Could this be the most clickbaity news story of all time?
Dr Mumbo is aware of the futility of railing against clickbait headlines.
Indeed, as he contemplates the story that news.com.au considers the third-biggest thing happening in Australia today, he just can’t help but saluting the unsurpassed masters of the art.
The headline – “Aussie superyacht hostess tells all” – certainly intrigues. So that’s one point.
The gratuitous use of a girl in a bikini adds another point.
And let’s give them one more point for the mysterious teaser: “Sarah Begbie had the rare chance to snap up $10,000 for a week’s work aboard a superyacht. It didn’t go as expected” Who wouldn’t click on that?
Have a further point for merely being a repost from sister British tabloid, The Sun.
And another point for it being a two-year-old story.
And another point for including a further seven swimsuit shots borrowed from the Instagram account of the young woman in question.
But of course, real clickbait only deserves the label if it truly disappoints.
And it does.
Remember that promise that “it didn’t go as expected”?
Apparently she didn’t expect to do any work.
So the entire point of the story is the following revelation:
“My daily tasks included but were not limited to, all food and beverages services, all housekeeping including making up the guest rooms, guest and crew laundry, linen and turn down service, accounts, stock control and provisioning,”
Have two points for that.
Oh, and apparently, her quarters weren’t very big. Astonishingly, when you work on a boat “you don’t get much alone time”. That’s worth another point.
But there was one other big revelation: She didn’t get any tips, but heard anecdotes that people who worked on other boats did.
Ten. Out. Of. Ten.
Don’t go changing, news.com.au. Don’t go changing at all.
yes i clicked through and recognised immediately that I was in the presence of greatness
User ID not verified.
Not in the least bit interested in Super Yachts or Sarah B – would never click on it
User ID not verified.
Welcome to the era of clickbait journalism. Who needs journalists when you can just hire thieves? Is there any such thing as real news stories anymore?Is it any wonder online newspapers have so little credibilty and are crying poor mouth and wanting to force readers not to use adblockers. Stinks really.
User ID not verified.
Love it, love it, love it
User ID not verified.
Newspapers aren’t dying. They are committing suicide
User ID not verified.
Do they get an additional point when they recycle the exact story in two months time?
User ID not verified.
Get over it boys and girls. This has been on in tabloid form since Caxton was in shorts, before bear-baiting turned into clickbaiting and became a global sport. It attracts readers and it’s fun.
Aren’t you tired of bad news, manufactured ‘journalism’ masquerading as serious stuff and political clap-trap?
User ID not verified.
When I saw the ad, I assumed it was just another of the click-bait advertising vehicles that google now inserts all through most online content. It was amusing to learn that it was the focus of the content.
User ID not verified.