James Hatts
@james-hatts.bsky.social
My day job is with a major UK consumer website. By night, I look after @se1.news
Reposted by James Hatts
I think this is the weirdest story I've ever reported. www.londoncentric.media/p/terry-ball...
The snail farmer of London, his mafia friends, and a £20m vendetta against the taxman
Terry Ball runs elaborate mollusc-based tax avoidance schemes that are costing London councils millions of pounds. Yet when London Centric tracks him down, an even stranger story emerges.
www.londoncentric.media
October 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM
I think this is the weirdest story I've ever reported. www.londoncentric.media/p/terry-ball...
Unfortunate error on the official Royal Diary of Engagements
September 27, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Unfortunate error on the official Royal Diary of Engagements
Just had this error message when trying to report missing components in an item bought from Amazon
August 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Just had this error message when trying to report missing components in an item bought from Amazon
Reposted by James Hatts
An AI slop factory apparently tried to rewrite our article about AI not replacing workers en masse, but hit the paywall... so just summarised the paywall. If this is the robot that takes my job I'll be v embarrassed
July 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM
An AI slop factory apparently tried to rewrite our article about AI not replacing workers en masse, but hit the paywall... so just summarised the paywall. If this is the robot that takes my job I'll be v embarrassed
Look at any Facebook group or online discussion. When someone asks a question, sooner or later someone else will post a screenshot of a google ai summary. People treat these summaries as tablets of stone, but they are often horrifically bad.
Alerted by @thejogginggoth.bsky.social this is the horrowshow of lies that google's AI summary throws up if you search 'evicting council tenants for asylum seekers'. Sod 'the complex issue with legal and ethical considerations', it cannot be done. People have been searching for this in their area
July 24, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Look at any Facebook group or online discussion. When someone asks a question, sooner or later someone else will post a screenshot of a google ai summary. People treat these summaries as tablets of stone, but they are often horrifically bad.
Reposted by James Hatts
What strange bedfellows! Delighted to be at number 4 in You Gov's rather eclectic list. Thanks to all the brilliant work of the MSE team for keeping us there.
July 10, 2025 at 8:18 AM
What strange bedfellows! Delighted to be at number 4 in You Gov's rather eclectic list. Thanks to all the brilliant work of the MSE team for keeping us there.
Reposted by James Hatts
One of the strangest death rattles of corporate local newspapers has been the teams of “local journalists” employed to churn stories about Martin Lewis.
So I gave Martin a ring to discuss the state of British news, plus where to buy chicken wings in London. www.londoncentric.media/p/martin-lew...
So I gave Martin a ring to discuss the state of British news, plus where to buy chicken wings in London. www.londoncentric.media/p/martin-lew...
"A swamp of muck and crap": Martin Lewis on how journalism is broken
Plus: Is London getting new Bakerloo line trains after all and the property billionaire's £3m scaffolding bill.
www.londoncentric.media
July 5, 2025 at 7:15 AM
One of the strangest death rattles of corporate local newspapers has been the teams of “local journalists” employed to churn stories about Martin Lewis.
So I gave Martin a ring to discuss the state of British news, plus where to buy chicken wings in London. www.londoncentric.media/p/martin-lew...
So I gave Martin a ring to discuss the state of British news, plus where to buy chicken wings in London. www.londoncentric.media/p/martin-lew...
Once went to a consultation event for a development near London Bridge where the people on the front desk denied any such event was taking place. Persisted + went to room on top floor where the consultants and architects were enjoying sumptuous refreshments free of any pesky members of the public
Nothing quite beats going to am exhibition that's open 3 hours a week, inside an academic institution with security guards who had no idea it was open and to be told that it's still not ready despite "opening" last month.
July 2, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Once went to a consultation event for a development near London Bridge where the people on the front desk denied any such event was taking place. Persisted + went to room on top floor where the consultants and architects were enjoying sumptuous refreshments free of any pesky members of the public
Reposted by James Hatts
I find this genuinely disgusting. ‘Hey your money worries are all solved…. ACTUALLY they aren’t but you clicked, ha!’
July 2, 2025 at 5:40 AM
I find this genuinely disgusting. ‘Hey your money worries are all solved…. ACTUALLY they aren’t but you clicked, ha!’
Reposted by James Hatts
How can any news organisation mislead their readers to this extent just to make clickbait?
