Nope. I used to work for a newspaper. Books were sent unsolicited by the publishers.
Usually said PR folks and publishers that did not actually read the newspaper to know that a standard cookbook isn't going to be reviewed by an alternative newspaper. The books were free to review or not. Most time they wound up on a shelf after the book reviewers glanced through them and the staff was free to glean what they wanted. The books that folks wanted to review were either bought or acquired by other means. I would think at a major newspaper they get books by the truckload. Same concept with with music, movies and television screeners. Do they disclose that they get "freebies?" No. They didn't request the freebies and they are under no obligation to do so or use the materials. If a blogger requests freebies and writes favorably about the product that is an ethical question. If a blogger contracts with a PR firm to consistently write about goods and services for cash that is an ethical question. The same question when a bunch of television reporters get to go on paid for media junkets to review the new television season. Not sure they can afford to do that any more. Or travel reporters go on trips to Disneyland/Disneyworld. Why isn't that payola? Gena http://createvideonotebook.blogspot.com http://outonthestoop.blogspot.com --- In [email protected], Joly MacFie <j...@...> wrote: > > Here in NYC I occasionally read book reviews in reputable newspapers like > the NY Times, New York Post etc. I'm yet to ever take notice of a statement - > "this book was supplied at no charge by the publisher" - or something > of that ilk, > but I somehow have difficulty imagining those journals, or their > writers, coughing > up the cash for the review copies. > > Am I missing something? > > joly > > On Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 11:48 AM, Tom Gosse <bigdogvi...@...> wrote: > > On Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 11:03 AM, Adrian Miles <adrian.mi...@...>wrote: > > > >> > >> > >> I don't think bloggers, on the one hand, can > >> call for the same rights and privileges as the press, but then not > >> want to actually be held to reasonable ethical standards. > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > Well said! > > > > > > -- > > Tom Gosse (Irish Hermit) > > bigdogvi...@... > > www.irishhermit.com > > > > > > > -- > --------------------------------------------------------------- > Joly MacFie 917 442 8665 Skype:punkcast > WWWhatsup NYC - http://wwwhatsup.com > http://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com > --------------------------------------------------------------- >
