Russell -- My intent was not to impune the integrity of either you, Ben Elder or other writers. However, and I would love AG to be the exception, as a professional journalist and former PR agent - I cannot tell you the times when I shopped a story and was either asked by the writer ("OK, I've just got to ask..." or "You know, they're gonna wanna know if you're interested in an ad in the same issue") or contacted nearly immediately by someone in sales about purchasing ads in the same magazine. As a musician/entertainer and head of an independent label, I also can assure you it is more common than anyone wishes to admit that when someone calls about the review or interview, there's an accompanying call to come about ads. Often, I say, 'sorry, just not in the budget right now, but maybe next issue', then the review/article fails to run (cut because of size, possibly to run later). By the same token, when working in Nashville a number of years ago, I was personally assured that if I wanted an article or review about the current release, the best thing to do is "make a show of good faith" and purchase a companion ad.
I'm not naive, and these sorts of practices are why I left certain sectors of journalism and entertainment. So, while my desire is to give the benefit of the doubt and while I wish to cast no aspersions on Mr. Elder OR the editorial staff at AG, the article did closely paralel the FMIC/Guild corporate storyline, made a number of inaccuracies and had some seeming omissions. I understand journalists write on a deadline and the good ones are even more pressed, so, it could have been that Ben just used the information provided (background for the article) assuming all things were equal. I don't mean this was done maliciously, but business is business and time is time.
A few years ago, I was the editor of a trade publication and chose to run a series of editorial cartoons that lightly poked fun at some areas of criticism and concern both within and without that trade. The publisher came in after the first one and said, "funny cartoon." On the fourth, he said "don't bite the hand that feeds you. XX is a big advertiser - kill that cartoon." I cannot tell you the number of letters I received after the cartoon failed to run the next time without any explanation. They accused me of caving into pressure, softening, pandering, loosing my nerve, etc. I was at a reception shortly thereafter, the president of XX whom I had never met approached me. "So, you're the idiot with the cartoon."
On his side - to his way of thinking, he was protecting himself, his company and his industry from undue criticism. He was doing effective public relations and making sure both his company's best interests were represented and what he felt could be damaging information was sorted out. As the rule of marketing goes, "Perception is reality."
That said, I certainly understand your point of view. You have one, I have one. Yours is based on your experience. Mine on mine. I am and have been for a long time a regular subscriber to AG and a number of other magazines. I always want to think the best of them. But, this IS a forum for friendly conversation and discourse about something close to all of our hearts - Guild Guitars. I have to say I am not the only one concerned about the story that's been put forth since FMIC bought Guild - stories championing Mr. Wade and FMIC for "saving Guild" and for advancing Guild's quality. Frankly, I haven't seen it - the instruments don't bear this out. So, without a more even-handed look at the product, the story came off as a bit biased.
So, again, my apologies to you and the journalistic industry, but these are not comments made without some background and some experience. Sometimes those who can pass through a shadow unscathed are to be praised. However insulting my remarks may have been to you - imagine how your comment impressed me... You said, "It's just a bit insulting, and I would expect better judgment from an experienced professional. It may be "how things work" in some shops, but absent specific knowledge, maybe some caution and tact are in order." My comments must have struck a nerve. Perhaps we could all show some more tact.
