Biz journalists who take gifts at the Consumer Electronics Show

Robert MacMillan, an editor at Reuters, called up the PR person for Line2, which is offering reporters a car and driver to get to appointments at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, among other gifts.

Here is how the conversation went:

I called the press agent, Lois Whitman. She never asks for an interview of her client in return for the freebies, I should add. Whether that’s implied, I cannot say.

Me: Have any journalists taken you up on the car and driver offer?

Lois: I would love you to.

Me: I’m not going to CES. But has anyone else?

Lois: Just a few.

Me: What are their names? Who do they work for?

Lois: I don’t have my list right in front of me.

Me: A lot of news outlets wouldn’t let journalists do this because of their ethics policies about taking gifts.

Lois: What we really wanted to do… It’s very difficult to get press appointments here… (phone line cuts out)… been to every Consumer Electronics Show since the beginning. This client wants (phone line cuts out again). Hello? Are you there? Hello?

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