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Gizmodo Screw the Pooch at CES for Everyone

Posted on January 10, 2008
Filed Under Daily Links |

Yes, Webware nail it. Gizmodo probably screwed the pooch for themselves getting back in to any tech conference, and the idea of ‘bloggers’ being kids with toys, as opposed to a part of the media probably got reinforced, making everyone’s jobs just a little harder. Here’s the video that they so ‘hilariously’ put together over on their site. I’d view it before you continue (although with Gawker Media’s new bonus systemthat purely counts page views, is it any wonder that (a) I can’t embed the video here and (b) they’e went sleazy and controversial so fast…)

What’s most annoying is it’s actually a fun idea in the right hands, but we should all know that sometimes ‘fun ideas’ can also be ‘bad ideas’ in the minds of others (isn’t that right, Chris?). So yes, hitting panels of TV’s with a clicker called TV B-Gone which shoots through all the switch yourself off signals in the database) to put them off is just about passable.

In the middle of a demo on the floor, at CES, when the product lines success could be made or broken by a passer by is not on. It’s just wrong and shows no respect at all. But even then they might have been just about cool and seen as schoolboy pranks.

But you don’t go frakking around in the middle of an actual presentation (in this case with Motorola) and do it multiple times and expect to get away by flashing a cute grin over ‘The Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy.”

The companies and press agencies will take away one lesson. Bloggers Dick Around and Screw It Up. Gizmodo probably tarred every one of us with a massive stick. Webware report Nick Denton’s not looking to hand these bloggers their P45.

I asked Gizmodo publisher Nick Denton if he was going to fire the Gizmodo crew for their prank. “No,” is all he said in an instant message. He did not reply to followup questions.
Webware

In my opinion, that’s a mistake as well. A clear sign should be hoisted that this is not acceptable behaviour.

PS. Valleywag are reporting that Gizmodo were credited as full press, and not bloggers, but you think that little distinction is gonna matter to the press departments?

Comments

2 Responses to “Gizmodo Screw the Pooch at CES for Everyone”

  1. embee on January 11th, 2008 1:31

    According to Gizmodo, some of Gizmodo were given “blogger” credentials, while others were given press credentials. But who are you going to believe: Gawker Media’s Gizmodo or Gawker Media’s Valleywag?

  2. Gizmodo and CES: What’s the big deal? - - mathewingram.com/work on January 11th, 2008 3:34

    […] TV killer in their hands and had some fun with it. Plenty of people are claiming that they have ruined things for other bloggers — despite the fact that, as Valleywag points out, Gizmodo weren’t […]

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