Over the course of my 18 years as a journalist and writer, I have received an ample supply of books, CDS, DVDs, movie passes, concert tickets and other products for review in commercial publications under my byline. I’ve also been fed lunches, given pop can cozies, clipboards, pens and sweatbands emblazoned with the logos of various companies that wanted me to pay attention to whatever it was they were selling.
There has been no circumstance where the receipt of any of those items automatically resulted in my approval of a product, person or company. If I write a positive review, that’s because I find value in a product or service that I believe my readers may share. Just as no record label would send out a CD with the expectation that the journalists that took the time to listen to it would a) definitely write a review and b) write a positive one, no company, artist or other entity should conclude that a “blogger” like myself would operate any differently. I own my opinions. They are not for sale.
Good, bad or indifferent, my opinions do have value. Plenty of people have paid me to write them. I’m a socially-conscious, opinionated (but fair-minded) mother. I produce a radio show with my own segment – “Share With Your Mother” – about the best music for kids and parents to share. My other web site is named for that segment, and expands the cultural considerations to include movies, books, art, educational toys, web sites, interesting personalities and more. If there is something that you feel I should be looking at, please drop me a line at tracy(at)tinymantras(dot)com.
