Comments

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  Jennifer Merigan January 20, 2010 at 8:09am

  Yes i agree - it's a bit rude having a conversation about media only stuff and a big PR blurb is dropped into the mix - it put me off. We all need to promote but the purpose of this site and media only section should be to feel welcome to comment and learn from other journos not to be used as a target from PR people - who actually want something for free!
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  Mary Alice Kellogg January 16, 2010 at 8:06am

  Susan I so agree with your "do not post" comment. Let's keep this discussion for true professionals.
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  Emma Krasov January 16, 2010 at 5:54am

  Thank you, Susan, for your comment. I was not talking about obvious reasons for non-delivery described by you, but about professional misconduct that can be displayed by experienced writers as well as inexperienced ones. I met experienced writers from very reputable pubs on trips and they told me they were not even considering a story, but were there for a ride, since their mag receives bundles of invites from all over. Nice. My point was ridiculing one subgroup ("inexperienced writers are a hoot!") within a professional group is... not professional? I just tried to point out that it all depends on personality, not on years of experience.
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  Susan McKee January 16, 2010 at 4:49am

  Attention Adriane Berg:
  
  We are professional writers. We do not "donate" articles to for-profit entities.
  
  Desist posting your requests for free content on this site. Please.
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  Susan McKee January 16, 2010 at 4:40am

  Emma: As a journalist, I do NOT have an "obligation to write and publish a story" about a hosted trip! As has been noted ad nauseum, sometimes trips aren't "worth" a story (mostly because the hype doesn't match up with what's actually delivered) and sometimes publications change their minds about articles (or go out of business). There is an expectation, of course (otherwise I wouldn't waste my time) but there is absolutely NO obligation!
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  Ed Wetschler January 15, 2010 at 10:21pm

  For you, Colin -- re Peruvian food: http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2010/01/peruvian-food-more-than-jus...
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  Allan Lynch January 15, 2010 at 4:44pm

  I should clarify when I do hotel/resort site inspections it's for the corporate market, so my readers are meeting planners and incentive houses. I very rarely include hotels in my articles for independent travellers.
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  Ed Wetschler January 15, 2010 at 4:40pm

  Regarding room inspections: Understandably, the media reps want to show off a property's best rooms, but in order to compare apples to apples, I always ask to see the basic, standard, cheapest double in each hotel, and I try to discourage visits to the Presidential Suite.
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  Allan Lynch January 15, 2010 at 4:35pm

  Most of my travel is solo, so I'm used to one-offs. I have no objection to site inspections as part of a group. But in either case, I want it quick and simple. Show me too many rooms and I forget what the first looked like. A bedroom, a suite, meeting space, spa and pool area and out. Don't introduce me to all the staff, I won't remember, and it eats into time.
  
  A friend of mine who is a meeting planner says if he sees more than 20 minutes scheduled for a site inspection he skips it or walks out after 20 minutes. It sounds cruel, but if you see 13 hotels in a day (as some places have scheduled), you really can't recall anything. A professional who is used to looking at spaces and flow can quickly see what they need to see. It needn't be dragged out.
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  Nina Zapala January 15, 2010 at 4:09pm

  Just a quick question. When visiting a property do VJ's (visiting journalists) prefer one-offs as opposed to press trips. As a pr-pro with several decades of experience I've always done one-offs. I know I don't have all the answers so your insights would be appreciated.