At last. I've been desperate to get on here as I have news. This e-mail was in my inbox :
Hello,
My name is Jasmin McDermott and I am a reporter for the Southend Echo.
I have been forwarded your email about the petition that has been set up with regards to the protrayal of Mario Mugan, and I am planning to write a piece about it.
Would it be possible for you to call me or to give me your contact number so that we can have a bit more of a chat about it.
I will be in the office until 10pm tonight and my direct telephone number is (deleted)
I look forward to hearing from you,
Many thanks and kind regards,
Jasmin McDermott
Reporter
Southend Echo
I called her, and we had quite a long chat. I mentioned the Ch4 site, and how hard it had been to post positive comments for Mario, while some of the negative ones getting through moderation were bordering on libelous, and that it had taken mass complaining to get this changed and that now the worst of the meaness had been taken down.
I also mentioned the strange protecting of dave, and that he was partially responsible for a lot of the negativity toward Mario as well as other HMs.
They are planning to do a piece in the paper tomorrow about concerns about the editing, and will bring up the petition. I suggested that she try to get in touch with sam Pepper, as he is alos from Southend, was a friend to mario in the house and is backing him to win. I said that since most of the HMs assumed that he would be popular in the outside, they wer clearly unaware of the constant negative edits he had been getting.
I stressed that it was the unfairness that was our main concern, as obviously, editors can't include everything, but it was just plain wrong that Mario was almost never shown in a good light, and if his actions couldn't be twisted to look bad, he would be cut out altogether. I also siad that one of our big concerns was that. as a huge BB fan, Mario would be devestated when he came out and saw how he had been shafted.
I know that this is coming late, bit she did seem concerned, adn said that she would pass on the petition information to Mario if he got in touch with them. I gave her my number. so she may call me again tomorrow night.
I am so glad that finally smeone is looking into this. Let's hope something comes of it.