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A Perks Register for IT journalists?

While being an IT (or any) journalist can be a real slog with long days spent trying to make the tedious sound interesting, while keeping editors off your back -- it's a career that also has its perks.

Most of the big-name companies in the IT industry have learned that a it's pretty hard to get their latest product or service launch noticed simply by sending out a humble press-release to the media. Most journalists get dozens of these releases every day and they're seldom more than crudely disguised advertising.

The bottom line is that lots of people see a the media as a great way to get free advertising -- if only you can get them to listen.

But the big companies don't often send out their own PR, they hire a company of professionals who have all the right contacts and know how to catch the eye of the tired, disheveled and underpaid IT writer.

If you're an IT writer then there really is such a thing as a free lunch, and maybe a free trip overseas, free software, free this, free that, etc.

So how do we know whether what we're told in the media is the God-honest truth, or just payback for a nice overseas holiday?

Well it seems we don't.

I raised the issue in a couple of columns this week, and it has struck a nerve with some in the industry.

Although most will naturally deny that the material, perks and other PR-related benefits they receive through their position as an IT writer for mainstream media have any bearing on the objectivity of what they right, I can't say that I believe all of them.

Uh-oh, I hear daggers being drawn by some of my peers!

In fact, I'm going to issue a challenge to all those working in the mainstream media -- and non-mainstream media (just to be fair).

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Why not divulge and freely list every single perk, benefit, boozy-lunch or other offer received and accepted from those who seek to gain your attention?

If there's nothing to hide then there should be no objection to making such disclosures openly and freely.

I for one always make a point of acknowledging any benefit that comes my way from someone in the industries I write about -- so that Aardvark's readers can draw their own conclusions as to whether this is influencing my objectivity.

Alas, my register is pretty damned small.

I was given a free Powerball (but only *after* I'd written about it), Vodafone gave me a free GPRS modem and the loan of a laptop back in 2003. IHUG gave me some free satellite internet access for a while, the current sponsor gives me a small (but essential) stipend to help with Aardvark's expenses, Microsoft has donated some copies of Windows XP and MS Office and various individuals (who I don't write about but have asked not to be named) have donated bits of hardware from time to time.

Although I have been offered trips, boozy lunches and other "treats" from time to time, I've always declined them -- since they would not actually enhance the substance of what I'm writing about and (to be honest) could possibly affect my objectivity.

So there's my list (or at least all I can remember) -- so lets' see similar lists (regularly updated) from others who write about the IT and internet industries.

Let's see exactly what benefits they've been offered and/or have accepted over the past 12 months so we can decide for ourselves whether what they're writing might not be a little biased or lacking in objectivity.

To his credit, Peter Griffin from the NZ Herald *did* make a point of mentioning that he was a guest of Microsoft when filing reports from an overseas jaunt funded by the software giant -- are all other journalists doing the same? And are they already disclosing *all* those potentially swaying gratuities that come their way?

Do you think this is a good idea?

In fact, should it be a requirement for all journalists who wish to be taken seriously to disclose such things on a weekly basis?

How many journalists would have the guts (or editorial permission) to write something bad about a product or service after the company involved flew them half-way across the world -- and/or signed up for 12 month's worth of advertising?

If any journalists want to call me on this one, I'll gladly set up and run this register, which would be publicly accessible. I wonder if I'll get any takers?

And please check Peter Griffin's "right of reply" to the front-page (not archived sorry) column published earlier in the week and the reader feedback that resulted.

Direct Debit Damage

Due to a billing cock-up, they were charged for $944 worth of excess internet use -- even though they were supposed to be on the unlimited Go Large plan.

A quick call to Telecom seemed to sort the problem out, with an apology being offered and a credit being promised.

Unfortunately -- the credit did not eventuate before the direct debit was processed and now the reader is left with a very big dent in their bank balance, through no fault of their own.

What's worse, Telecom are now buck-passing and the reader says he's having great difficulty getting the overcharge refunded.

Perhaps the reason that Telecom (and so many other companies) are keen to get you to sign up for direct-debit payments is because it is a great way of turning their problems into your problems.

Yes, direct debits are a very convenient way to pay regular accounts -- but I always write (in bold, block capitals) "NO PAYMENT OVER $xxx" on all my direct-debit authorities - where $xxx is an amount slightly more than I would normally expect to be charged. If the bank then accepts that form then accepts a request for payment for more than $xxx, you have a good case to claim back the difference from the bank -- if the company you're dealing with drags the chain.

As I understand it (although I'm not a lawyer) that direct debit form is a legal contract and by endorsing it in the manner I describe, you've set your own special provisions. If the bank then accepts it, they've also accepted those additional conditions and are bound by them.

Sometimes it's nice to have a little insurance :-)

Have you ever been whacked by an error in a direct debit? Do you use direct debits? Do you endorse your authorisation forms as described so as to limit your exposure?

Have your say on this...

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