opinion column editor of El Pais.

Actually, Mr Bassets and little old me appear to share similar views as to the degradation which is affecting modern politics throughout Europe (and the world in general) at the moment, and it appears that a few of my posts on the subject of the Archetypal Italian, Silvio Berlusconi, may have caught his eye. Lluís Bassets’ blog links to Beppe Grillo’s blog too, which is interesting.

I’ve no idea how for long Mr Bassets will continue to link to my blog, but I shall try to write about issues which may be of interest to his readers, so Blog from Italy can continue to be worthy of the link.

If I get up the courage, language barriers permitting, I’ll have a go at contacting Mr Bassets, but for the moment: Many thanks for the link sir!

I’ve linked back to his blog out of courtesy.

The fact that major newspapers should be linking to blogs such as this one, is interesting in itself, and would appear to indicate that some blogs are viewed as being potentially more valid fonts of independent information, news, and comment, than traditional sources. And, in Italy, newspapers and the news media in general here, are far from being independent.

Although, having said the above, many of the posts on this blog have arisen from both my reading of articles in the press, and from my chatting to people in general. Then again, nobody pays me to do this, so I don’t have newspaper owner influenced editors or advertisers breathing down my neck.

If someone were to employ me to do this, then I imagine things would change, which would be a shame. At least, I think so. However, I don’t think any job offers are likely to come flooding in, but you never know.

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Tags: Berlusconi, blog, Blogging, El Pais, Italian, Italy, Lluís Bassets, opinion, spain, Spanish, spanish newspaper, This blog

Comments

3 Responses to “An Illustrious Link - Lluís Bassets of El Pais”

An Illustrious Link - LluÃs Bassets of El Pais on June 7th, 2008 3:25 pm

[...] AlexR Made an interesting post today on http://www.blogfromitaly.comRead this excerpt: [...]
Rajab Bader on June 7th, 2008 9:43 pm

The same thing happened to me recently. One day I was checking my stats and found out that the Guardian.co.uk had linked to my blog (realmadridtalk)

It seems thought that the editor on the Real Madrid section liked the work I do on my blog and labeled me as a useful link in addition to the club’s official website (in the sidebar).

That is really encouraging for bloggers especially for hard-workers. I’ve previously told you Alex that you are a great writer.

You write with passion and your articles are always to the point; I wish I could write as good as you do.

Anyway, well-done and keep it up m8
AlexR on June 9th, 2008 11:08 am

Congrats on the Guardian Uk link Rajab! Great news.

“That is really encouraging for bloggers especially for hard-workers.”

Yes, it is encouraging for bloggers like us.

“a great writer” blush. I’m not so sure about that, but its very nice of you to say so - again! Thanks Rajab.

“I wish I could write as well (’well’ is better than ‘good’;)) as you do.”

You already write pretty damn well for someone who is not from an English speaking country!

All the best,

Alex