Margate is in the news again and this time the article appears to have been reasonably well researched. It has errors and omissions but it does at least acknowledge the Thanet blogging scene as a force in the area.

Murder and arson mar resort's bid to become a coastal artists' haven screams the Guardian headline.

"To the local council, Margate has the potential to become Hoxton-on-Sea, a coastal haven for young British artists who will spearhead its renaissance.

"But following a murder and two high-profile arson attacks in the past month, the Kent town has been the subject of a series of lurid headlines that suggest it may take more than a cultural revolution for Margate to escape its seedy past."
IBID

On the whole I am no fan of the Guardian (or any other paper for that mater) but this does seem to be a reasonable attempt to research a story. None of it will be news to those of us that read or write blogs or participate in local forums but it can be said to be the best presentation of the facts I have yet seen. It also highlights just how few political locals have mastered the PR game.

Yes, it's the same few faces (metaphorically speaking) getting their flavour on the events out there which while giving the article a damp and soggy ending detracts only slightly from the overall tone of the write up. Sure I'd have liked to see a little commentary on the comments but at least the body of the article was not another ill researched and unhelpful story.

Now if we can just manage Thanet's fame we could all be on to a winner.