Would you let a journalist buy you a meal, or be worried he might be trying to get a bigger meal off you?

Question

Journalists are eager to get your story, and rewrite their own version of it for the press.

I keep thinking about Princess Diana, and how she was literally "taken" by the press and by the news media. I wonder how many free meals she may have accepted from reporters, even though she was fully capable of paying money for them herself.

Given what is required of journalists in order to obtain and maintain their coveted jobs with the news media, wouldn't you be a little bit wary about journalists offering to buy you a free meal or a drink?

Uh, Lizzy-tis, about your comment, "
I doubt you have anything that interesting in your life to warrant a journalist talking to you or you wouldn't have made such a ridiculous comment /question."

You are right! However, what would you say to the possibility of someone having his or her "insignificant" life suddenly made newsworthy by journalists wanting to reinvent that person?

I agree with your suggestion that people who dine together or drink together (I presume that means coffee too) know one another and one another's ways well before they sit down to the table with them.

Journalists, of course, often do a lot of good. However, they sometimes have a lot of yin and yang - i.e. good and bad - mixed in together in their work or working environment.

Answer 1

I'd be careful. I'd be afraid that anything I ate or drnak would be laced with something.

Journalists are not to be trusted. If one were to take me to dinner, I think he must be after something.

Answer 2

Excuse me the Fleet Street rags are a totally different story and kind of journalist than they are in Canada and the US.

Most REPUTABLE news organizations do not pay for stories, money or meals, or payola.

Journalists through their interaction with city officials, city staff, or whatever beat they cover become familiar to the people involved because they are always there covering the story. They may become friendly with the people they are covering and even develop personal relationships, but both they and the people they assoicate with KNOW exactly what journalists do for a living.

Trust me the politicos and spin doctors use journalists as much as they are being used by the journalists.

The late Princess Diana was no exception to that rule. When she wanted to rant and rave about the Royal Family and Prince Charles she knew who to call fast enough to get her on tv. She also knew how to play to the cameras to direct attention away from Charles.

She played the media very well thank you very much.

I doubt you have anything that interesting in your life to warrant a journalist talking to you or you wouldn't have made such a ridiculous comment /question.

Answer 3

I suppose it all depends. If it was a man and I am a single older woman he might just be wanting to get to know you and have a relationship with you like a buddy or with the view to court youand that can be a nice thing

I have done volunteer work for environment groups for many years and I have met some journalists working with the activists to get a story about there cause aired in the media and I have always been civil to them in public as I am with most people, so I suggest you do the same.

Without the news sometimes people wouldnt know what was hapening and they do work so that people are better informed about what is going on in the world, they do help people and they can do things with great valour as when they are brave enough to cover the war and talk to gangsters.

I have known people who were employed in some offices to be taken out to coffee or dinner by journalists and asked there opinion of something because the person who is being asked out is an expert on a particular issue.

But today you will find there are media laison people and there are strict codes of practice about this sort of fraternisation written about in work places and mostly you would sign a contract that says you cannot divulge certain things to anybody becasue it can be industrial espionage so that lets having a working relationship with them out unless you are some sort of medi liason person yourself.

Journaists are people too and can live in your suburb and I am sure if you get to know them as a neighbour or parent in the P & C thats OK. Sometimes however they can be like paparatsi and never leave a celebrity alone. I myself havn't had a good experience with some journalists and have formed a negative view of them, I just suggest you treat them well as if you would anyone you know but draw boundaries on what you can talk about or will not talk about its up to what makes you feel comfortable.

Answer 4

Nope . I wouldn't be able to eat , for one thing . They can't be trusted to tell the truth , let alone report it . Many are like a bad penny ..they keep turning up .