Alas, I couldn’t find an image of Conan in pajamas.

http://ow.ly/R1xs just a token of respect!

Happy New Year.

Steven

I think the bad carma around bloggers comes out of the fact that traditional (print, tv,…) media is facing difficult times as a direct consequence of the downturn. Therefore they are forced to be more aggressive and sometimes also play dirty. This is just a part of the traditional vs. new (social) media war, which is not destined to end soon, well at least not until traditional media representatives embrace the ideas and advantages social media can bring.

I definitely can’t agree with the doubt on altruism, because if you start a blog you namely start it because you want to share what’s on your mind with others, you want to be heard and therefore enjoy what you write. There is no reason to get paid to write about something, even though some of us (don’t count me in) do. In the end it is all about readers, they choose who and what to read and they can form their opinion.

I’m really sorry to read such editorials, but then I ask myself: “Who regulates journalists?”

I took my own advice and contacted KFWB to see if we could learn more about the “adherence to a long and detailed ethics statement” which Anthony Dias Blue touted in the response published in the original post.

I was surprised to learn that Blue’s show is actually PAID PROGRAMMING and thus not subject to the CBS ethical policy that Blue touted.

Which raises another question about ADB: Why would he claim that he’s subject to an ethical code — a code he would be violating, given his pay-to-play policy — when he’s not even subject to that policy?

It seems that Mr. Blue wants to boost his journalistic credibility, when in fact he’s just running an infomercial. Shame on him for throwing stones at Tyler and the blogging world.

I’m pasting my letter to KFWB and their response below.

Dear Mr. Gomez,

Anthony Dias Blue, who has a weekly show on KFWB, has a so-called “exposure package” in the media kit for his publication, The Tasting Panel. He also assures editorial coverage and sponsorship on KFWB 980 AM. Here is what he is offering:
http://www.tastingpanelmag.com/Media/MediaManager/TPM%202010%20media%20kit.pdf

MONTHLY “EXPOSURE PACKAGE” SPECIALS
• Full Page Ad in THE TASTING PANEL Magazine
• Feature Story in magazine
• 30 minute radio show sponsorship of “Happy Hour” Show KFWB 980 AM
(includes on-air interview, orpportunity [sic] to showcase brand)
• Price $13,500/month

I’m curious how Mr. Dias Blue’s published policy of pay-to-play squares with the editorial and ethical policies of CBS Radio and KFWB AM.

This subject has recently been discussed in public, with Mr. Dias Blue referencing “adherence to a long and detailed ethics statement”:
http://www.drvino.com/2009/07/23/anthony-dias-blue-bloggers-tasting-panel-exposure-package/

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

Mark Ashley
Editor, Upgrade: Travel Better
http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/
@upgradetravel on Twitter

A few days later, I received this response:

Mr. Ashley,

Thank you for your e-mail.

The Anthony Dias Blue program “Happy Hour,” which airs Sundays on KFWB, is a paid program. A disclaimer is played at the beginning and end of the show disclosing this fact. It is not produced by KFWB and “Happy Hour” is not subject to the same editorial oversight as KFWB’s general news programming. The only editorial content Anthony Dias Blue controls is within his paid program.

As News Director, I have no involvement with the “Happy Hour” radio show. It’s my understanding the program is produced by The Tasting Panel Magazine. Questions about the content of the show should be directed to the editors there.

Hope this helps.

With kind regards,

– Paul Gomez
KFWB News 980

Comments are temporarily being moderated.

There are a variety of good and bad practices in the winewriting and winemaking businesses. The more honesty the better ought to be a point upon which we can all agree. The more independence, the more likely the chances of accuracy and trustworthiness in wine critiques ought to be another. The more that any possibility of bias is eliminated in tastings should be a third.

The difference between trips paid for by local organizations and winery trips paid for by a single producer is palpable, and the only way to keep bias out of those reports is to (1) be honest about the trip and (2) to not review wines tasted on those trips in any but casual fashion–as opposed to trying to suggest, as some writers have done, that the wines were tasted blind in peer-to-peer tastings.

At that point, we can begin to debate and continue to debate what is expected of us. In another blog entry, Tyler has led an expose’ of shoddy (shady?) winery practices, and they need to be looked at as well.

Have you ever been known to beat a dead horse?

In response to your questions, I no longer beat my wife.

Best,

Joe Dressner