We all know the business model for journalism is changing. Here’s how one newspaper, on one day — The Weekend Australian on Saturday — produced a slate of sponsor-funded, editorially positive junket journalism …
“Infosys under Vishal Sikka reflects India’s IT success story“, by Greg Sheridan
“A few days in the company of Infosyians, as they call themselves, almost changes the shape of your brain … this company and the IT industry it represents have played an enormous role in diverting the course of the mighty river of Indian humanity … There are not many finer temples anywhere than the Mysore campus.
“Greg Sheridan … visited Bangalore and Mysore as a guest of Infosys.”
“Gaya Island, Malaysia: A monkey in the minibar“, by Katrina Lobley
“Gaya Island Resort … houses an architecturally stunning Spa Village that serves an addictive welcome “elixir” of pineapple, guava and lime juices, spiked with chilli and star anise. The pampering experience starts on a private deck overlooking mangroves, where feet are bathed before an array of treatments that includes facials, massages and body scrubs … Once kneaded and pummelled, it’s easy to keep the languid feeling going.
“Katrina Lobley was a guest of Gaya Island Resort.”
“Phuket: stunning flavours of the provinces“, by Kendall Hill
“Vorasit Issara … doesn’t just consume food, but cooks it, talks about it, researches and perfects … and now oversees all the food and drink (and music) offerings at his family’s dazzling Sri Panwa, a 16ha jungle resort with vast views over the Andaman Sea …
“Kendall Hill was a guest of Sri Panwa.”
“Ned Kelly musical and new theatre could put Bendigo on the map“, by Sharon Verghis
“Over lunch in the city’s compact arts precinct … Stan Liacos, director of City Futures for the City of Greater Bendigo, says Ned and Ulumbarra are a vital part of the next chapter in the story of Bendigo’s transformation from sleepy former goldmining town to one of regional Australia’s liveliest cultural hubs. In recent years, the town’s cultural ecology has thrived hand in hand with a growing white-collar jobs base.
“Sharon Verghis travelled to Victoria as a guest of the City of Greater Bendigo.”
“Unexpected Omaki: Fiery hot springs in wintry Japan“, by Judith Elen
“Less than 3km from here, in western Toyama, I spend a night at the tranquil and elegant Yumetsuzuri hot springs inn, a cocoon of oiled blond wood and warm lights. Following a dinner of seafood fresh from Toyama Bay, I’m lulled by the night-long rush of waters flowing from Shogawa Gorge.
“Judith Elen was a guest of Toyama Prefecture.”
“Room at the inn: Almost France in sultry Singapore“, by Susan Kurosawa
“My third-floor So Lofty heritage-wing chamber comes with 3m-high ceilings, voluminous proportions, wall mouldings, parquet floors, mirrored and gilded furniture, and an illuminated faux-skylight reminiscent of a clerestory dome … Sofitel is the French accommodation group Accor’s top-tier member; Sofitel … It all makes for a convivial brand that has been steadily spreading its pretty wings from Mauritius to Bangkok …
“Susan Kurosawa was a guest of Accor.”
Aus-media – “Murdoch’s Junk-It”
In all fairness, travel junkets always carry such disclosures. How could travel writers write their stories in what they get their stories on what they get paid? The end result is that most travel writing is pap.
After the cash for comment fracas the SMH restricted ‘gifts’ to their journalists to $10. And for a while all travel writing was done while the journos were on holidays.
One who simply ignored the restriction was wine writer Huon Hooke who said quite openly he couldn’t write his column without help travelling to vineyards. Did it make him a worse wine writer? I don’t think so.
The joke is on News Corpse readers – paying to read ads has to be the definition of stupid. But also stupid are the writers, accepting journalism wages for writing advertising content while their credibility plummets.
just pathetic
The important question is were they labelled “EXCLUSIVE!“?