That same woman attends the event every year and is known to bring along the SMH to read. Seems she's realised her choice had come down to two mostly-fictional items of content and chose to join the growing cohort of ex-readers. Sorry you had to find out this way.

On a positive note, this woman is clearly a candidate for one of the SMH's super duper 80 per cent off subscription deals.

You should go and personally save this reader so that you get a good mention from management at the upcoming staff retrenchment function.

Oooh yeah, so big that if a self-serving politician didn't convince you to regurgitate this story (to divert attention from a historical failure) the best coverage it could have enjoyed in the SMH would have been a reference in one of your crossword puzzle! In the end Granny Smith got some great free publicity, and the narcissistic politician who made sure you (and your readers) missed half the story, would be happy you saved them from being reminded about another of their many failed campaigns.

One day you too will make it to 32 - and all these mistakes as a work experience student will serve you well, by embarrassing you and reminding you not to get manipulated by sneaky pollie types. Even if they have offered you a cosy gig for which you don't really have the skills, using members money.

This is a great example of the risks involved in using background paragraphs from incomplete coverage. George Simon will no doubt be over the moon that you've given him a plug, along with his courageous but failed efforts to kill off the event.

It's likely you found your re-used paragraph in the story previewing George Simon's courageous failure. Unfortunately, The Hasbeen was MIA when the motion was shot down in flames.

But your competitor - and also TWT competitor - News Ltd's (NDT) report on failed attempt to ban Queen Questl was there at the meeting in which the motion suffered a humiliating defeat.

Even a niche womens issues publication, Womens Agenda, noted George Simon was branded a wanker for his bungled efforts..

Nevermind, you're not expected to get everything right as a work experience student, but you'll be relieved to know someone in the former Fairfax - now Nine - publishing empire did.

Watch and learn how the pros like Peter Munro do it. In his 'Six Degrees' column he mentioned Simon was chastised for his fruitless cruisade by Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins.

That was a report, of course, before Simon ended up with egg on his face, as was the earlier one selectively regurgitated.

But surely you could have also regurgitated these John Booth pearlers from the same story:

Mr Booth said contestants were judged on responses to questions about local knowledge, ambition and involvement in the community: "Beauty doesn't come into it - but we don't penalise them for being beautiful either.

"They're trying to make it out as disparaging to women but it's politically correct rubbish. There's no swimsuit competition and most judges are women," Mr Booth said. "Two women's libbers [councillors] tried to [cut support for the contest] a few years ago but they got voted down 10-2."

And on Simon's spectacular failure - one of many:

"That nitwit?" Mr Booth said. "I'm thinking about mocking him up in a dress and Orphan Annie wig in our next edition. I haven't decided yet".

Work experience student from The Shrinking Morbid Hasbeen (SMH) kicks off with a crusty cliche. Journalists back at the office he's been supporting with coffee runs impressed they've been matched for mediocrity.