Comments on: Compromise http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/ Dada, bring my beer in the living room Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:52:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Stacy http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24872 Stacy Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:35:45 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24872 <p>The nuances of this get even more fun when I'm trying to parse out the blogger/professional journalist hat. My bloggy space, personal finance, isn't a particular hot one for Fun Free Things. (Offering free money is just way too blatant. Though hey, if anyone wants to try ...) But I do consult for a personal-finance company, which I really couldn't do if this were my day-job staff-writer beat. </p> <p>And on the day job, there are companies I have to kind of keep an eye on. It's generally accepted that journalists at all but the richest and most expense-account-lax publications can let PR people pick up the check for dinner. No problem ... except one company I cover routinely likes to order $500 bottles of wine at dinner. Which, um, gets into the more dubious territory. </p> <p>Basically, my rule of thumb at this point has boiled down to -- on the blog, I disclose anything I feel like I should disclose. On the day job, I try to stay out of situations that would look really compromising. And with the one spendy company that I can't deflect that from without being rude, I cover them only when absolutely necessary, and try not to pull punches.</p> <p>Now I need beer.</p> The nuances of this get even more fun when I’m trying to parse out the blogger/professional journalist hat. My bloggy space, personal finance, isn’t a particular hot one for Fun Free Things. (Offering free money is just way too blatant. Though hey, if anyone wants to try …) But I do consult for a personal-finance company, which I really couldn’t do if this were my day-job staff-writer beat.

And on the day job, there are companies I have to kind of keep an eye on. It’s generally accepted that journalists at all but the richest and most expense-account-lax publications can let PR people pick up the check for dinner. No problem … except one company I cover routinely likes to order $500 bottles of wine at dinner. Which, um, gets into the more dubious territory.

Basically, my rule of thumb at this point has boiled down to — on the blog, I disclose anything I feel like I should disclose. On the day job, I try to stay out of situations that would look really compromising. And with the one spendy company that I can’t deflect that from without being rude, I cover them only when absolutely necessary, and try not to pull punches.

Now I need beer.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24856 Stephen Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:05:36 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24856 <p>I only have two thumbs, but my thumbs are large; they can contain many rules.</p> I only have two thumbs, but my thumbs are large; they can contain many rules.

]]> By: mamster http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24855 mamster Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:50:02 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24855 <p>Iris and I just discussed that the other day. We're planning something polenta-related, but I'm not sure when it'll be up.</p> <p>As for negative reviews: I don't intend to use this blog to review products, per se, at all. But obviously I'm not shy about offending people. :)</p> Iris and I just discussed that the other day. We’re planning something polenta-related, but I’m not sure when it’ll be up.

As for negative reviews: I don’t intend to use this blog to review products, per se, at all. But obviously I’m not shy about offending people. :)

]]> By: Maggi http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24854 Maggi Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:31:23 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24854 <p>P.S... I do come here to Iris' musings too. :-) When are you all putting out another podcast?</p> P.S… I do come here to Iris’ musings too. :-) When are you all putting out another podcast?

]]> By: Maggi http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24853 Maggi Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:29:29 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24853 <p>As a reader (I have never written for commercial publication, only research) I can tell you that I do not have a problem with writers who review items that have been comped. What I do have a problem with are writers that only review the products that they liked and ignored the products that they did not, not writing a review at all.</p> <p>I would like to see more folks writing truthful reviews. If it just so happens that you have liked everything that has been sent to you gratis, then so be it. and tell what it is that you liked about it. But please, if you were comped something, and you feed it to your dog/wouldn't give it to your worst enemy then do tell us as well. We (as readers) really want to know the good, the bad and the ugly.</p> <p>I think our society is too focused on trying not to offend anyone that they decide that is best to live by the whole, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" mantra. Mamster - here is how you can be fair and objective - review everything you get. Don't worry about offending anyone, and we'll know that the fact the item reviewed was freely given to you did not color your perspective on the product.</p> As a reader (I have never written for commercial publication, only research) I can tell you that I do not have a problem with writers who review items that have been comped. What I do have a problem with are writers that only review the products that they liked and ignored the products that they did not, not writing a review at all.

I would like to see more folks writing truthful reviews. If it just so happens that you have liked everything that has been sent to you gratis, then so be it. and tell what it is that you liked about it. But please, if you were comped something, and you feed it to your dog/wouldn’t give it to your worst enemy then do tell us as well. We (as readers) really want to know the good, the bad and the ugly.

I think our society is too focused on trying not to offend anyone that they decide that is best to live by the whole, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” mantra. Mamster - here is how you can be fair and objective - review everything you get. Don’t worry about offending anyone, and we’ll know that the fact the item reviewed was freely given to you did not color your perspective on the product.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24848 Jenny Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:34:49 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24848 <p>I like Stephen's thoughts on the whole thing. YES YES YES should you be accepting free stuff, and then bragging about in online! That sounds so awesome, you lucky duck.</p> I like Stephen’s thoughts on the whole thing. YES YES YES should you be accepting free stuff, and then bragging about in online! That sounds so awesome, you lucky duck.

]]> By: mamster http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24834 mamster Sun, 14 Oct 2007 14:59:42 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24834 <p>Starting out with three thumbs would be a major advantage for a chef, wouldn't it?</p> <p>Clearly y'all are more advanced than I when it comes to thinking about this. It hadn't even occurred to me that I might be required to review something in exchange for a free product. I have turned down a couple of free trips where I would have had to write something.</p> Starting out with three thumbs would be a major advantage for a chef, wouldn’t it?

Clearly y’all are more advanced than I when it comes to thinking about this. It hadn’t even occurred to me that I might be required to review something in exchange for a free product. I have turned down a couple of free trips where I would have had to write something.

]]> By: Neil http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24829 Neil Sun, 14 Oct 2007 09:02:19 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24829 <p>Wow, wish I had three thumbs. Was one of them a freebie?</p> <p>(sorry, it's 2:00 am and I just got off work)</p> Wow, wish I had three thumbs. Was one of them a freebie?

(sorry, it’s 2:00 am and I just got off work)

]]> By: Stephen http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24822 Stephen Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:15:19 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24822 <p>My first rule of thumb is, if I asked for it, I review it. If it's just sent to me, I review it if I feel like it.</p> <p>My second rule of thumb is to mention where I got them at the end of the review.</p> <p>My third rule of thumb is to try to decide if I'd go buy more of whatever it is.</p> My first rule of thumb is, if I asked for it, I review it. If it’s just sent to me, I review it if I feel like it.

My second rule of thumb is to mention where I got them at the end of the review.

My third rule of thumb is to try to decide if I’d go buy more of whatever it is.

]]> By: anita http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24820 anita Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:02:15 +0000 http://www.rootsandgrubs.com/2007/10/13/compromise/#comment-24820 <p>I like to know when reviewers are comped, so that I can factor that into my assessment of their writeup. But I agree with you that turning down freebies just because they're free is a little daft. On our blog, we accept them (all two of them, so far: An airline bottle of tequila, and a $12 bottle of wine) with the caveat that we don't agree up-front to cover them, and if we do we're under no obligation to praise them.</p> I like to know when reviewers are comped, so that I can factor that into my assessment of their writeup. But I agree with you that turning down freebies just because they’re free is a little daft. On our blog, we accept them (all two of them, so far: An airline bottle of tequila, and a $12 bottle of wine) with the caveat that we don’t agree up-front to cover them, and if we do we’re under no obligation to praise them.

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