While looking at information on next week’s O’Reilly conference Graphing Social Patterns – (“this event is for both business executives and technical developers who want to learn more about the evolving environment, and how to reach online communities using new and established social networking platforms and applications”) I clicked through to see what the conference rate and media pass information.
I was pretty amused to read their section on media qualifications.
To qualify for a complimentary media pass for GSP East, the applicant must cover the industry on a regular basis by writing regular reports or publishing articles on related business or technology issues that are not solicited by an exhibiting company. Private consultants who are paid by an individual company are not eligible for a media pass, and should request a pass from the sponsoring company. Also not eligible are financial/financial research analysts, book authors, contributors to user/community group publications, [emphasis mine] or photographers unless they are on official assignment with a reporter who has already been issued media credentials.
Don’t get me wrong – I understand completely that this conference is largely targeted at those people, so giving away access isn’t a smart business move – but it still makes me chuckle to read about a social network conference that doesn’t certify ‘citizen journalists.’
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
Well I used to say something in my profile about not quite being a “tinker, tailor, soldier, or spy” but Tom stole that for our about us page, so I guess I’ll have to find another way to express that I am a man of many interests.
Hmm, guess I just did.
My tastes run the gamut from sophomoric to Shakespeare and in my “professional” life I’ve sold things, served beer, written software, and carried heavy objects… sometimes at the same place. It’s that range of loves and activities that makes it so easy for me to love DC – we’ve got it all.
