I posted a comment of my own in the comments section of the Airtalk site you linked to. My long, and maybe somewhat incoherent comment:

Chowhound, Urban Spoon, and Yelp aren’t web logs at all, nor are the people who post there “bloggers”. They are discussion forums. And for the record, Chowhound is a moderated forum which has a pretty strict policy that prevents discussion of issues of food safety or other stuff that might expose them to unnecessary lawsuits.

While there is some market for sites that are sensationalist (or just outright idiotic), I think that long term, people will get their restaurant advice from sites that provide “fair and balanced” coverage (and not in the Fox News sense). Readers need to determine for themselves what sources they trust, and restaurants need to not freak out over every negative review.

Regarding comped meals, I think that disclosure is certainly a good idea. In actual practice, I think the vast majority of people writing web logs about food rarely or never get free meals.

I personally try to read sites that I feel follow reasonable standards and which don’t post intentionally inflammatory or sensationalist material, but I don’t question those sites’ right to post such material (though in several cases, I have *suggested* that a site might consider following better journalistic practices in cases where they’re posting information about a restaurant without notifying the restaurant ahead of time).

If sites are making libelous statements, there are already legal guidelines which allow the victim to have their day in court. I don’t think it’s realistic (or even feasible) to somehow impose a set of journalistic standards on informal journalism / social media. And, for writers who do this as a hobby, it’s unreasonable to hold them to the same standards as, say, the NYT. Of course, web logs attached to traditional media publications would be wise to adopt similar (though maybe slightly more relaxed) guidelines as the publications they’re a part of.

The big difference between these new forms of media and traditional media is that the number of voices is so much greater. If one or two people don’t like a restaurant, it’s unlikely that people will stop going there. If the buzz is overwhelmingly negative, however, the restaurant may see some issues with their bottom line. This system isn’t completely fair, but neither is the old system.

Some restaurants have adapted, and try to use new media to their advantage rather than fight it; this strategy has already proved successful for a number of places. But there’s a very fine line here between participating in a dialog and trying to game the system.

Steve´s last blog post..LudoBites

PS: wanted to do the All’ Angelo dinner, but alas am out of town this time for the DH’s work instead of my own. Someday I will be in LA for weeks on end experiencing the bliss that is repetitiveness & domesticity.

Liz´s last blog post..Because My Dog is Awesome

totally didnt make it to the oc fair, it was way too hot. you guys gonna be heading out to the oc fair?

saucy susy´s last blog post..Can’t Beat Free 99

amy´s last blog post..Porta Via

Diana´s last blog post.."Julie & Julia": My life in technicolor