Hopefully those that seem to enjoy the rather tiresome journalist vs blogger debate can set aside two minutes to mull over this rather amusing clip.
For the rest of the industry, especially hotel owners and social media “gurus”, there might be other elements that strike a familiar chord.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hz72BX1EPU
Well done to Andy Jarosz of 501Places.
Update: Looks like the trend for XtraNormal-hosted videos is catching. Here is a particularly waspish take by Grumpy Traveller on the often, err, tense PR-journalist relationship.
The ending seems to be cut off…
I would assume that it concludes with the blogger getting in the last word by saying
No worries. I can tell that your hotel is selling for $50 on Hotwire and that you have that Off&Away auction where I can probably pick it up for $37.50. As a paying customer, would you be willing to give me an upgrade?”
hilarious..
“Hey we don’t do no drugs in here” LOLOL
yeah, hashtags!!
I have real influence… I have special door for you.. LOL made my Friday.
Very funny Kevin. Hmmm, now I’m wondering if we should reconsider that $500 bloggers pass for the conference!
Love it. The scary thing is how close to the truth it is – from both perspectives.
I think it is very timely to reflect on the ethics and scruples of being a blogger as well as that of being a human as well.
Nowadays, being a blogger seems to ‘arm’ one with some sort of magical powers of having influences which extend far and wide, as illustrated by the statements made by the blogger character in the video.
But at the end of the day, one needs to question what on earth is one really doing and what is the agenda being addressed in such situations?
That grey area of extending ‘invitations’ to bloggers for media events with the expressed intention of having them write/photo about it is no different from treating them like proper journalists on a press junket and feeding the usual PR spiel to them. Both parties are just going to be on their best behaviour so whatever objectivity they might possess are being thrown out of the window.
The video is funny but it irks me when I read blogs from bloggers who obviously have been ‘bribed’ or are in fact acting as ‘goodwill’ ambassadors for companies/hotels and their postings reeks of massaged messages.
Would you see the dust on the TV screen or the crack in the bathtub if you’re fed with a free 5 course dinner with wine at the hotel’s best restaurants?
going to smoke another #hashtag