My goal: balanced, fair, fun. Photo: Anyaka, Flickr Commons
Written by: Julie Ovenell-CarterI recently received a snarky tweet from someone who asked outright if I had paid for the delicious New Year’s meal I recently enjoyed at the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino.
Indeed I had–and offered to provide the VISA bill to prove it.
But it raised the age-old question (well, age-old for those of us who started our travel-writing careers in print) about whether there’s any such thing as a free–or even subsidized–lunch.
Can someone who is getting fed (or sheltered or entertained) actually offer balanced commentary on the experience–or are they in the pocket of their sponsor?
I recently heard Vancouver social media maven Rebecca Bollwit (aka Miss 604) on CBC Radio commenting on the need to introduce US-style transparency laws to the Canadian blogging scene.
Basically, she thinks it’s a good idea that bloggers be required by law to disclose freebies. She reiterated her blog post which said although transparency isn’t required, she does “offer some disclosure” (see her comment below).
My wish would be that it wouldn’t take a law to make bloggers do the right thing. I think it could be as simple as posting “Blogger X’s travels in Nova Scotia were sponsored by Destination Halifax” at the end of a post–much like Globe and Mail and Georgia Straight travel editors have been doing for years at the bottom of their stories.
Since the beginning, I have included a disclosure statement on this blog, but today I am putting it on its own page so that it is easier to find.
I ask that you read it and tell me: does it go far enough?
Do you still need me to tell you every single time at the end of a post whether this burger or that hotel room was sponsored? Or is it enough that you know what principles and values inform that post?
I really want to know, and I will bend to the will of my readers on this because I think trust and transparency are key to a successful travel blog. Please do weigh in below. I’m listening.
Related link: The great debate: To freebie or not to freebie
Rebecca
on January 9th, 2010Hi Julie,
Actually not *once* did I say the laws were a) a good idea b) required. Neither statements were made by me on the radio or the edited TV interview.
I only said what I said in my blog post, which is that it is not required but I’ll offer some disclosure. I only get inquiries maybe 10% of the time so not all even care. By my reputation and voice, I suppose my readers just know & trust me enough in my writing regardless.
Thanks for continuing the discussion.
Rebecca
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on January 9th, 2010I apologize Rebecca–that’s true, your exact quote was as you say: that you would offer disclosure. However, in the reporter’s framing of your quote, they made it sound that you supported the US-style laws. I’m going to amend my post accordingly.
Do you have any feeling about when to disclose and when it’s not necessary? That’s the thing I’m most interested in–can/should disclosure be a one-size-fits-all proposition?
Darren Cronian
on January 9th, 2010Hi Julie. It is certainly an interesting subject. It seems ridiclous that everytime you write about a meal, hotel stay or trip that you have to confirm if it was paid for or not.
Personally, I think you should disclose that you have received the service or product for free and when you have paid for it out of your own pocket then you don’t mention this.
Make sure that the disclosure is easily found on all posts so that people are aware of that if you have not said so that you have paid for the service or product yourself.
I have to say that I am not a fan of paid review posts, because 99% of them are one-way positive. I know that most PR companies do not want you to write something negative about a product or service.
Que Banh
on January 9th, 2010Agree with Darren that the disclosure should be easy to find. I appreciate it when writers/bloggers/reviewers let a reader know if they’re writing on behalf of a company or if it’s just their personal opinion. I could care less if the reviewer paid from their own pocket or if it was complimentary – as long as I feel I have read an honest review. For me it’s more about content and the quality of a review. I like reviews that are well rounded and point out the positives as well as the negatives. I’ve had plenty of great travel related experiences that I’ve paid for myself. I’ve also had a few fab experiences where I’ve won a complimentary stay. That said I have also had not so great experiences with self paid and complimentary.
Andrea - 2010vanfan
on January 9th, 2010I am new to writing for public consumption and have started asking myself the questions that Julie poses. So far, I have been too worried about damaging the integrity that I’m building with my readers to even consider approaching the issue of complimentary or sponsored activities. However, it gets expensive to pay for it all myself, and as I do not have advertising on my site (to prevent any conflict with IOC and VANOC regulations) it makes everything a very expensive, though loved, endeavour.
If a company or organisation invites me along to their venue to write about it, do I have to say more than that? How do I ensure that I am being as ethical as possible without providing an accounting list on each of my blogs (how dull!). It’s a murky world and I’m still in the shallow end… the deep end scares me but I really don’t believe it should. There must be a balance between disclosure and enjoyable writing (and most importantly enjoyable reading!).
I look forward to hearing from more people on their experiences with disclosure. I hope it will help me find a level I’m comfortable with. Thanks again Julie.
Boris Mann
on January 10th, 2010Who cares?
No, seriously – who cares? What audience will care? Because mostly, it will be people with an axe to grind that want to take you down a peg.
Do good writing. Have integrity. If you feel the need to plaster your site with disclosure notices … well, that just puts THAT discussion front and center.
Evelyn Hannon
on January 11th, 2010It actually annoys me to read travel articles which begin with messages about the fact that the writers were subsidized and even though they were subsidized they are still telling the full truth. It spoils the romance of the story for me. It’s a bit like seeing an actor before the show without his stage makeup on. Surely by now my Journeywoman readers know that my trips are being paid for and I also hope that by now they know I try to tell the truth when I write. Besides, we all understand that all you need to do is write one ‘good’ review about a ‘not so good’ place and in the eyes of your readers you’ve lost your credibility.
@toddlucier
on January 11th, 2010I’d prefer NOT to see disclaimers in travel media. It all boils down to who your ideal readers are and whether or not they care. I don’t assume that a paid gig is going to get favorable treatment that overlooks the undesirable aspects of any travel experience (it wouldn’t from me).
I’ve hosted both complimentary visits from travel media and visits from those who have behaved just like everyone else (not disclosing that they were media) and then written about our experiences. At some level they were being compensated for writing the story.
I agree with Boris, it really spoils the sense of romance dropping a disclaimer in a story. If it has to be anywhere, disclaimers should indeed only be on the about page of the blog.
I wonder what that means for folks in the U.S. who may have their post feeds syndicated elsewhere? Compliance with impending legislation?
boomergirl
on January 11th, 2010Read your latest, including disclosure. I have no intention of shying away from stating in http://roadstories.ca/ that we work with the Canadian tourism industry. If someone doesn’t like that we do, they have the choice to go elsewhere in the blogosphere. Personally, I think experts in the travel world whether they’re media, PR pros, or travel trade reps have incredible knowledge that’s worth sharing with others. This is our industry! I blog and photograph about things in Canada that interest me. In the twenty years we’ve been in the biz have we worked with some of destinations we write about? Of course!
Deb
on January 14th, 2010Julie, as a “follower” I like your disclosure statement. It’s clear and reflects your integrity. Do you need more? Honestly, I’d trust your judgement, which is why I read what you write.