I haven’t been doing the food blogging for very long, so I’m not sure where my morals on freebies lie at present; when one arrives I’m sure I’ll find they’re in the gutter along with other important aspects of my banking character!

For a blog post that is not the usual ‘and then we ate…’ check out my latest, which is an interview with a Fine Wine Commercial Manager from Berry Bros. & Rudd.

Keep up the great debate-inspiring blogging!

FB

I am still a food blog fan and a food blog writer, I am not in the position of being invited for a free meal, yet, and would probably be so excited I would say yes without hesitation. However, I think i is a good thing to remember that blogs can be appreciated as a different slant on food writing rather than people who are just waiting to be invited to be ‘proper’ food critics.

Seriously, though – I can count on the fingers of one hand the free meals I’ve had via my blog, and I’m always upfront about it, in which case I see no ethical issue. I have definitely noticed more of a PR push from companies wanting yuo to review their stuff. Some I just reject out of hand (especially the ones who start talking in their introductory mail about guest blogging for me, required anchor text and SEO. Others I accept occasionally, particularly if it’s a type of product I would ordinarily buy and could make sensible comparative comments on it, but I also make it clear that I may not write a positive review. And some I think long and hard about (a certain organic veg box scheme) and then say no for precisely the same reason that others have mentioned: if I take the beautiful organic chicken, then I have to write abotu it, even if I want to put my feet up and watch trashy movies all weekend – and then it starts sounding like work.

I must say, I have been somewhat saddened by the homogenisation of blogs over the past 6 months to a year – there defintely has been a move towards more group activities and therefore more similar posts and reviews of the same places. It’s great for a spirit of community, but not really for original posts. I love meeting other bloggers as much as anybody, but I think Silverbrow & Simon hit the nail on the head there.

Bloggers have a right to free review stuff as much as professional journalists. The Internet is a level playing field (I just Googled Morgan M and agirlhastoeat’s review is higher than the Guardian’s) so your content has the same accessibility as as mainstream press.

It comes down to the reciprocal relationship between press and PR. Bloggers can try and blag free stuff but PRs aren’t going to give it to them unless they rate the value of your content. The point that a lot of people miss is that free stuff is not an inducement to write nice things, it’s an inducement to write something. That’s it. I understand Kang’s point about being awkward with the PRs just for being honest but that’s part of a PR’s job. I’d suggest not dining with the PRs to lessen the pressure. PRs may even ask you to make changes to stories (this has happened to me) but as long as you’re factually accurate you have the right to refuse. No truly professional PR will let that damage the relationship.

Krista, I pretty much feel the same way: the homogenization created by blogger events or freebies makes for boring reading, both for me, and my readers. I like to feel special and unique and hope my point of view offers up something a little different from the mainstream…

So far, my only salvation is to hardly write about comped food, and to always somehow remark on the nature of the meal, if free.

If I were to be told where to go and what to eat then it would become much less personal and a lot more like work, and considering the time involved in visiting and writing up I’m afraid I’d expect more than a free meal as renumeration for that. And seeing as I don’t see my blog as the right forum for paid writing, it just ain’t gonna happen.

Not that it’s something I have to worry about, I’ve never been invited to review anything related to my blog. But I’d imagine that the kind of gig I’d go for would be the behind-the-scenes type of affair where there’s more on offer than would typically be available to me as a paying customer, although even then only under certain conditions would I accept.

Thanks for opening the discussion with a gripping meta-post, Krista!