Comments on: Trusting what you read: does full disclosure matter?

By: Abi

Abi — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 02:18:58 +0000

I can see where you’re both coming from with the “all opinions my own” thing…but sometimes people DO accept various forms of limitations. Therefore, they are not free to write what they like. Certainly, many print publications state in their contracts that anything negative won’t be published. That’s why I often add the phrase in – to say that I haven’t agreed to conditions like that. Various HR departments of major broadcasting companies also confirm that their writers, newsreaders, photographers and so on are not free to express their own opinions. If they do, they risk the sack.

By: Abi

Abi — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 02:13:48 +0000

Thought so! Back to write a very intelligent response later…but I’m a bit slow at typing

By: John

John — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:42:32 +0000

When I read a travel article about a destination, event or activity, I am usually considering whether or not to visit or partake in that activity myself in the future. It is a little complicated as I limit myself to Europe even though the rest of the globe fascinates me as well. However, we all have to make choices about our consumption and Europe is currently my limit I do though I have a son in Japan I intend visiting in the future when the right timing and trains and ferries allow. I read your reports of managing travel in Japan with a limited budget with interest. The fact that it was not a press trip elevated its credence in my eyes.
This topic gets aired frequently. In some discussions I suggested that the Press Trip Host might give their guests ‘special treatment’. The response I got was that it was often not a better experience than the general public, but worse. Either way the report of the trip is not an accurate portrayal of that experienced by a punter. Everyone has a slightly different take on it. It is up to every writer / publisher to ensure that they consider how they will approach the subject. It seems to me that it is a human trait to take a course of action and then entrench to defend that position.
With literally millions of travel articles online, I personally prefer the ‘punter’s view’ as it means that I might be able to afford to travel in the same way. I don’t like to read 700 words only to discover I have been reading a hosted trip report or worse still a sponsored post. Full marks to Karen’s EalC posts because they always aim to be open and objective.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:59:44 +0000

Thank you Abhi – I suspect it’s a mix of both. The bloggers you mention are reluctant to criticise, but at the same time it is the job of the PRs and host to create an experience that leaves no room for any criticism. The challenge is getting beyond the laid-on experience and sharing with the reader the things that they are likely to find if they do the same thing without the fanfare that comes with a press trip. Not always easy….

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:56:42 +0000

Thanks for sharing your experience Zoe and yes, no doubt we will all sin again in this regard, despite our best intentions. We can only include so much information after all. But perhaps your correspondent is a good reminder to us all that some people actually read what we write and may even act on our recommendations, so it’s up to us to be honest and open with them.

By: Abhi

Abhi — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 18:45:25 +0000

As usual, your honesty and straighforward-ness (I am sure that’s not a word!) impress me, Andy. When I trod through the blog list of my google reader, I go through so many of these articles with disclaimers. I can’t recall a single one that’s not positive. I don’t think that’s possible for ALL travel experiences. Either the fact that it was paid for made the article nicer, or more likely, the PR agency/host made sure that the blogger was kept in luxury and completely impressed all the time – both of these are not useful for a general reader (or someone who arrives through a google search) who is going to pay with his own money for the service. You have definitely raised a good point. Kudos to you!

By: Zoë Dawes

Zoë Dawes — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:16:30 +0000

Always enjoy your articles Andy & this one especially. Been debating this very topic with a journalist this week, re a trip he went on recently where, curate’s egg like, some parts were good & others not so enjoyable. Discussed what to reveal or not … I remember one article on a hotel stay where I simply omitted the crappy bathroom & debateable food & focused on some vague aspect of the friendly staff – only to have someone who’d the hotel later “on your recommendation” & was cross as it didn’t live up to her expectations … The sin of omission was mine, all mine! Mae culpa – but I will not doubt sin again

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:44:06 +0000

Thanks for the excellent comments. A lot of general agreement here. Bret, I agree with you that print outlets have the same (some would argue greater) responsibility to fully disclose.

Honesty is, as always the key, and if people consistently write with the integrity that Tim, Karen, Lynne and Simon allude to then they will develop a credibility among their readers, whether in print or online, commissioned or self-published.

Arantxa, I didn’t want to embarrass Abi when I wrote this but as you’ve mentioned her I’d add that many of her articles are exactly what I was thinking of when I said that a good storyteller will find a great unusual angle, that leaves me indifferent to whether the trip is hosted or not. But for the ‘inspirational’ posts from luxury resorts that we see on blogs as well as in magazines, I would like to know. Different readers, different priorities (but we know that). Oh, and thank you.

By: Bret @ Green Global Travel

Bret @ Green Global Travel — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:30:11 +0000

Intriguing, thought-provoking post, Andy.

As a freelance journalist who’s been covering travel in international publications for years, I personally find it ridiculous and offensive that bloggers are required to disclose when a trip was hosted, yet print media outlets are not. The implication is that bloggers cannot be trusted to offer an unbiased opinion, while print publications are above reproach.

I have always relied on the generosity of tourist boards, tour operators and other DMOs to provide my travel (there’s no way I could afford ANY of my trips on a freelancer’s salary). But I’ve also always seen my first duty as consumer advocacy for the readers, helping them figure out where THEY should spend their hard-earned cash.

On more than one occasion (including a resort on our recent trip to Dominica), I have refused to write about a place or company that does not meet our standards or which I am not comfortable recommending to our readers. I do not believe in slamming someone’s business in print, but I refuse to write positively about ANYTHING I do not personally believe in. If I endorse a resort, a destination, a product or a service in a story, then I am willing to stake my reputation on the veracity of my opinion.

Personally, I think anyone– blogger or print journalist– who does otherwise runs the risk of damaging their brand’s reputation.

By: Arantxa

Arantxa — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:28:20 +0000

I hate disclosures.
I am a reader, I dream about places I will never have the chance to travel to.

I learn about people , culture and places and when I am enjoying my dream with no reason neither sense the happy ending, is interrupted with a lots of stupid explanations I don’t care at all, destroying with no respect my magical and sweet moment, just because engines and associations or groups or …..seem to know my interests or tastes better than me.
Give me a good story, as Abi King says in her blog, tempt me, make me think, make me dream, teach me something but don’t interrupt my reading with something I wasn’t looking for.

After this, Love you Andy.