Comments

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  Max Pesling October 18, 2009 at 3:50pm

  Thanks for the lead, Ed... but it's a tough call, isn't it? I mean, if the paper gets a letter from a lawyer, whether or not I "win," will I ever write again in this town? That's the conundrum here, I just don't see the way out... But I should get in touch with him, anyway...
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  Meryl Pearlstein October 18, 2009 at 8:22am

  I just got back from SATW in Guadalajara and I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts about the conference, the PR opportunities, the writers, the professional development. Any good writing opportunities or trips are welcome.
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  Ed Wetschler October 18, 2009 at 12:58am

  Max, that newspaper's actions are a perfect example of adding insult to injury. Moreover, it happens to so many writers that it was a topic of discussion at the recent SATW meeting in Guadalajara. Perhaps Anthony Elia, SATW's lawyer (a very nice, young, smart, intellectual property guy) could give you a few minutes. His email is anthony@anelaw.com, and you may use my name.
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  Max Pesling October 18, 2009 at 12:00am

  Has this happened to any of you?
  
  A couple of months ago I pitched a story to one of the top three newspapers in the country (names won’t be named, not to protect the innocent, but to preserve whatever tenuous relationship I may have with the outfit). They completely ignored me on this occasion, and I thought that was the end of that. This past Sunday, however, they ran a story on the very topic. Now, if the pitch had been “restaurants of London,” well, you could chalk that up to coincidence. But it was a very specific topic, about an almost-unknown neighborhood in a European city that’s rarely covered in the travel press. Could be a coincidence, or then again… maybe not. A few years ago, I had a similar experience with a pitch for a round-up of the best pizzerias in Prague. That time I got an actual “no, thank you”… and a couple of months later, the glossy travel magazine ran that very story.
  
  As freelancers, pitching is our daily bread, and yet we sometimes get used for story ideas for which we don’t get paid. I’m furious, but realize there’s not much I can do… or is there? How have you guys dealt with this kind of abuse?
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  Ed Wetschler October 7, 2009 at 5:56pm

  Right on JoAnn. Regarding your question about the shuttering of Gourmet, David, I am neither a contributor nor a subscriber, yet this (combined with two, count 'em, two brides magazines) closing feels like the end of the world. And judging by the posts I saw on FB and Twitter, I'm not alone in feeling this way. Please, Sir, more foam!
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  JoAnn October 7, 2009 at 5:28pm

  Hi there. Jumping into this discussion a bit late, but just wanted to add my two cents: yes, these trips are fraught with drama and tensions, between pr folks, writers, and hosts. I tend to go into everything "as is" and often have no idea that so many agendas and cautions -- interpersonal ones, I mean, of course, I know there are business agendas! -- are hidden under the surface. What a bummer! If everyone first minded their business and then, second, when they did nose in, do so in a kindly helpful way, rather than a destructive, competitive way, we'd all be a lot better off. I guess that's obvious, though!
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  David Paul Appell October 7, 2009 at 5:27pm

  And BTW, any thoughts here on the shuttering of Gourmet?
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  Elyse Jessica Glickman October 7, 2009 at 5:06pm

  Would be happy to, Dave ;)
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  David Paul Appell October 7, 2009 at 5:03pm

  Hi Elyse -- Hot Mixology sounds fascinating, and when it launches I hope you'll share it with us in this site's group "Eating/Drinking the World" -- when is that likely to be, anyway?
  
  Sorry also to hear about your trials and tribulations with these characters. There's a whole pharmacyful of bitter pills to swallow in business, and this is par for the course. As Laura said, it tends to work out in the end -- the problem is that "the end" is never as soon as we'd like it.
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  Elyse Jessica Glickman October 7, 2009 at 4:35pm

  Thanks for the support...we think Hotmixology will inspire because it puts cooking, cocktailing and entertaining back into the hands of real people, not the elite. THe travel component will be distillery visits and how real people in other countries entertain.
  
  I do believe in Karma...I have been through this before, and some people get their just desserts...not the kind with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.