It means grandparents with full time custody of children but it makes it sound like grandparents helping out. And £79 a week is so much money, they will create and then destroy real hope - just for clicks.
It means grandparents with full time custody of children but it makes it sound like grandparents helping out. And £79 a week is so much money, they will create and then destroy real hope - just for clicks.
July 2, 2025 at 5:39 AM
How can any news organisation mislead their readers to this extent just to make clickbait?
It means grandparents with full time custody of children but it makes it sound like grandparents helping out. And £79 a week is so much money, they will create and then destroy real hope - just for clicks.
It means grandparents with full time custody of children but it makes it sound like grandparents helping out. And £79 a week is so much money, they will create and then destroy real hope - just for clicks.
Reposted by James Hatts
It’s seven months since i started London Centric and this is a real highlight. getting nominated for the Paul Foot is entirely thanks to the support of subscribers who have given me the freedom to do investigative journalism. Thanks to them for this. And all the people with broken legs.
From broken legs caused by falling Lime bikes to lead poisoning lurking in our homes and soil, the Paul Foot Award longlist shows the strength and range of journalism in 2025.
➡️ Find out who made the list:
www.private-eye.co.uk/paul-foot-aw...
➡️ Find out who made the list:
www.private-eye.co.uk/paul-foot-aw...
April 16, 2025 at 11:24 AM
It’s seven months since i started London Centric and this is a real highlight. getting nominated for the Paul Foot is entirely thanks to the support of subscribers who have given me the freedom to do investigative journalism. Thanks to them for this. And all the people with broken legs.
Reposted by James Hatts
1 This is one of those stacked-noun headlines (“mushroom picking alarms forager”) that is hard to get the meaning out of
2 Louise Gather is an excellent name for a forager.
2 Louise Gather is an excellent name for a forager.
March 30, 2025 at 6:39 PM
1 This is one of those stacked-noun headlines (“mushroom picking alarms forager”) that is hard to get the meaning out of
2 Louise Gather is an excellent name for a forager.
2 Louise Gather is an excellent name for a forager.
The recent @londoncentric.media piece on what happens when your phone is stolen in London was spot on www.londoncentric.media/p/kitchen-fo...
- my phone was snatched in Holborn on 30 January, and recently tracked in Shenzhen, China (via Finsbury Park and Waltham Forest)
- my phone was snatched in Holborn on 30 January, and recently tracked in Shenzhen, China (via Finsbury Park and Waltham Forest)
March 14, 2025 at 8:19 PM
The recent @londoncentric.media piece on what happens when your phone is stolen in London was spot on www.londoncentric.media/p/kitchen-fo...
- my phone was snatched in Holborn on 30 January, and recently tracked in Shenzhen, China (via Finsbury Park and Waltham Forest)
- my phone was snatched in Holborn on 30 January, and recently tracked in Shenzhen, China (via Finsbury Park and Waltham Forest)
Reposted by James Hatts
From today’s Blessing Of The Thames ceremony held jointly by Southwark Cathedral & St Magnus the Martyr, processions from each meeting mid London Bridge. There are Readings, Prayers & Blessings for those who work on the river, use it for recreation or have lost their lives in its waters 1/
January 12, 2025 at 6:46 PM
From today’s Blessing Of The Thames ceremony held jointly by Southwark Cathedral & St Magnus the Martyr, processions from each meeting mid London Bridge. There are Readings, Prayers & Blessings for those who work on the river, use it for recreation or have lost their lives in its waters 1/
Reposted by James Hatts
Staggeringly misleading & irresponsible article by Express online. Neither I nor my site've ever said that. It's a perversion of our "earn under £35k & it's worth checking a benefits calc to see if you're missing out on owt" into dangerous, trite clickbait.
January 10, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Staggeringly misleading & irresponsible article by Express online. Neither I nor my site've ever said that. It's a perversion of our "earn under £35k & it's worth checking a benefits calc to see if you're missing out on owt" into dangerous, trite clickbait.
Midnight Mass at St Peter's Bournemouth @spbchoir.bsky.social
December 25, 2024 at 12:35 AM
Midnight Mass at St Peter's Bournemouth @spbchoir.bsky.social
Reposted by James Hatts
Spoke to someone recently whose very nice pub was featured in a News Shopper (prop. Newsquest) piece - the journalist had never spoken to them and lots of odd inaccuracies had been introduced to the piece. They were surprised when I said it could well be AI...
