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Author Topic: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media  (Read 5158 times)

Offline TopGun

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #40 on: November 01, 2008, 09:09:05 am »
Quote from: wing on October 31, 2008, 08:22:41 pm
So great, how do they get paid?

A week is actually plenty of time to get a good feel for the car even with the little bit of driving I do.  Some do much more -- getting paid $50 - $100 an article you aren't going to survive on one a month!

Oh you're going to love me Wing - they don't get paid.

If the argument is the reviewers are bias (not you...just generally) because of the current way "the game is played" (as Ted Laturnus refers to it)...then change the game.

I'd take a car for a month and provide a view of what it's like to live with on a day by day basis...similar to your blog...which I find is much more insightful than any road test from Jerez.

Yes...some would say there is still the opportunity for bias given they are giving me a car for a month.  Ideas?  The only other way would be the Consumers Reports method...which we have determined does not offer an enthusiasts point of view.
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Offline wing

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #41 on: November 03, 2008, 07:45:30 am »
I don't know many people that work for free.  How would you pay the bills? 

You are assuming all journalists would have other full time jobs -- I suspect if they did they wouldn't bother doing the journalism, then there would be a severe lack of anything interesting at all.
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Offline TopGun

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #42 on: November 03, 2008, 09:49:46 am »
Quote from: wing on November 03, 2008, 07:45:30 am
I don't know many people that work for free.  How would you pay the bills? 

You are assuming all journalists would have other full time jobs -- I suspect if they did they wouldn't bother doing the journalism, then there would be a severe lack of anything interesting at all.

I guess that is the crux of it Wing...we can't very well expect independence when their livelihood depends upon the tone of the opinions they give.  It's not their "fault"...rather, it's the flaw in "the way the game is played".

The model I was describing is not one of full-time journalist working for free...rather, it was full-time employoee giving his/her impressions after putting 2500 km on a car.

Why would that create a severe lack of anything interesting?
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Offline wing

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #43 on: November 03, 2008, 10:26:13 am »
Well it would take a very special person to write reviews consistently for publications without getting paid.

This goes for everything not just autos.

I have a full time job, but I still don't do this just for fun.  I get paid.  If I didn't get paid I think I would stop... it's a lot of work and interferes with other things in life.  It is worth it to me right now as I can use the extra income (who can't) but if I had kids and a bunch of other activities it would be hard to justify the time sometimes.... especially if there was no pay.
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Offline safristi

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #44 on: November 03, 2008, 11:32:21 am »
...I don't want to put words in TopGuns mouth ...."That Saf is amazin'..erudite,handsome and kisses BABES wee bairns"........BUT perhaps he meant an Independent Publication sorta like Consumers Model..that buys /rents the cars anonomously and TESTs them fer
 a decent whack then publishes their Independent results inna Magazine fer money and THEY pay their testers  a living wage.........................course these writers must BE WRITERS not  boring BOFFINS regurgitating stats.........i.e IF it's gonna SELL it must be TOP GUNISH or like Jeremy Clarksons write UP...Read his BOOK wotta HOOT....


    "SAF SAVAGES GT_R!!!"..............."SAF SEZ SWIFT SUXS!!!!"   kinda thing................. ::) :P
« Last Edit: November 03, 2008, 11:36:21 am by safristi »
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THERE IS NO CURE FOR "LOTUS"......ONLY TREATMENT.....

Offline wing

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #45 on: November 03, 2008, 11:51:00 am »
Ah, I mis-understood -- thanks Saf for the clarification (wow that is odd I just said that....).

That makes sense, except they (the publisher) would need to sell lots and lots and lots of magazines to be profitable.
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Offline safristi

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #46 on: November 03, 2008, 11:58:06 am »
...... :shuffle: COPY THAT....................... ;D i love double entendres......
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Offline ghost

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #47 on: November 03, 2008, 11:59:56 am »
so Wing are you justifying is that do not bite the hand that feeds?   ;)
This is the cycle. Same with reviewers of camera gear, audio equipment etc.
 
The amount of effort and time to do an article only to get chunks removed by the publishing editor due to limited magazine space can be very frustrating. Who does it for the money seriously? It's for the glory and fame from the readers.  ;D
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Offline wing

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #48 on: November 03, 2008, 12:04:01 pm »
Not justifying anything just being realistic.

I started doing it for the fame, but after awhile the spotlight fades and you realize wow this is a lot of work!

I'd still take the cars for free if I only had to write once a month I'd do it for free since that would be less work than 4 - 5 times a week. 

I say pretty much want I want, but the cars are really great, even if the car sucks a lot if you put it in context... it's still nice overall.
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Offline safristi

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #49 on: November 03, 2008, 12:05:49 pm »
..too late....................
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Offline safristi

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #50 on: November 03, 2008, 12:08:08 pm »
..HOW do Clarkson et al (Capone???) get away wifit THEN.......not the reticent Englishman we all know and love....... :think: :nono: >:D.....................





................... dropping HINTS.......BREADCRUMBS................maybe there is a PLACE fer a "SPOT GOOD GEAR!!!"...in Canada........................rustle up some Hombres and go lookin' fer a posse...................................... :bang: :stick: :thumbup: :light: :light: :light:.....we are b..O...r...e....d.... wif Zack and Ted and that lot on Canned!! TEE WHEE..........BRING BACK DAGMAR & some MAD CAPS
« Last Edit: November 03, 2008, 12:18:01 pm by safristi »
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Offline wing

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Re: Bias of the mainstream auto reviewing media
« Reply #51 on: November 03, 2008, 01:16:06 pm »
BBC heavily funds it.
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