Sailboat Restorations, Inc. wrote: The > reviews they publish seem to be to be about as good as any reviews can get. > Then again, they are, after all, a commercial enterprise, with (as Wes > notes) advertisers. . . That has to have an effect. But I haven't seen any > better alternatives out there. Not so on two counts: 1) Sea Kayaker is a great magazine with lots of clout and a fine and well-deservedd reputation among readers. It is one of the most intensely worthy sources of information on sea kayaking around. While it is a commercial operation and in need of advertisers, advertisers are also IN NEED OF Sea Kayaker. Manufacturers would be suicidal in withdrawing ads from the publication that is THE central source of information on seakayaking and that does this so well. Sea Kayaker is THAT good; it doesn't have to kneel to the advertisers. If I were editor of a publication that was so good and important and an advertiser threatened to withdraw over some editorial content of importance to readers, I would first try to reason with the advertiser making clear the value to the common good of that editorial content; but also I would not bend to any degree that would compromise that content. Lest you think I am talking through my hat, I worked for a company for 20 years in the information/consulting/analysis business in which we on several occasions stuck to our guns regarding articles that may have stepped on some toes but were for the good of ALL of the clients and readers. 2. The non-committee approach to reviewing that I mentioned in the posting under Boat Reviews is a viable alternative that should be tried. And the advertisers should not be given their intro to hype the model and the closing word to exonerate it. It is this aspect that reeks of advertiser influence. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Aug 12 2000 - 08:57:14 PDT
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