Bloggers and Podcasters need to be controlled

[ddbowdoin]

Thats why there are so many bad camera systems operators around. Digital imaging lets even morons think they are photographers and people so used to seeing degraded images are happy with that cause they dont know any better.

100% disagree... maybe at some D3 college event but to get access to a major event you have to have someone willing to take a chance on you. I know there has to be some degree of ability and professionalism involved, that's understandable but I'm tired of hearing the moaning and groaning.

 

[koryadams]

OK, koryadams consider yourself mentioned! Scratch that off your bucket list.

haha you're funny. but not too many people would read your post

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

100% disagree... maybe at some D3 college event but to get access to a major event you have to have someone willing to take a chance on you. I know there has to be some degree of ability and professionalism involved, that's understandable but I'm tired of hearing the moaning and groaning.

Disagree if you like, but the fact is you are talking about happy snapping when the field of photography covers many specialities most of which the majority wouldnt find glamorous or high profile enough.
Maybe if you werent so condescending about learning skills you may find an employer willing to ignore your arrogance.

 

[flynnibus]

Yes cause you can never have too many inane opinionated erseholes spouting opinion as fact.

That's what we call freedom

You are also free to pick and chose what you read

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

That's what we call freedom

You are also free to pick and chose what you read

Oh gawd please spare me your normal self righteous crap.

 

[thomas998]

Yes cause you can never have too many inane opinionated erseholes spouting opinion as fact.

You should realize that every "fact" started out as an opinion... every opinion regardless of how insane could one day be recognized as "fact" regardless of what you or I think or believe.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

You should realize that every "fact" started out as an opinion... every opinion regardless of how insane could one day be recognized as "fact" regardless of what you or I think or believe.

And you should read every comment in context, it saves wasting effort. Though I accept some folk may not be able to process and understand what is being said. Just because you can doesnt mean you should.

 

[LittleBrownJug]

What a turn this has taken lol....
People really like to complain and pick people/things apart don't they?
That just seems like a lot of work to me!

 

[GenerationX]

Revised thread name: Photogs and Posters need to be controlled

 

[Goofyernmost]

haha you're funny. but not too many people would read your post

You're not the first to underestimate the power of my words.

 

[LittleBrownJug]

I will say that I am shocked that nobody posted a thread complaining about who got on the Disney Parks Blog Marathon Meet Up..... i thought for sure people would be cross referencing lists and calling people out. But I guess that only happens when "exciting" things happen and the swag might be worth something Oh and of course when "he who shall not be named" is on a list! ( although he didn't get on the Splitzville DPB Meet Up list, he was someones plus one)

 

[PhotoDave219]

but what do you expect people to do... "how do I break into an industry? oh, no... can't do anything to help me break in because established people will feel heat"

If you take $125 an assignment, you will always be known as the guy who takes $125/assignment.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I will say that I am shocked that nobody posted a thread complaining about who got on the Disney Parks Blog Marathon Meet Up..... i thought for sure people would be cross referencing lists and calling people out. But I guess that only happens when "exciting" things happen and the swag might be worth something Oh and of course when "he who shall not be named" is on a list! ( although he didn't get on the Splitzville DPB Meet Up list, he was someones plus one)

A thread was started announcing registration, someone called me a donkey and I got ed quick.

 

[WDW1974]

You didn't get any clear indication, seriously. The fact he was at the Cars Land event which is something I doubt he paid flights or accomendation for and was given free access to talk to both Meg Crofton and Bob Iger. The organised events like the Cruises which he profits from and the free reign of the parks he's given are all things Disney do for him. Simply because he promotes the product in such a favourable light to Disney. In the interest of fairness how many other Disney blogs and sites are given this kind of access to Disney. Why is Lou being given special treatment to sell Magazines, Tours, books because he plays nice with Disney. If he was to use his network to point out the errors in recent years how quickly do you think he'd lose his benefits. If that's not Disney controlling Bloggers and Podcasters then I seriously don't know what else anyone else could say that will change your view. Your freebies all depend on how large your fan base is and how nice your willing to speak of the Mouse. It is very much a controlled environment and one that Disney is in charge off.

Companies now regularly have PAID BRAND ADVOCATES in the social media realms. Lou would seem to fit this mold. The rules for even bloggers and podcasters and general social media whores don't even apply to him and I can't seem to find out why. It isn't simply him playing nice with Disney. I'd venture to say 99% of the folks who regularly write about WDW play nice (sorry @KevinYee -- guess you are that 1%) ... No one is getting the treatment that Mongello is and, as someone who used to be a lawyer and all he should know, that just doesn't seem right.

I don't know if you read the Disney Parks Blog, but he'll often comment and he is allowed to tout his business as a signature. For the longest of time, he was the ONLY person allowed to do so. Again, unless he has pics of someone at a high level of the company playing Jerry Sandusky, one must wonder why the special treatment beyond the usual special treatment Disney is giving these folks.

Why exactly does he get treatment that isn't afforded anyone from the New York Times to WESH-Ch. 2 to my buddy (and future CM?) Tom Corless? (that will be the only time in history Tom gets mentioned with such prestigious company, so I hope he enjoys it!)

I get the distinct feeling Disney thinks this is an issue that's just going to go away and the reality is it's not. It may get a whole lot bigger and messier, but it's not going anywhere.

 

[WDW1974]

Then he needs to stop saying he isn't affiliated with the WDC when he clearly is...

But, the thing you are missing is he is allowed to make a living off their IP when others aren't even allowed to paint Disney's characters on the walls of their child care center... It isn't rocket science trying to figure out why people are annoyed over this... Disney has, many times, stopped people from trying to profit off their IP meanwhile they turn a blind eye towards others... What's good for the goose is good for the gander... If you allow one, you allow ALL... Try doing what Lou does.. See how fast you are escorted off property...

