In a recent Los Angeles Times report about the ever-rising prominence—even omnipresence—of gift bags as marketing tools, Susie Dobson of Susie Dobson Global PR muses on the sense of entitlement journalist guests feel to stacks of swag: “Whatever it may hold, the gift bag has an uncanny power to bring out the greedy 2-year-old in some members of the media. Many have come to view it not as a perk but a birthright,” she says. “When I’m holding an event, the magazine editors call and ask if there's going to be a gift bag,” Dobson says. “‘Will there be gift bags?’ Yes. ‘Will they be good?’ Yes. ‘Oh, great! I'll be there.’”
And freelance journalist Kyle Roderick tells tales of most indecorous behavior at the 2003 Environmental Media awards when the freebies ran out. “There was a frenzy at the booth for Under the Canopy, which is this organic fiber fashion line. There was a jostling fight…. People were yelling, ‘I want my T-shirt!’ There were some shoulder blows. The sign was up that said, ‘Please take one.’ People were grabbing three or four or five,” he says. Ah, rude guests.
Posted 01.19.05
And freelance journalist Kyle Roderick tells tales of most indecorous behavior at the 2003 Environmental Media awards when the freebies ran out. “There was a frenzy at the booth for Under the Canopy, which is this organic fiber fashion line. There was a jostling fight…. People were yelling, ‘I want my T-shirt!’ There were some shoulder blows. The sign was up that said, ‘Please take one.’ People were grabbing three or four or five,” he says. Ah, rude guests.
Posted 01.19.05
