Why does the Daily Mail hide ghost-writers behind black faces?

"Verging on racist" Notting Hill Carnival piece written by ghost-writter

This week there was an interesting exchange on Twitter/X involving Dominique Samuels.

Samuel's was one of the original young faces of Turning Point UK when the US import was initially launched in the UK by conspiracy theorist and QAnon supporter John Mappin.

Samuels has gone on to become a commentator for a number of outlets, her linked in lists GB News, Talk Radio, ITV, BBC Scotland and the Daily Mail.

So it was interesting this week when Samuels criticised a Daily Mail article piece on the Notting Hill Carnival as “verging on racist”, explaining that she had been asked to put her name to the article that had been ghost-written by someone else at the paper. Its worth noting that she “eventually” turned down the piece so did consider putting her name to the article.

After Samuels declined the offer, Nana Akua of GB News took up the offer instead.

It opens up an interesting line of inquiry, how many opinion pieces in UK papers are written by anonymous ghost writers. Samuals responded to questions regarding this.

It appears that this is standard practise and a way for commentators to get their foot in the door to establish themselves. The next question; which is unanswered, is this more common with certain types of opinion pieces and certain commentators.

It does look like the Daily Mail attempts to mask articles “verging on racist” and diverting attention away from racism by hiding the work of ghost-writters behind non-white faces. Is this the price some commentators must pay in order to establish themselves at some outlets? Why else would the Daily Mail not want to attach the real author's name to such pieces?

US Far-Right Actors

What are people willing to do to establish a profile? The question reminds me of an interesting investigation into the current crop of controversial Right Wing characters in the US.

https://twitter.com/nicole_chenelle/status/1422449854224031745?t=AAwokFj1H1zaaEKwGfSgvw&s=19

The list going on

It could just be a coincidence that so many failed actors have ended up as the new generation of outspoken right wing activists.

In the UK it seems a number of actors and TV personalities have embraced the narratives of the anti-vax movement and climate change denial.

While it's impossible to know exactly what motivates a person to do what they do, both stories provide interesting thought for thought.