One call from Disney Legal and no one would be selling DVDs of Disney IP. Yet, some folks keep doing it ... I don't know how many years Jeff Lange has, but it certainly predates this century. Others, though, have been put out of business immediately.

There's no clear set of rules and when you ask about this, morons start accusing you of being jealous. Many of us love theme parks, but have no desire to live Disney Lifestyles.

 

[asianway]

Companies now regularly have PAID BRAND ADVOCATES in the social media realms. Lou would seem to fit this mold. The rules for even bloggers and podcasters and general social media whores don't even apply to him and I can't seem to find out why. It isn't simply him playing nice with Disney. I'd venture to say 99% of the folks who regularly write about WDW play nice (sorry @KevinYee -- guess you are that 1%) ... No one is getting the treatment that Mongello is and, as someone who used to be a lawyer and all he should know, that just doesn't seem right.

I don't know if you read the Disney Parks Blog, but he'll often comment and he is allowed to tout his business as a signature. For the longest of time, he was the ONLY person allowed to do so. Again, unless he has pics of someone at a high level of the company playing Jerry Sandusky, one must wonder why the special treatment beyond the usual special treatment Disney is giving these folks.

Why exactly does he get treatment that isn't afforded anyone from the New York Times to WESH-Ch. 2 to my buddy (and future CM?) Tom Corless? (that will be the only time in history Tom gets mentioned with such prestigious company, so I hope he enjoys it!)

I get the distinct feeling Disney thinks this is an issue that's just going to go away and the reality is it's not. It may get a whole lot bigger and messier, but it's not going anywhere.

Think at any point TWDC will have to buy some of these blogs outright to shut them down? Im thinking its too late for a letter from legal at this point, right?

 

[WDW1974]

I'm still not sure why it is essential that there be a full disclosure when the vast majority that come in contact with him, Guest-wise, more than likely assume he's paid to be there anyway. A grown man cannot spend his time in the parks, playing radio and TV DJ with no visible means of income. WDW Radio cannot be perceived as anything but a owned WDW connection, can it?

I'm just thinking that there is a great deal more to this story then just some blogger/podcaster identification. There has to be otherwise all would qualify. If this is true, then Lou has sold his soul to Disney and the others have refused to do so. Free Country isn't it?

You just summed it up very well above, but you didn't prove the point I believe you were trying. A grown man ...well, if guests are perceiving him to be a cast member then he either has to be and guests need to be made aware or if he isn't then that needs to be made clear, even if it's a couple of nervous 20-something plaids walking around with him constantly (if he is that important) so guests don't get fooled.

It really is the same principle of not allowing guests to walk in dressed as Cinderella, Jack Sparrow or Santa Claus. I'm sure you're smart enough to figure out all the possible legal implications (no matter how many social media 'awards' are bestowed upon Lou's cherubic shoulders) of this when you include guests.

So, yes, there does have to be more to the story. As great a self-promoter as Lou is, none of it would be possible if not for Disney and Duncan Wardle and the Celebration Place Social Media Cabal.

 

[WDW1974]

But why is that Tom or Lou's responsibility? They are free to cover whatever they chose. They can live and die by those choices. Having a fair, unbiased, view of Disney being available isn't their responsibility.

The problem is you can't dictate that the market demand one either.

First of all, aren't you supposed to be enjoying a visit to DLR instead of spending time here?

I only quoted the above because you were responding to me and I'm asking for nothing from any of the bloggers/podcasters/Lifestylers ... what I want from TWDC (of which I am a shareholder of a publically traded corporation) is transparency on social media and ethics.

I want a simple answer as to what the rules are because maybe my goal in life is to be a Disney podcaster (OK, we know it isn't, but let's play along) ... and if those rules apply to everyone equally. It really isn't too much to ask and it doesn't harm Disney's proprietary information (that is a BS line that can be used as an excuse to send people in circles forever).

I can guarantee you that I could easily pull in $5,000 a week by showing up at WDW's parks and giving my own tours 3-4 days a week. Now, do you think Disney would allow that or do you think that not only would I get security, but also the OC Sheriff's bullying treatment to make sure I got the message?

 

[WDW1974]

The overriding principle here is that I expect to be paid for my work.

Some of these bloggers have begun to make a living at it. Lou would be one of them.

The rest? I have no idea how they make money. Most likely they have alternative sources of incomes. Kinda like all the doctors and lawyers invading sports photography, taking little money for the gig and forcing people out of the industry.

Lou is definitely forming his own little empire. That's why he is pretty much universally hated by the rest of the bloggers/podcasters/lifestylers.

(As an aside, can anyone picture NBC's Keith Morrison narrrating a report on these characters?!)

But most are getting support from family, friends, government disability checks, fellow fans that they con into buying things for (oh ... you need a new laptop ... I'm sure the community will get you one!)

BUT ... I wanted to comment on your last point because I witnessed a bit of that a lifetime ago. I wound up working with a lawyer over two decades ago who at the time was clearing $225,000 a year, yet he wanted nothing more than to photograph football games at the very high wage of $30 per game. ... To this day, jocksniffers will work for free in place of photogs or writers and since the economic collapse of 2007-09, I have heard tales of plenty doing so. No ohe cares about the quality of the work or the ethics of letting people provide content for free or of the ethics of those who are doing so, period.

 

[WDW1974]

Oh gawd please spare me your normal self righteous crap.

So true, since he's at DLR, I want his special, west-coast-based self righteous crap!