Oh no, not 'Credit Crunch' for breakfast... again!

The Times Online today has carried this PR-lead piece today for a firm of lawyers touting their services: 'The credit crunch has led to a "massive surge" in parents being pursued for unpaid school fees, according to the leading firm of lawyers representing independent schools. Barney Northover, head of education services at Veale Wasbrough, said: "If fees aren't paid, we'll take it all the way in terms of making people bankrupt over debt.'

Good placement, first quote in the article, key message ('We'll chase people through hell to get your money back') is front and centre. A near faultless display of crunch-washing, go to the top of the class… but don't default on your fees.

Meanwhile The Independent on Sunday claims: "No one will be celebrating the anniversary of the start of the credit crunch this week."

Really? Nobody? Not even a handful of journalists enjoying some reprieve from hunting out real stories while the tide of crunch-washing rolls their way? The Indie goes on to add: "…and there are few prepared to claim we are even halfway into this global crisis."

That's because everybody is readying their big 'first anniversary' stories at the moment. To let the 'halfway point' stories get lost among those would be frivolous!

Meanwhile, north of the border, the apparently parlous state of the world economy even gets a mention to explain falling numbers at the Edinburgh Festival. I'd say that made some sense if it wasn't for the fact that we're all apparently holidaying in the UK this year (or not) and live entertainment has become our one treat of choice during these difficult times - well, that and chocolate - according to too many articles to cite.