Couple of month ago we were approached by Siemens with the offer to fly to CeBit for free. They gave us a list of conditions in order get one of the booked up hotel rooms and a plane ticket to the event. It included interviewing Siemens executives and covering Siemens products.
Here is the list of conditions Siemens sent to us—this is a cut and paste:
 - Siemens would send you to CEBIT in March, flight, hotel, all expenses paid for (I hope, you didn´t plan on gong to Etech…)
- You would get exclusive information on products and behind the scene looks of Siemens´activities on CEBIT
- And write about them on Engadget
- You and Siemens would have to agree on a certain amounts of posts a day / overall
- Siemens would be a visible sponsor for the time of CEBIT on Engadget
- You would moblog from CEBIT with a Siemens device (the SK65 is sweet, isn´t it?)
We were offended, but hey, we can understand Siemens marketing folks taking a chance. I mean there are a ton of folks out there who will sell out their editorial. And it appears Gizmodo is clearly one of them, having taken the offer which we declined.
Today if you look at Gizmodo six of the latest stories are about—you guessed it—Siemens:
CeBIT: Siemens Prototype Laser Display Phone
CeBIT: Siemens Prototype DVB-H Phone
CeBIT: Siemens Runster Prototype
CeBIT: Siemens M75
CeBIT: Siemens SXG75
Probably the Siemens SX2
This isn’t the first time Nick has sold out his bloggers and brands. Jalopnik took a junket from Audi to do a test drive for—you guess it— their sponsor Audi. When Peter worked for Nick at Gizmodo he did a junket for Microsoft. When Peter came to work with us at Weblogs, Inc. it was one of his conditions: no more junkets.
What Gizmodo bloggers said today:
Gizmodo Siemens offered to pay for my flight and hotel at CeBit, which I thought was pretty nice of them, especially since I wouldn’t have been able to go otherwise. They seem pretty progressive about the whole thing, really, saying they had considered setting up their own press outlet during the show, but thought it would be easier just to show Gizmodo what they were launching and get it out there. I accepted their offer, of course, so I thought it was important to let you guys know the details. We’ve got no agreement to treat them with kid gloves, so I’ll be as objectively off-the-cuff and misguided as usual.
I love this line “they had considered setting up their own press outlet during the show, but thought it would be easier just to show Gizmodo what they were launching and get it out there.”
Let me translate that for you: Siemens was considering giving their poduct information to the press as we always do, but we figured why bother sending out press releases when we can put them directly on Gizmodo.
It’s interesting that they disclose the junket, but not the terms of their junket. Now, if Gawker Media and Gizmodo will do this kind of thing and tell you about it, you have to wonder what else they are doing and NOT telling you about.
Gawker is really losing their shine. First they host stolen porn tapes and now this. It’s sad. Come on Nick, you’re better then this—aren’t you?
1. Jason, you have totally changed the way I look at blogs and their "news reporting" now. I think the stand you have taken shows that blogs can be taken seriously and not just another form of advertising. I'm involved with a couple sites that don't do it this way and I'm beginning to rethink my association with them because of it. Positive reviews and news because a company sent you something free isn't reporting, its prostituting. Again keep doing what you are doing.
Posted at 4:41PM on Oct 29th 2005 by James