See this article on how Dexter Ford got fired over the helmet story?

[UberGoober]

I quit subscribing to Motorcyclist a long time ago and haven't paid much attention to their website in recent months either. I was surprised to see this pop up on one of my fovorite car sites - Jalopnik.

Given all the consternation we used to have about which helmets are best, its kind of eye opening to se that others do too.

How The Truth About Motorcycle Helmets Got A Journalist Fired

[Builtgypsy]

The seedy underbelly of magazines.

But really, when any given magazine is about 50% ads, the idea that the advertisers run the show is somehow surprising? Hell, some advertisers own the magazines outright.

[OldSchlPunk]

They are a business like any other, sometimes money speaks louder than it should. Motorcyclist has always seemed more objective than others to me.

Print publications are in a tight spot these days. Because of that, advertising dollars talk rather loudly, especially large advertisers. $100k in advertising dollars would be nearly impossible to make up. That's reality.

[acalliste]

an accusation that Ford is "a journalist whose personal vendettas have come to preclude objective reporting."

Project much? Sheesh...

[Builtgypsy]

Considering he freelances for the NY Times, my guess is he won't find himself hurting for steady work.

But Motorcyclist has always seemed like such a weak magazine to me. The articles never really had anything special, unlike Cycle World, whose articles by Peter Egan alone are worth the subscription.

[bumblebee]

Originally Posted by OldSchlPunk

They are a business like any other, sometimes money speaks louder than it should. Motorcyclist has always seemed more objective than others to me.

Print publications are in a tight spot these days. Because of that, advertising dollars talk rather loudly, especially large advertisers. $100k in advertising dollars would be nearly impossible to make up. That's reality.

I agree that the business side must enter into the publication, but for a publication to supress, alter or hide the truth based on money means they have abdicated their 1st Amendment rights and responsibilities.

Now that helmet manufacturers have flexed their muscles here, how many riders will now be put at risk because Snell (owned by helmet manufacturers) has intimidated journalists into shutting up? What happens when Snell approves inferior and dangerous products while chasing profits and publications, afraid of losing ad revenue, sits down and shuts up?

[PhilB]

Originally Posted by bumblebee

I agree that the business side must enter into the publication, but for a publication to supress, alter or hide the truth based on money means they have abdicated their 1st Amendment rights and responsibilities.

Now that helmet manufacturers have flexed their muscles here, how many riders will now be put at risk because Snell (owned by helmet manufacturers) has intimidated journalists into shutting up? What happens when Snell approves inferior and dangerous products while chasing profits and publications, afraid of losing ad revenue, sits down and shuts up?

In addition, it's short-sighted and a poor decision even just from a money standpoint. What does a magazine sell? Information. If they lose their reputation for honest and reliable information, they have nothing.

PhilB

[bumblebee]

I think it is a sad commentary on America when "Information Providers" are being intimidated and smeared and forced into ruination because they tell an embarrasing or non-politically correct truth.

I truly believe that media outlets that engage in such offensive behaviors should have their 1st Amendment protections revoked.

And now, the United States Government is starting to engage in this exact behavior towards those who disagree or speak out against them

[Süsser Tod]

It has been like that for a long time.

I used to read lots of car reviews on US magazines, and it was funny to find that one magazine had a car on top of their list, but the very same car could be at the bottom of the list of a different magazine.

I also remember quite clearly, when the Dodge Nitro came out, CR said it had no redeeming qualities, and that the brakes were borderline dangerous. On other magazines you could find praise for the new SUV...

And it has been worse in Mexico for a long time, as there is a lot less journalism in here, mostly it is translated stuff from the US. But there is this radio show about cars... And the dude was praising the Nitro for exactly the same things CR had complained about...

Then you have message boards, that are not a true statistic representation of the owners, and you can get the impression that either the product is God's gift to humanity or the worse pile of poo ever produced.

[Builtgypsy]

That's why I like Eopinions, Consumer Reports, and the various watchdog organizations out there.