PC World publisher denies all

Namely, the resignation of PC World editor Harry McCracken after he was allegedly told off for being willing to run knocking copy about advertisers.

Now McCracken's publisher Colin Crawford has bogged* about this tricksy situation. His take:

"The reports are not accurate. IDG and I hold editorial integrity in the highest regard. PC World, has not been nor will it be influenced by advertisers' pressure. Independent and trusted editorial is at the heart of everything we do. Serving our readership with fair and unbiased content comes first. We have and will continue to run editorial and content that both praises and criticizes as appropriate without regard to the vendor relationship. There is no shift in editorial policy at PC World, editorial integrity remains a core value and this will not change."

Even McCracken seems willing to take a freelance gig at PC World so this is all ending up as a damp squib that has been wrapped in cotton wool just in case. But it will ring bells with, ooh anybody, who has ever worked in the media.

Sales guy: Our biggest advertiser Techfroth was really upset over that review of the Techfroth 5GHz P4 PX6470.

Hack: The one that was codenamed Tharg?

Sales guy: Yes. He's talking about pulling ads for the July edition.

Hack: What, the summer special edition '100 Sizzling PCs Too Hot To Handle' that only has four ad pages so far?

Sales guy: Yes. I don't suppose you could… you know…

Hack: Oh come on, you know I can't do that. And anyhow, the only chip in it was a Dorito. µ

* Officially, every person in the known world now has a blog. Fact.