Blogging ethics and me

I received an email this week from the folks at Mainetoday.com. I was asked to be more transparent in my blogs. Meaning, when I mention one of my clients -- Hugo's, Back Bay Grill, Eve's, Portland Harbor Hotel, or any of the others, that I need to tell you they are my clients. Apparently, someone who knows my firm, gBritt PR, felt that I am being unethical with my blog. Hmm. This turn of events has led me to today's blog... in which I address blog ethics?

During my almost twenty years in PR and marketing I have grown accustomed to the incredible passion and sense of pride that journalists have in their work. I have such great respect for how they adhere to their code of ethics. I always remember this when I am pitching a story or inviting someone to an event. When I started my "Enjoy Your Meal" blog, on the other hand, I didn't think much about ethics. I told Mainetoday.com that I have lifestyle clients, including restaurants, hotels, arts organizations, and retailers, but they weren't concerned. Blogging, it seemed, wasn't being held to the lofty code of ethics applied to journalists.

As a now more responsible blogger, I am going to change how I write. I am going to adopt the "CyberJournalists Code of Ethics." How cool is that! I am a cyberjournalist -- I love it.

1) Be Honest and Fair
Henceforth I will tell you when I am writing about someone or someplace with whom I have a professional relationship.

2) Minimize Harm
If you have read any of my blogs you know that I am far from hurtful. You can count on me not damaging anyone's reputation. I am not doing this because I want to be a critic. I do it because it's fun. I plan to keep it that way.

3) Be Accountable
Looking beyond citing my professional relationships, I will also tell you when I have made a mistake and I will invite you to participate. The fact is, I have a semi myopic point of view. I think that the food at Back Bay Grill is the best in town; I love the constantly changing experience of eating at Hugo's; sitting in the Garden at Eve's enjoying cigars and steak is something I live for.

Of the many values that I live by, honesty and integrity are closest to the core of my being. As a cyberjournalist, I want to be trusted. So to Mainetoday.com and anyone who reads my words, I have officially taken blogging’s ethics oath. Consider me, on board.

Now that we have the ethics part of this settled, let me tell you about an upcoming event at Hugo's (a gBritt client).

The annual "Potato Dinner” takes place Sunday, November 11, starting at 6PM. Chef Rob Evans plans to serve at least eight courses. The dinner also includes wine pairings. As always, the potatoes are strictly from Maine. Jim Cook, owner of Skylandia Farm, will supply the potatoes again this year. For those of you not familiar with Skylandia, it is a certified organic family farm in the northern-most
tip of Maine. Jim plans to supply several varieties of potatoes to the Potato Dinner -- including Carola, Butte Russet, and Shepody. The cost is $100 per person. Hugo's phone number is 207-774-8538.

If you know Hugo's, you know how much fun it is to eat there. For those who have not eaten Rob Evans' cuisine, here are few links to photos from past Potato Dinners to whet your appetites. (These beautiful shots were taken by Russell French.)

http://www.gbritt.com/hugos/kit_photos/potato1.jpg
http://www.gbritt.com/hugos/kit_photos/potato2.jpg
http://www.gbritt.com/hugos/kit_photos/potato3.jpg
http://www.gbritt.com/hugos/kit_photos/potato6.jpg

Thanks again for reading Enjoy Your Meal.
Feel free to post a comment on this blog for everyone to see or contact me at jim@gbritt.com. You can also call me at the office, at 775-2126.

Cheers. Jim