There has been a lot of discussion around the world about the 'Best Job in the World' winner Ben Southall, and his lack of updates to his blog over his first month on his Telstra Next G internet and phone services.
We had been told by Tourism Queensland and Tourism Whitsundays that the main part of Ben's job will be to write a blog about his experiences in Queensland and Hamilton Island. Of course, you need a reliable internet connection to write a blog, and a reliable phone/internet connection to Twitter.
We had been assured in May this year by another Director of Tourism Whitsundays, John Nayler, in a testimonial that Ben would be getting the best and fastest wireless internet access Telstra had to offer on Telstra's marketing website at www.nowwearetalking.com.au/news/next-g-brings-breaking-news-of-hamilton-islands-caretaker-258 . The claims and the rest of the contents that were on this page were removed yesterday by Telstra.
However, within one month of starting his job as 'Island Caretaker', Ben was getting 'paid out' by the World's media for only updating his blog once every three days with headlines including:
How do you blow the 'Best Job in the World?' - Examiner
Blast for Ben Southall as his best job falls short - News Ltd
'Best Job in World' Winner Blowing It? - Fox News Chicago
Eventually, Tourism Queensland came out to defend Ben and blamed the 'poor phone or internet service' for Ben's lack of updating. Director/Chairperson of Tourism Whitsundays, Lyn Greggson, said in her regular column for the local paper last week; "And being locals, we all know there's not great internet reception out at Whitehaven Beach . . ."
Then last Saturday, Ben reveals in his Twitter that Telstra had finally fixed up his connection at home and the lack of blogs in his first month were due to his home on Hamilton Island being in a 'Telstra Black Spot'.
Unfortunately, after Telstra fixed Ben's connection, his neighbours internet speeds dropped to 100kbps/40kbps on the Telstra Next G Wireless internet connection - about 200 times slower than what Telstra Next G claims.
Poor Ben. He copped all that flak from the media, bloggers and tweeters around the world, because of bad planning and poor Telstra services. Why did our Tourism organizations let Ben 'take the fall' when it was Telstra's poor coverage "halfway up the Queensland coast and back"?
Maybe because one of Tourism Whitsundays directors, John Nayler, is in a marketing agreement with Telstra.
What a shame that a huge company like Telstra is happy to let Ben be criticized and harassed by the media and hundreds of thousands of people around the world, than 'fess up' that their coverage and services in the Whitsundays are poor.
Tourism QLD and Tourism Whitsundays should also accept the blame for poor planning. If Ben's main job is to Blog and Twitter, then he needs phone and internet services. If Ben's home was not in a Telstra Black Spot, he would have written more blogs. Whose job was it to ensure Ben had these essential services, or did our Tourism organizations just believe the hype?
Last week, Tourism Whitsundays Chairperson, Lyn Greggson, said: "The World's 'Board of Directors' has once again been on Ben Southall's case this week, with their latest criticism being not enough blogging." Ms Greggson however fails to tell us that Ben uses Telstra, or that Ben's house on Hamilton Island was in a Telstra Wireless Internet Black Spot.
Criticising the World's media and bloggers with an issue resulting from inefficient planning and a sponsors shortcomings, is not a good publicity move - what a great way of getting 'offside' with the media and putting $300 million of publicity in jeopardy.
The main priority of the 'Best Job in the World' campaign is for our tourism organizations to promote Ben and Queensland, not individuals, and not hidden agendas.
Disclaimer ; The editor is a part owner in a satellite communications company
No comments:
Post a Comment