Simon Dumenco on the need, or lack thereof, of newspaper ombudsmen sounds like the steps of mourning: “I found myself agreeing. [… ] Then, I confess, I found myself reverting to my usual position […] vague indifference. […] Then I found myself feeling a little guilty for not particularly caring.”

Do cash-strapped news rags need to be paying these fellas to complain about their coverage when everyone else, including this website, will do it for free?

No, because:

• Readers are doing it for themselves.

• Chances are, Romenesko has already been there, done that.

• Journalists and editors are doing it for themselves.

• Ombudsmen are (sorry) boring as hell.

• The money’s better spent elsewhere.