It’s nice to have someone remind everyone that there is still room for pros in this business. And, without putting too fine a point on it (and REALLY trying to not be snotty) – some opinions are more valid than others. Even some professional opinions are more valid than others. We all have reviewers we trust and reviewers we take with a grain of salt. (OK – we’re cutting back on salt, so maybe something else.)
For the record – I’ve been somewhere in the food-writing/reporting constellation for more than 15 years. And – I don’t do reviews. Do I like being able to sneak around a bit to see what’s in stores and markets and what people are buying? Yeah. Is it helpful? Yeah. Do people get freaked out when I call them for a story? Yeah. Nature of the beast.
But give this baby a read — it’s by Robert Sietsema in the Columbia Journalism Review – you’ll learn a little thing or two. I did.