Ethiopian Review

Los Angeles – Ben Southall has the “Best Job In the World,” but can’t seem to hack it, critics say.

The 34-year-old Brit, with an ego as big as the Great Barrier Reef he was “hired” to write about after winning a contest for the job, has only posted to his blog seven times since he started “work” July 1.

That was as of July 24.

What he has written on the Island Caretaker Blog is often pretty lame.

One blog entry begins, “I really should get an early night soon, stayed up until 2am getting the photos and collage finished for the blog and then couldn’t get back to sleep. Isn’t it weird how that happens…you’re more tired than ever and would expect to crash instantly but can’t?!”

What the what?

Tourism Queensland selected Southall from 34,000 applicants to travel the Great Barrier Reef and report on his travels via regular posts to the blog and other social networking sites.

The idea was to capitalize on the $330 million in free publicity the Best Job contest generated and pump up tourism.

Tourism Queensland blamed Southall’s writer’s block on his jammed itineraries, media demands for interviews (always with the media blaming) and difficulties with mobile phone or internet access.

Astro Mike tweeted from space several times a day without a direct Internet connection, but a pampered bloke with a $150,000 salary and job to die for can’t post a blog entry once a day?

- Examiner.com