Comments on: Separating Hype, Opinion and Journalism

By: Jacqueline Church

Jacqueline Church — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:20:11 +0000

If I had a nickel for every email I get asking if the writer can do a guest post or revise a post I’ve already written to include a link to their client…that just makes me crazy. It seems many have decided that PR now can be free…just ask a blogger. They’ll do it for free. Disgusting. There has been a definite uptick in this type of email – probably get one a week.

By: diannejacob

diannejacob — Thu, 20 May 2010 00:16:03 +0000

Yes, these are good points and probably true.

I find that people have unrealistic fears about “being negative.” It’s not about writing a whole negative review. There’s a way to be “less than positive” without making personal attacks or being nasty. It’s about constructive criticism and a balanced approach. That is much harder work than just gushing over a product. Take a look at a movie reviewer’s work and you will see what I mean. If a reviewer only wrote glowing reviews he or she would be out of work soon.

There is no reason for a company to cut you off if you write a balanced, well thought-out review.

Agreed that it is easier to be positive. It is probably easier not to edit your own work also, no?

By: Kevin Adams

Kevin Adams — Wed, 19 May 2010 23:53:38 +0000

Hmmm,…maybe it’s not so much that your readers don’t like reading negative comments but that you don’t like writing them. If you received the thing or trip you are reviewing for free, you probably want more and if you write negatively, you might not get any other trips or freebies. If you did pay for it yourself, it may be hard to admit that something wasn’t worth the money for instance.

Personally I think I am pretty objective, but I’ll admit, it’s easier to be positive.

By: Parisbreakfasts

Parisbreakfasts — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:34:54 +0000

Hmmmm…I realize I may be doing a lot of “puff” pieces, usually because I really do like something like La Maison du Chocolat ganache the other day. What’s not to like?
But I’m also keenly aware that readers don’t like to hear negative comments, well my readers. It can be a difficult balance sometimes…

By: Michele

Michele — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:28:51 +0000

I didn’t realize that an all positive review was considered a puff piece. Thanks for the clarification.

By: Kitchen Butterfly

Kitchen Butterfly — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:00:50 +0000

Thanks Dianne, I’d never heard of puff piece Now I know. Thanks…and very interesting read too

By: Faith Kramer

Faith Kramer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:14:08 +0000

As usual, spot on. I have one disagreement though. I don’t think a review needs to be overwhelming positive. I think it needs to be honest so if something is more negative than positive that needs to come out.

By: diannejacob

diannejacob — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:57:01 +0000

Hi,

Re your comment about the free trip, please come back to my blog (www.diannej.com/blog) and re-enter it. I have just posted on the Sweepstakes, and your comment needs to be on the correct page. I’m going to delete the one you made earlier.

By: molly (the dinner files)

molly (the dinner files) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:04:17 +0000

Thanks for addressing this, Dianne (your earlier post on freebies was also great). What I see out in the field is that publications that used to have very strict standards are loosening them *a lot* because of budget issues. Freebies in food, travel, and lifestyle writing are everywhere.