Comments on: Tricks of the Masters http://christinawaters.com/2007/01/25/tricks-of-the-masters/ Smart Mouth Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:58:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Christina Waters http://christinawaters.com/2007/01/25/tricks-of-the-masters/#comment-117 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:15:17 +0000 http://christinawaters.com/2007/01/25/tricks-of-the-masters/#comment-117 June - upbeat commentary is entirely appropriate for columns geared toward advertisers. That's what you're being hired to do. But I was narrowing the focus here and speaking strictly about restaurant reviews - about critiques designed to give feedback to consumers as well as to restaurateurs, about the pros and cons of food, service, ambience, anything that the public is being asked to pay good money for. Again, a "review" is not a promotional piece. It can certainly promote, but that's not its "prime directive," to quote Jean-Luc Picard. Salut! June - upbeat commentary is entirely appropriate for columns geared toward advertisers. That’s what you’re being hired to do.

But I was narrowing the focus here and speaking strictly about restaurant reviews - about critiques designed to give feedback to consumers as well as to restaurateurs, about the pros and cons of food, service, ambience, anything that the public is being asked to pay good money for.

Again, a “review” is not a promotional piece. It can certainly promote, but that’s not its “prime directive,” to quote Jean-Luc Picard.

Salut!

]]> by: June Smith http://christinawaters.com/2007/01/25/tricks-of-the-masters/#comment-114 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:24:56 +0000 http://christinawaters.com/2007/01/25/tricks-of-the-masters/#comment-114 No. 4 Relentlessly chirpy, upbeat commentary Relentlessly chirpy - I hope not! Upbeat commentary - I try! I do write a once-a-month dining column geared to advertisers. Luckily, in almost two years, I've been able to write about some of our best restaurants; we have many in our town, and have not had an occasion to cover up anything negative. Well, maybe just once. However, I can see how doing a column every week might necessitate different tactics. No. 4 Relentlessly chirpy, upbeat commentary

Relentlessly chirpy - I hope not!
Upbeat commentary - I try!

I do write a once-a-month dining column geared to advertisers. Luckily, in almost two years, I’ve been able to write about some of our best restaurants; we have many in our town, and have not had an occasion to cover up anything negative.
Well, maybe just once.

However, I can see how doing a column every week might necessitate different tactics.

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