tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post6577397819208166163..comments2024-03-18T04:47:16.199-07:00Comments on The Gray Report: Dear FTC: I take freebiesW. Blake Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-15660972913385732342010-03-10T11:25:49.945-08:002010-03-10T11:25:49.945-08:00I agree. I feel like the FTC needs to go after the...I agree. I feel like the FTC needs to go after the REAL predators and stop lumping all into one boiling pot of witches brew.<br /><br />There are real live fraudsters and predators out there and the regulators should be able to sort through them, and base their opinions on real complaints, and damages to determine what rules are necessary. If more time was spent weeding out the bad guys, we'dAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-70928866593508895352009-11-29T14:19:01.698-08:002009-11-29T14:19:01.698-08:00If anyone's still reading this -- the New York...If anyone's still reading this -- the New York Times had space for this story today: <br /><br />http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/complaint-box-air-conditions<br /><br />The paper is in favor of its employees suing airlines when they don't arrive on time to catch a flight. Just sayin'.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-34709035546687456182009-11-14T18:36:20.069-08:002009-11-14T18:36:20.069-08:00Thanks for the kind words, folks.
Alice: One thin...Thanks for the kind words, folks.<br /><br />Alice: One thing I learned in my years in the newspaper industry, including a stint at one paper in charge of deciding what op-eds and letters to the editor were published, is that the facts matter more than the byline.<br /><br />I appreciate your criticism, and would like to ask you to write your own piece on this issue. I'm sure you can write W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-26963558356995101762009-11-14T10:09:39.020-08:002009-11-14T10:09:39.020-08:00Blake, Do you know how difficult it is to have an ...Blake, Do you know how difficult it is to have an op ed published? You're sounding very green. Just because you have worked there in the past doesn't mean they owe you.<br /><br />The piece, I hope you forgive me, was just not a good enough piece of writing or had a strong enough (or original arc) to make it through the slush pile. Perhaps you should have tried a letter to the editor.Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11367115057068815130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-32107567564823785092009-11-12T08:42:37.027-08:002009-11-12T08:42:37.027-08:00Blake.. you were always one of my favorites when y...Blake.. you were always one of my favorites when you were writng for the chron! so good to catch you back in print..and thanks for this one.Miz Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13863616686356827302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-35967813114059925742009-11-12T04:56:38.361-08:002009-11-12T04:56:38.361-08:00Bravo - one of the most lucid takes on this issue ...Bravo - one of the most lucid takes on this issue that I've read so far.<br /><br />The basic truth here is that the FTC regulation is overly-complex and the thinking behind it is too simplistic - your tax dollars at work!1WineDudehttp://www.1winedude.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-85088373795590744702009-11-11T23:28:11.665-08:002009-11-11T23:28:11.665-08:00Michelle wrote: "...[the NY Times ethics poli...Michelle wrote: "...[the NY Times ethics policy] clearly outlines their policies on samples and tickets and so on, for freelancers as much as staffers..." I read the entire document and fail to see anything on accepting samples or tickets. The closest I could come to a comment on this topic was this: "...staff members may accept press passes or free tickets when explicitly Tom Merlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09948201337303721158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-31402154679884107692009-11-11T22:59:24.320-08:002009-11-11T22:59:24.320-08:00WHY MEN ARE THE WAY THEY AREWHY MEN ARE THE WAY THEY AREWarren Farrellhttp://www.warrenfarrell.biznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-4977969410429201442009-11-11T20:26:21.949-08:002009-11-11T20:26:21.949-08:00This is the NYT's publicly accessible ethics c...This is the NYT's publicly accessible ethics code, which clearly outlines their policies on samples and tickets and so on, for freelancers as much as staffers: http://www.nytco.com/press/ethics.htmlMichele Humeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09318415780509043874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-84770096210948265482009-11-11T18:00:57.877-08:002009-11-11T18:00:57.877-08:00Hi guys, thanks for all the comments.
Michele: I&...Hi guys, thanks for all the comments.<br /><br />Michele: I've never seen a freelancer contract that forbids freebies. You must write for different publications than me.<br />I did not mean to pick on The Chronicle -- it's just that I worked there and know their policies intimately. Other papers are similar; that is my point. To your conclusion: If I have to make that note, why doesn'W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-66340874312328965802009-11-11T17:35:48.140-08:002009-11-11T17:35:48.140-08:00You make a very compelling argument about the basi...You make a very compelling argument about the basic questions of fairness involved. The government is interfering with some media but not others, and it’s no surprise that the ones with the long-established ties and deep pockets are getting favorable treatment. The rule should be applied evenly or – better yet – not at all.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14237934983184009121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-55261606963052600402009-11-11T16:47:57.016-08:002009-11-11T16:47:57.016-08:00Freebees
Will I'm not sure what to make of thi...Freebees<br />Will I'm not sure what to make of this other than it's just business as usual. Corp get scared of the competition so they ask friends in govt to make rules against the small players in the game. US history shows this really got off the ground after ww1. I don't care were your free samples come from I'm just looking for a little info on wine.<br />jo6pacAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-87750939881758951272009-11-11T12:53:05.861-08:002009-11-11T12:53:05.861-08:00Are you on some sort of Vendetta against the SFC? ...Are you on some sort of Vendetta against the SFC? You might consider having someone else read through your work because you're coming off as on the warpath for perhaps personal reasons.Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11367115057068815130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-70164276608007187982009-11-11T11:49:50.746-08:002009-11-11T11:49:50.746-08:00I, too, am very bugged by this. It is totally ridi...I, too, am very bugged by this. It is totally ridiculous.<br /><br />Personally, I think this is just the first of many unfair advantages our government is going to do to give the failing newspaper industry in their effort to slow the downfall.Jack Everitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02147956932551396362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-5439665187816604332009-11-11T11:28:03.345-08:002009-11-11T11:28:03.345-08:00I'm very surprised that the SF Chronicle's...I'm very surprised that the SF Chronicle's freelancer contract doesn't expressly address--and forbid--freebies. I thought that was a pretty standard clause in those sorts of agreements. Maybe the problem here isn't with the FTC but with the Chronicle! (I'm not basing that assertion on anything other than what you say in this post.)<br /><br />I agree that calling a merchant Michele Humeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09318415780509043874noreply@blogger.com