Lazy Journalism?

[rwoofer]

With all the boat show previews in the current issues, I thought, great, let's have a look at what they have to say about my new boat, which is the debut boat at SBS. Given the fact that it is less than 30 feet (not many sub 30 launches these days it seems), made of epoxy/wood and has ultra modern twin keels etc etc I was expecting some interesting copy. My findings?

Yachting Monthly - nothing
PBO - nothing
Sailing Today - nothing
Yachting World - Congratulations. A preview even though small boat owners wouldn't typically be YW readers.

Of course I'm completely biased, but how many other really interesting boats are there at the boat show that the magazines couldn't be bothered to highlight?

 

[Dalliance]

Didn't YM review the RM last month?

 

[rwoofer]

They did review the 1050, which is why I was surprised they didn't mention the 880 at SBS. I was really using this as an example and wondering how many other boats get missed in the previews.

I know that after a boat show I've subsequently realised that I missed some boats I wanted to see, so it would be good if the magazines did highlight all that is new.

 

[rickp]

Lazy journalism or is it related to advertising spend?

Rick

 

[1yppah]

Did you send the ed team a press release or pick up the phone to mention the fact that your boat would be there?

 

[georgeo]

Did not PBO (the only one I have looked at) say that part 2 of SBS preview is in next months maggy, which in the peculiar way they do these things, despite being the October edition, will be out early September. Does not mean to say they will review the 880 though, although would be a travesty if they did not

 

[Searush]

How many grains of sand are new every year?

 

[rwoofer]

Don't know if the UK Dealer Portway would have sent anything, but surely that is the point.

If you are suggesting that magazines only publish what they are given by the marketing departments, then we really are in a sorry state.

 

[1yppah]

I disagree its about PR, the more you make your product known the more likely people are going to take notice.

Part of the most basic of marketing plans I am afraid. (IMHO)

You cant expect every journalist to know about every product?

 

[rwoofer]

Isn't the point of journalism to seek out things that aren't driven by marketing departments. I would hope that boat tests are a good example of journalists telling us the things that are not in the brochures.

Maybe that's why so many of us turn to forums for impartial advice.

 

[Judders]

Forgive me if I am confused, I have, about half an hour ago, taken a monstrous douse of lemsip max strength so I might be off the lay-line here, but is the complaint that none of the journos have contacted you on the off chance that you might be exhibiting a new boat?

 

[rwoofer]

I am nothing to do with the RM other than being a future owner.

I was really using the RM as an example of why don't the magazines do a bit more work to identify what's new, different and updated in their boat show previews. Knowing that the RM was new to the UK and in SBS, I was expecting it would have been in the previews. And of course, there was a bit of self-interest /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif but who wouldn't be interested in what the magazines have to say about your future boat.

Instead we get the usual diet ie. yet more sizes in the Bav range etc. What other really interesting boats are going to be at SBS that aren't the JenBenBav brigade?

 

[1yppah]

May be thats because they send a press release in?

Sorry I may be missing something here, they are journalists that report on product not Fleet Street hacks searching out stories?

 

[Judders]

[ QUOTE ]
I am nothing to do with the RM other than being a future owner.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, I did suspect I had got the wrong end of the stick.

Am I right in thinking that RMs are imported by Portway? In fairness you never hear very much about Sunbeams or Gibseas either do you? I wonder if there is something in it.

 

[rwoofer]

I think that the brand new Sunbeam 34 is going to be next door to the RM and don't think I've seen that in the previews either. Maybe Portway aren't a big enough advertiser or they're not good enough at the PR bit.

 

[Thamesider]

[ QUOTE ]
I am nothing to do with the RM other than being a future owner.

I was really using the RM as an example of why don't the magazines do a bit more work to identify what's new, different and updated in their boat show previews. Knowing that the RM was new to the UK and in SBS, I was expecting it would have been in the previews. And of course, there was a bit of self-interest /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif but who wouldn't be interested in what the magazines have to say about your future boat.

Instead we get the usual diet ie. yet more sizes in the Bav range etc. What other really interesting boats are going to be at SBS that aren't the JenBenBav brigade?

[/ QUOTE ]

I seem to remember a review of the RM1200 in PBO late last year, so they're not really being ignored, even if all the sizes aren't yet covered.

 

[rwoofer]

I see from your profile that you are in media, so it sounds like you must be right - journalists report on what they get sent into them - which seems a shame allround.

 

[1yppah]

Media does not mean journalist, all I am saying is that if I want to sell a product I would scream and shout about it as much as I can that way people will take notice, I cant see how a specialist journalists can know every single new model coming out from every sector unless he / she is made aware of it. Not being difficult just applying a bit of common sense.

 

[Judders]

Part of my job requires me to be something of a 'boatspotter'. I don't get any press releases, but I do seek out info on a very regular basis. That said, I am lucky in that I don't jsut deal with new stuff either.

That said, I am pretty sure that advertising spend will certainly be a factor in this. Is it that Portway are not good at it or is it that they simply do not see it as being part of their strategy. They are certinly very attentive to potential customers and I receive endless emails from them.

 

[Marmalade]

Richard - maybe RM needs an agency?

S