what’s funny about the NEW media…

is their obsession with free shit. i mean, it’s NEXT LEVEL.  WAYYY worse than “traditional media”.  and believe me, I love free shit more than anyone.  I really do.  I’ll take a gift bag even if it has something really shitty in it, but now that it’s more and more widespread that PR’s are treating bloggers like traditional media they are getting offered more and more free shit in exchange for coverage and things are getting really out of hand.

personally, I like to send free stuff as a “thank you” for coverage when it’s not EXPECTED or used as a bribe.  that’s just me, but I do think that’s the right way.  anyway, there is a reason nytimes has strict policies against accepting free stuff…  it’s called journalistic integrity.  that’s also why it’s called earned media, not paid media.

over the last few weeks i’ve talked to  sooo many people who are either giving or receiving free stuff in exchange for coverage.  it’s just gross.  journalists, bloggers, whatever, they cover what we pitch because the content is good.  period.  i can see sending a sample to try or to give someone an idea of the look and feel of something but not to keep.

anyway, just had to get that off my chest.  i guess now that this law was passed, all that stuff has to be declared anyway, right?