News entities like magazines/tv guys don’t know about- its an “understanding” between the journalist/columnist and the PRs. Getting an exposure through TV/Newspaper is massive and the price of 1 product is much lesser than paying for an advertisement, they give it away in exchange for “sweet” words and high praises.

When I said that reviewers are supposed to be toned down and humble, yet frank and concise/yet detailed in layman’s terms- they laughed. I thought I said something wrong but the reality is that in India, tech reviews are looked down as another source of PR Spin. Can’t blame PR guys, because few “reviewers” and tech columnists/tv presenters pretty much are writers/those who read press release to the letter with not much skills. If you see me in any press conference meets, I am usually the last guy behind.

Sometime PRs push you to do something unethical, sometimes these media guys offer PR Spin services. Till now, BBQ is blacklisted in 2 PR agencies who handle 3-5 tech clients (most being tier 1) and we’ve blacklisted 1 agency (because of which they’ve lost a contact with a tier 1 brand and that company decided to get a inhouse PR).

Bloggers and forum admins are pretty much the same mind you. I know I been running hardware bbq for 6 months but been reviewing and contributing for forums like techenclave since 2007, so I’ve seen few good and bad people from both ends. Best thing to do: Be humble and toned down, yet direct and concise/yet detailed in layman’s terms

Double edged sword? Yeah. But if its used in the right way, its a very effective tool and makes you a different person and readers fall in love with you for who you are and what you do.

I know: Reviewers aren’t journalists, but there are few “stuff” that we share in common.