shill: a person who publicizes or praises something or someone for reasons of self-interest, personal profit, or friendship or loyalty.
One: A major airlines offered to comp my flights for my upcoming trip. We talked for a little while about how that would work. The airlines would provide free flights if I agreed to give them an exclusive listing as the carrier. I said I could not do that. They countered with a suggestion that I give them top billing. I said no again. What I actually said is this: Wow, I really want to lie to you about this because I’d love to not have to pay for my tickets, but I can’t do it. I paid for my plane tickets.
Two: A hotel chain offered me many nights stay in return for a guaranteed listing. I said no. I said that while I felt that their properties were actually a great match for my audience, I wasn’t comfortable committing to any kind of guarantee. Furthermore, the final editorial call isn’t mine and as such, I don’t have the authority to make the guarantee. They still expressed interest in having me as their guest.
Three: An activities organization released my name and contact info to their partners. I’ve been awash in invitations to go snorkeling, kayaking, horseback riding, more. One tour provider contacted me to see if I was interested in a specific activity. I said that I did not think we had the time but that I really liked the idea. I had two questions: how far in advance must I confirm if we can make the activity and would our participation be comped?
The provider responded with this:
I have to ask you, why are you asking for comps? I was a legitimate journalist for many years and never once asked for anything for free. Please let me know your reason for doing this and how you can do anything with integrity having received freebies??
Travel writers have a tricky line to walk when it comes to the land of freebies. Smaller publications often don’t have the budget to give expense accounts to their writers, larger publishers may not provide it out of choice. I rarely meet a travel writer who doesn’t have a “day job.” I don’t know enough about the market to know who gives you a lush expense account and who doesn’t. I do know that the most I’ve been paid for an article is 750.00 and the least, 25.00 and that I’ve never had an expense account. I also know that the prestige of the publication doesn’t immediately translate to equally prestigious pay for writers. Finally, I know that a huge percentage of my pay for the trip I’m making is coming off my bottom line. I am very excited to make this trip, but I will make very little money on it.
I’ve written bad reviews and been blasted for them – often anonymously. I sometimes fear that I am biting the hand that feeds me when I do write criticism, but what’s the point in doing otherwise? The show was okay but I couldn’t recommend it, I liked that tour, but the guide was stiff and scripted, that no stink outdoor gear I tested smelled mighty funny after I’d been in it for a few days, the recipes in that cookbook weren’t things I’d want to cook at home. I hated that movie/book so much I couldn’t sit through it. These are all things I’ve written after receiving comps. I’ve loved things, too, that hotel was truly incredible, that meal was to die for, I take that gear with me every where I go.
I’ve always thought of comps as a necessary evil. Plainly put, I could not do the work I do without leaning on the generosity of providers. PR agencies thrive on this. They contact me and want me to write about their calorie counter (no), their makeup company sponsored event (no), their stuff that’s supposed to protect your archived DVDs with all those photos from Italy on them (yes). I sort for relevance and personal interest, and then I say what I think. Taking comps gives me access to things I wouldn’t otherwise be able to experience, but I don’t think it immediately means I’m a shill.
I wish the provider had said, “I can’t comp you, but do try to join or give us a call if you just want to hear about what we do.”
How’s my integrity? What do you think?
Related
- A short blurb on the ethics of travel writing on Writer’s Write
- About sponsored posts on ProBlogger
- A mess of links and tips for those on press trips on Your Travel Hub
- A snark attack at Media Bistro via Seafarer
- The Press Trip: Great Deal or Big Hassle on My Year of Getting Published
Seems to me that your ethics are admirable.
I worked for years producing a video series and classroom curriculum for a health education organization. Those materials find their way into the VERY lucrative school market only if they’ve been positively evaluated and “proven effective” by “peer reviewers.”
So far, so good — right?
Well, believe it or not, the organization HIRES those reviewers/evaluators and pays them hundreds of thousands of dollars for a positive review! (That’s often more than half the entire budget.) They are in bed with together (in some cases I’ve heard of, literally).
