I think to address this fully would hijack this thread; we can start another if this gets too off the rails.
Thanks for replying, Len. And don't worry about running the thread off the rails as there isn't any news on MM+ right now anyway ... and tangents are a specialty of mine.
I pay the same rate as the general public for everything I do on property. That includes transportation, lodging, food, tickets and anything else. For the New Fantasyland event, for example, I drove my own car down, paid for the gas, stayed at Pop Century at public rates, paid for my own food, and used my AP throughout the trip. And that's the general policy for us and the Guide. (I did get a 'goody bag' from FLE and gave it away.) Our team pays the same rates as the general public for virtually everything, too.
Cool. And that IS how I firmly believe it should be (and I was a regular at Disney events from 1990-2005 as both REAL media and as VIP guest). But the event is one of those 'special things' that you can't really put a value on. Most fanbois would kill to go to one (I've been offered sexual favors to take some and, yes, I am absolutely 100% serious). what is the value of that? More importantly, do you really need to go to one to offer coverage of, in this case, New Fantasyland?
My answer -- again, as someone who has been to his share of events -- would be a most definitely not. You don't need a party with free food, booze and swag or even group interviews to do that job. I know from a writing perspective, I'd rather talk to someone one-on-one, even by phone or online, and get something no one else has.
The biggest story to come out of that party at the MK was missed by every single media member there. I reported it and put it in context: that was George Kalogridis touring around Governor Voldemort and that Georgie was about to replace Meg as WDW's leader. No one there reported it. No one Tweeted it. No one freaking noticed it, which astounds me.
I can think of 3 times in the last 15 years in which we use comped hotel rooms during media events: FLE, Cars Land, and Soarin'. The primary reason we use these rooms is to network with other media. It's vastly easier to do this if you're staying with them.
A second reason is that if you don't accept the invitations every once in a while, you stop getting invited. Some readers would start to question why, if you supposedly cover Disney, you're not at these media events.
Len, I do appreciate your being upfront and taking part in this discussion. You're certainly showing more testicular fortitude than anyone else in the social media/Disney Lifestyler circles (to be fair, many of them have been banned here or have just chosen to hide in the Twitverse while reading regularly).
But I'll say I find those answers above to be pretty weak. You can network with folks in a lobby or in a bar (and I know Mr. Bricker loves being up for sunrises, so my guess is he likely slept all of three hours a night in his freebie at the GC) ... and as to not getting invited, I'd say that sounds like Disney wants you (and others) to take their freebies/comps so it can expect a quid pro quo.
No one would suggest that Miceage (and Al and Kevin and Dusty and Co) doesn't cover Disney and they are NEVER invited anywhere.
More pointedly, no one would suggest that WDWMAGIC isn't the No. 1 online WDW source and yet Steve has never been credentialed to a media event. Certainly hasn't hurt the site in terms of visitors or advertisers.
I understand the parties can be fun, although they are nothing compared to what you get in the TV and Film industry (trust me, I know that well!) but at the end of the day, that's all they are. Great excuses for people to chow down and booze it up on Disney's dime and maybe run into a celeb like Phil Holmes!
Finally, the general rule we have on coverage is that the person who writes the content for the book and site doesn't get the comp. So I wrote all of the Fantasyland and Test Track reviews (the restaurants and attractions), and did it before the media event. I don't have my notes handy for Tom's trip last year. Tom did a great job getting us photos, updating Twitter and blogging about the events. Virtually certain someone else wrote the reviews though.
Len
That's a good rule to have.
As for @
WDW Figment, I hope he gets hired by Disney to showcase his photo skills. He is a talent and so much better than what Disney has on staff. I've sorta mentioned that to both him and some folks in the company.