Bleak account of working in local papers for Newsquest, which continues to send millions of pounds a year to its US private equity owners, while producing "cheap, synthetic, low-quality fare" and using AI reporters to cover councils. westcountryvoices.co.uk/ultra-proces...
December 3, 2024 at 11:06 AM
Spoke to someone recently whose very nice pub was featured in a News Shopper (prop. Newsquest) piece - the journalist had never spoken to them and lots of odd inaccuracies had been introduced to the piece. They were surprised when I said it could well be AI...
Filling in a survey about Tesco Old Kent Road - feel sorry for the staff being measured on their ‘festive spirit’. And it’s still November.
November 29, 2024 at 11:51 PM
Filling in a survey about Tesco Old Kent Road - feel sorry for the staff being measured on their ‘festive spirit’. And it’s still November.
Reposted by James Hatts
We want Bluesky to be a great home for journalists, publishers, and creators. Unlike other platforms, we don't de-promote your links. Post all the links you want — Bluesky is a lobby to the open web.
Traffic from Bluesky's @bsky.app to @theguardian.com is already 2x that of Threads
In its first week on the platform & with 300k followers, Bluesky traffic from @theguardian.com posts is already higher than it was from TwX in any week in 2024, where the account had 10.8m followers, but🧵
In its first week on the platform & with 300k followers, Bluesky traffic from @theguardian.com posts is already higher than it was from TwX in any week in 2024, where the account had 10.8m followers, but🧵
November 27, 2024 at 3:08 PM
We want Bluesky to be a great home for journalists, publishers, and creators. Unlike other platforms, we don't de-promote your links. Post all the links you want — Bluesky is a lobby to the open web.
Reposted by James Hatts
If you remember and still miss Nuzzel, and use Bluesky or Mastodon, have I got good news for you.
This tool shows you the most shared links in your network. Hella useful.
This tool shows you the most shared links in your network. Hella useful.
November 22, 2024 at 9:19 PM
If you remember and still miss Nuzzel, and use Bluesky or Mastodon, have I got good news for you.
This tool shows you the most shared links in your network. Hella useful.
This tool shows you the most shared links in your network. Hella useful.
Reposted by James Hatts
Reach openly explaining how it's doing barrel-scraping clickbait targeting the links served up on browser homepages.
If I wanted to put properly reported local journalism on Google/Apple News/MSN homepages, they won't take it as I'm not a corporate news outlet!
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/re...
If I wanted to put properly reported local journalism on Google/Apple News/MSN homepages, they won't take it as I'm not a corporate news outlet!
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/re...
November 21, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Reach openly explaining how it's doing barrel-scraping clickbait targeting the links served up on browser homepages.
If I wanted to put properly reported local journalism on Google/Apple News/MSN homepages, they won't take it as I'm not a corporate news outlet!
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/re...
If I wanted to put properly reported local journalism on Google/Apple News/MSN homepages, they won't take it as I'm not a corporate news outlet!
pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/re...
So refreshing just having a simple chronological feed of posts from people I’ve actually chosen to follow.
November 19, 2024 at 10:44 PM
So refreshing just having a simple chronological feed of posts from people I’ve actually chosen to follow.
Reposted by James Hatts
Now, look, I’m not casting shade at anyone, but if you have anything to do with tech and you’re joining BlueSky - or you’re a brand - then for goodness sake, use your domain as a nickname. Apart from anything else, it verifies your profile as definitely yours. It’s free!
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
How to set your domain as your handle - Bluesky
Using a domain as your handle helps with account identity, verification, and portability. Here's how to set your domain as your handle.
bsky.social
November 16, 2024 at 8:48 AM
Now, look, I’m not casting shade at anyone, but if you have anything to do with tech and you’re joining BlueSky - or you’re a brand - then for goodness sake, use your domain as a nickname. Apart from anything else, it verifies your profile as definitely yours. It’s free!
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
Reposted by James Hatts
This is why London needs proper journalism, particularly at a local level as well as a city-wide level www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
Ministers to oversee Tower Hamlets council amid concerns over leadership
Exclusive: inspectors raise alarm about mayor Lutfur Rahman, who previously served a five-year ban from office
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2024 at 10:14 PM
This is why London needs proper journalism, particularly at a local level as well as a city-wide level www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...