I refused to have my production evaluated because of this scam, saying that it seemed to me akin to providing Syskel & Ebert with a directors chair on the set, a script and a couple hundred thousand dollars during production and then asking for their “objective review.”
Because I refused to play the game and my products weren’t “peer reviewed” (ha!), they now sit on shelves… where the kids who need them don’t have access to them. (They’re on the self-esteem, body image and the media, teen stress and positive teen activism… yes, there’s irony there.)
I’m really sad that this is how it is, but I have no regrets because my integrity is intact and I can sleep at night.
I commend you on your choices.
Carol (whose DREAM is to be a travel writer… or any paid writer!)
You’re on higher ground than I am, Carol. And thanks for you comment.
I should be very clear…I haven’t refused free services, but I won’t promise that they’ll be included.
I poorly reviewed a movie sometime ago and afterwards, asked the producers if I could pass the screeners along. “Sure,” they responded, “if you’ll give them to someone who will write a *positive* review.”
Um.
note: one line trimmed by nerdseyeview coz i’m too embarrassed to accept the compliment publicly.
The guy who wrote to you sounded like a bit of a pain. I mean, would you be checking out his activity if you had to pay or is it something you don’t really want to do, can’t afford to do or don’t have to do so therefore a comped invitation from him is the best way to go.
I hosted a lot of guests when I lived back home in the NZ mountains of Te Anau. I always sent my guests to a particular sea kayaking outfit. The seakayakers offered me comps because I sent so many their way.
Isn’t this what these guys gain if they manage to show you their stuff in a good way?
Sheesh … karma alone, a comp is a good thing. If they don’t measure up then surely your honest feedback is helpful to them. I’d want it if I was in business and failing to measure up.
Don’t fret, you’re doing fab. I’m sure of it.
Okay, enough from me.&
Yes, it’s something that I can’t make sense of in my budget. I’m also not convinced I have time.
Thing is, I would have wanted to get in touch with him, regardless of his stance on comps, because I think his concept is cool and fun and valuable.
How do I feel about meeting with him now?
I’m impressed with your integrity on this writing assignment.
When I was in college, many years ago, a writer and photographer from Playboy came on campus to do a feature on what the swell guys where wearing that year. I thought Playboy was cool (I told this was a long time ago) and not being that swell myself I was curious to watch this. What they did was have the swell guys take off what they were wearing and put on clothes that the Playboy staffers had brought with them. And here I thought they were writing documentaries.
Thanks, all of you. I really appreciate the stories you’re adding.
Also, I wanted to mention that I got a nice note from another island provider who clicked through and has been reading my writings on writing. He said that I’ve answered several questions they often have as providers but are hesitant to ask. I really liked that. It makes up for the sting of having my ethics slammed.
Chicken … it wasn’t that big a compliment, it was merely a truth which is something else altogether but okay 🙂
You? Lack integrity? That’s just ridiculous. You are only abusing comps if you promote something bad just because you got something free. As someone who has spent many a night in a complimentary hotel room, every one of those suppliers knows that comps don’t = business…it is PR and they’re rolling the dice.
I think the former “legitimate journalist” is pompous, arrogant, and judgmental. The fact that s/he used the term “legitimate” makes me want discount him/her to begin with. Was this person a former travel writer? Probably not, since presumably they’d otherwise know better. Did s/he work for a publication that paid for all of expenses? If so, s/he should get off the damned high horse. The fact that you disclose that you’ve received comps or not allows us to make our own judgments about how you review an item. The fact that you’re willing to give less-than-glowing reviews of things you’ve seen/received for free tells me that your integrity is intact, thank you very much.
If there’s one thing I’d never worry about with you, it’s integrity.
great post Pam, it’s a tricky line indeed.
A little follow up on this: Another writer I know got in touch with the provider that bashed me for asking about comps. The provider offered that writer a comp. I should have been angry, but I just laughed and laughed and laughed when the writer told me.