People reading this are already thinking, “Who the hell is Markham Hislop, and why is he worth writing about?”
Both are fair questions, and I will answer both.
Markham Hislop is a failed digital news media producer who rebranded himself a few years ago as an energy expert. He tried formed an outlet called Beacon News about a decade ago. The content was uninspiring and he used what he called “advertorials” where paid space was dedicated to OpEds. I believe Craig Chander’s PGIB used that service.
The Beacon failed and Hislop retreated to the West Coast where he formed Energi News from the table of a McDonald’s outlet. That’s all fine. Many startups are lean and it’s a free market.
Hislop is a bitter little man, though,h and holds successful media outlets in contempt. He was howling online and threatened to report the Western Standard to AHS for COVID violations because the Standard remained in operation during the pandemic for example. He really gets upset seeing outlets succeed where he failed.
The problem is he didn’t and still doesn’t know a damn thing about energy. He has no experience or education in the industry, yet he chose that niche to carve out a little spot for himself on the internet. From there, he has blathered about an energy transition that hasn’t happened and continues with failed peak oil predictions.
Now, that’s not a problem in itself. The internet is loaded with bullshit artists.
The problem with Hislop is that some legacy media outlets give him oxygen and some people may be fooled into thinking this guy has a clue what he is talking about.
He appears regularly on a talk radio show in Alberta and the host gets roasted for it every time. Alberta is jam packed with real energy experts. Why does this outlet insist on bringing Hislop on?
Further, how does Hislop pay his bills?
His website isn’t subscription-based and appears devoid of any advertising of substance. His YouTube channel barely registers a blip.
Still, he continues to produce content and share it with any platform willing to give him time. Is his site sponsored by energy transition activists perchance?
That certainly would explain some things.
Either way, it’s important that folks like Hislop are documented online. When people are scratching their heads and wondering who the hell the guy they listened to on the radio was and Google the name, it’s important that they find a source to explain his background and his presence.
If it sounds like he doesn’t have a clue what he is talking about, it’s because he doesn’t. Your ears don’t deceive you.
Don’t take anything you hear from him seriously.
My public service posting for the month.
