Re: ONLINE-ADS>> Bullied By A Big Company

Dana Blankenhorn (Dana.Blankenhorn_at_worldnet.att.net)
Tue, 25 Aug 1998 09:19:49 -0500 (CDT)

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Peter Tanner <dtanner_at_mail.bcpl.lib.md.us> wrote:

> The big corporation then email me,
> requesting I stop displaying the ads, or they will cut off relations
> with me. The big corporation's staff occasionally visits my site,
> contributes to the forum, and gives me an exclusive screenshot for a yet
> to be released product. What am I to do? Also, is there anything illegal
> about what the big corporation is doing?

The answer is not a lot, and more than you think. If the big company
wants to refuse cooperation with you, you'll have to walk in as a
customer and (maybe) pay for products you review. From a news
credibility standpoint, that's not a bad thing.

But this is not the end of the world. Far from it. I found an example in
print this month -- "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World." It's a
book detailing how to get the most from the resorts. It has no photos.
The reason, as explained at the back, is because Disney won't let them
print photos -- it would conflict with their "Official Guide," which
they publish. So the editors of the Unofficial Guide pay for their
trips. They also have real credibility.

If you decide you can afford to pay to cover your target company,
proclaim it loudly. Explain it to your readers. Print the e-mails that
went back and forth. And be prepared to pay more for your information.
But also be prepared to be more credible with your readers.

The choice is yours. Many publishers decide they can't afford to resist
a demand of this type. The brave take this kind of conflict as a badge
of honor.

--
Dana Blankenhorn         _at_Have Modem, Will Travel
Home of 			 A-Clue.Com
http://www.a-clue.com	 http://www.ppn.org/clue
404-373-7634


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