Hackery

The silly season is when newspaper editors are so stuck for news they ask freelances and people with axes to grind to fill space.   It just means that the media is not particularly "serious" during
August or at Christmas time in Europe.
However, since advertising is the bedrock of any publication (unless the owners are self supporting),
these are the best times to read about "real people" rather than be bludgeoned with the wise saws of
leaders or pundits.
,
Many commercial enterprises are happy for a cheerful hack to call round to write up how Grandmama's
secret Christmas pudding recipe is the foundation of the family run business's success and, since benefit in kind
is a great sin, accepting the gift of any seasonal fare would draw the attention of the ethic's committee, so one
claims to be fruit cake (or pudding) intolerant.
I once had an ethics committee "borrow" some cheerful beverage or other that was sent to the
office as a Christmas gift.
That is the sort of story that adds to the season being very silly indeed...