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About review copies and Second Style
By Celebrity Trollop | February 12, 2007
At StyleDisorder, Canimal Zephyr posted an entry about the abuse of review copies by Second Life fashion journalists — be they bloggers or magazine staffers or whomever.
I understand that her post was not specifically directed at Second Style Fashionista or any specific staff member here, but I think we have room for improvement — and I certainly know that I personally could improve how, when, and from whom I request review copies.
There are two issues that Canimal points out in her entry. One is the professionalism surrounding requesting a review copy — and the other is coverage once an item has been provided. In the interest of transparency, I wanted to make a public note here of our policy regarding review copies.
Regarding professionalism, I apologize if I or any of the other writers at Second Style magazine or this blog have given offense in the manner or style in which we request items for review. Review items are the highest courtesy that can be extended to us as fashion writers, and we are certainly grateful when they are provided. Although we may ask, I don’t ever think we’re entitled to receive them. If you are a content creator and do not wish to supply review items, please politely tell us so.
Regarding coverage of items, on a going forward basis, the writers at Second Style Fashionista are committed to covering solicited review items within seven days of receiving the item if it is provided. If we decline to cover an item once we’ve “tried it on,” we will provide a rationale for that decision on request to the item’s creator.
If there are ever any questions about the conduct of our magazine staff or the bloggers who post here, please contact me via email or in world. I am always happy to hear from readers about how we can improve. And if you want to discuss my behavior as a writer please send a note to Josie Hamilton in world.
Second Style may be a virtual magazine about virtual fashions, but we are striving for real professionalism and integrity.
Topics: Administrative |
I read Canimal’s entry on Style Disorder after following a link, and I must say that I agree with her comments, in general.
I don’t follow all SL related blogs, or even the fashion blogs, closely enough to know who she might have been referring to, and I don’t feel the need to ask her to tell me publicly or privately.
I do know that of all the blogs my products have been reviewed on, only one (Linden Lifestyles) has ever asked for a review copy, and the item was reviewed the very next day, so I don’t see any negative in the experience. All of the other items in review, including those in this blog and on PXP, have been purchased by the reviewer. (I have received requests from Blog Reviewers I’ve never heard of, but declined to grant them. No harm, no foul.)
For the record, my policy for Little Rebel Designs is not to send out unsolicited review packages, samples or gifts. This has nothing to do with the blogs or reviewers, or their worth or validity, but rather with my preference to make free gifts available to those who help my business the most… return customers.
I always appreciate reviews, because it means that someone took note of my product and decided to comment, for good or ill, and spread the word about a product. But my main loyalty resides with the people who come to my store on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, regardless of any reviews, simply because they like what I have to offer.
I’m sure it’s the same for most designers, whether they give review copies or not. Good reviews are wonderful, and give me a big warm fuzzy. Bad reviews suck, and make me take a second look at what I’m doing and what I could do better. Not a bad thing, in the long run, even if feelings are hurt for the moment. (I create a LOT, and a good third of it ends up in the trash because it isn’t good enough for what I want to express. So items that have passed muster, and then get trashed, would be hard to deal with. Natural, I think.)
I have no problem with people asking for review copies if they’ve seen something that interests them, either in my stores or in the forums, that they might like to cover. I have no demands that any review copies given be answered with a positive review. But I also have no desire to farm out review copies to every blogger in Blogdom on the off-chance that they may review my products and give them a positive stamp of approval for free advertising. I’m far too lazy for that.
Reviews are appreciated, and Blogs are enjoyed, but all in all, I’d continue doing what I do, the same way I do it, with or without them. Thankfully, I have yet to speak to a Blogger who would assume or expect anything different. They’ve all been pretty cool and straightforward so far, and I’m thankful for that.
Posted by: Jonquille on February 12th, 2007 at 2:57 pmSorry that was so long ;) Didn’t seem so windy when I was writing it.
Posted by: Jonquille on February 12th, 2007 at 3:10 pmI have started giving out review folders without the actual outfit but pictures of the new designs with a short note…. and if a blogger likes or is interested in what they see they can ask me for a review copy to test it out. So far it works fine.
Posted by: Nicky Ree on February 12th, 2007 at 5:28 pmi just want to say that i think SS is one of the most professional blogs/sites on fashion that i’ve come across in SL.
celebrity, you and your team from the first day that i met you, have always portayed the most professional of attitudes, and so i just want to say that publicly.
not all of my stuff has been reviewed, and i’ve been happy to provide copies when requested, and i honestly think you provide a well balanced, thoughtful blog that covers a variety of things going on in the ever changing and growing world of SL.
thank you for all you do, and how you do it.
respectfully,
caLLie cLine
Posted by: callie cline on February 13th, 2007 at 5:41 pmHello,
I’m a reporter for the Belgian ELLE Magazine; I’m writing a story about Fashion in SL and I’ m looking for people I can interview (via e-mail) and hi res pics of interesting creations to put with the article. Can you help me out or do you know somebody who can help me out? I would be very greatful! (Fashion in) SL in Belgium isn’t very big (yet) and maybe a feature in ELLE can move things along!
thanks in advance
Bie
Posted by: bie on February 14th, 2007 at 10:22 am