Quote:
Originally Posted by TalnSG
I have no problem with the disclosure regulation, except that it needs to apply unilaterally. Yes, professionals operate under company policies limiting graft, but without a legal requirement to disclose it enforcement within any company is haphazard at best. This is an equal rights issue as well as 1st amendment. If it is published publicly, amateur or professional, the same law needs to apply.
I write restaurant reviews these days as an "amateur" and I really do welcome the oversight, within limits. I have seen far too much of what amounts to low-level payolla going on to influence reviews. I even had a recent, rather heated, discussion with a manager when he openly attempted to influence my review - first with special treatment and then threatening a friend.
But having also worked as a professional journalist in the 1990s, I absolutely insisted that this regulation be applied to ALL reviewers who publish ANYWHERE. The corruption is largely unreported on corporate levels unless a colleague finds out and decides to rat you out, or the company starts investigating for anything they can use to terminate you.
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I agree with this. TalnG, to single out one group for disclosure, and not all is unfair. It does look like this regulation would cover celebrity endorsement, and I think you mention of restaurants is probably accurate. Howard Stern can walk into any restaurant in New York and never have to pull out his wallet because there is a good chance he will mention the restaurant on the air, or the paparazzi will print a pic of him walking out. He never says he doesn't pay for meals, but I have heard that this is actually the case.