Media gifts and where to draw the line

I'm guessing most reporters keep the goodie bags, though, right?

 

Probably, but they shouldn't. And I'm guessing their paper's ethics policies outline that.

 

Then how do you explain everytime someone comes back from some event, they're carrying/wearing something with the logo on it? Bought it all at the souveneir stand?

 

Just because people keep the stuff doesn't make it right. Again, read a newspaper ethics policy.

 

Is accepting a 64-ounce bottle of beer crossing a line? I ask tongue-in-cheek because, well, who turns down a 64-ounce bottle of beer?

 

Well, there would be no evidence.

 

I hate to break this to everyone, but what you do does not involve national security, holding other people's money, taking care of other people's kids, or being paid by the taxpayer. You're not in a special position of authority over anyone. You hold no high office. You are not elected.

What you DO is market sports for your own pecuniary gain. You are a simple cog in a massive marketing machine. You schil for a living. And you are poorly compensated for it. There is no honor in declining a travel bag, or whatever, out of some twisted personal ethical standard. The moment you walk through those gates without having purchased a ticket you are compromised. You eat the food, you drink the drink, you accept the access.

Follow company policy? Sure. Personal moral opposition? Have at it. But don't tsk tsk others who simply participate in the marketing function more fully than you do. There's no added honor in it whatsoever.

 

I assume this happened in Madison.

 

We had a big national event in our backyard a few years ago, and I bought several things at the gift stand (after it was over the the merchandise was half price).

 

Nobody is tsk-tsking anyone, but the fact that you don't think ethics are important says a lot about you. Our company policy also does not allow us to have food/drinks without paying for it, and my paper pays a lump sum at the start of the season to many of the local teams to avoid the issue. I don't think a coffee mug or something small is that big of a deal in the grand scheme, but if we're talking a gift bag from some of these bowls with numerous items? I wouldn't take it. But I would not begrudge anyone who did. I have my standards and conscience and they have theirs.

 

You need to go cover Google events. The goodie bags would make a writer covering a bowl game blush.

 

I've been on the PR end when a company tries to pull the lump sum payment thing and it is a crock. You're not paying for your parking pass, not paying to get in, not paying for your box seat, power supply, lineups, air conditioning, player access, etc. and in the circumstance I saw the amount the company gave for food & drink was a paltry sum.