Techcrunch boss Michael Arrington recently suggested on The Gilmore Gang podcast, that Leo Laporte was giving the new Palm Pre favourable reviews; simply because Leo had been loaned a unit for 7 days. Leo went crazy!
The possibility that Leo Laporte, one of the most respected people in ‘tech, would compromise his integrity in return for a week long loan of a Pre, is highly unlikely.
Leo Laporte & Michael Arrington – a set up?
It seems opinions are divided as to whether the row between Michael and Leo was a set-up or not. They will both have seen a lot more traffic to their websites as a result of all the coverage this row has attracted. However, the risk to Leo’s reputation, should that accusation cause people to doubt his integrity, is way too serious for him to have considered setting this up. This was not, in my opinion, a set up or pre-planned.
Leo knows, as do all of us content providers, that it takes a GREAT deal of time to gain the trust of our audience. However, that same trust can be lost in seconds. Without the trust of our readers, we have nothing.
RT @thetechnewsblog: Leo Laporte goes CRAZY on Gilmore Gang: http://bit.ly/QnW6j
Wow! Leop Laporte goes crazy on the Gilmore Gang: http://bit.ly/QnW6j
First time I ever heard @leolaporte curse wow http://is.gd/RSk9 Leo LaportegoesCRAZYonGilmoreGang http://bit.ly/QnW6j (via @thetechnewsblog)
Leo Laporte outburst at Mike Arrington – http://shar.es/oVwY
Leo Laporte Arrington pre Gilmore Gang row palm pre | The Tech … http://bit.ly/1KUpi
I’m an entertainment journalist, and have to side with Leo on this one. As a journalist in any market you’re going to be privy to ‘free’ things. I go to pre-screenings of movies for free, get to meet famous people, go to parties, etc… I do my best, as I think all respectable journalists do, to keep myself as unbiased as possible. I think Mike started out in the right place, yes, Leo should say he has a review unit, but the tone of voice he used suggested that Leo would accept gifts in exchange for a favorable review. Just my 2 cents.
Leo Laporte Arrington pre Gilmore Gang row palm pre | The Tech … http://tinyurl.com/p7jvuc
I agree.
I think it’s ALWAYS best to say, up front, if you have been given/loaned something you are reviewing.
Saw this, he was worked up! RT @thetechnewsblog Leo Laporte goes CRAZY on Gilmore Gang: http://bit.ly/QnW6j
RT @thetechnewsblog: Leo Laporte goes CRAZY on Gilmore Gang: http://bit.ly/QnW6j
RT @TinyGrasshopper http://is.gd/RSk9 Leo LaportegoesCRAZYonGilmoreGang http://bit.ly/QnW6j (via @thetechnewsblog)
Go Leo, Go!!!!RT @thetechnewsblog: Leo Laporte goes CRAZY on Gilmore Gang: http://bit.ly/QnW6j
Leo Laporte outburst at Mike Arrington http://twurl.nl/15alkd
Very true. In fact, you lost some of my respect for you by dignifying the accusation that Leo Laporte would stage this with a response. You do not have the goodwill to take on Leo.
AS some that test and has done test reviews and has nover got to keep any of the hardware as it would be wrong to do so even if you like it . Now i have been give full copies of software at the end of beta test if i have given the good feed back but I mean really good feed back not WOW that is great I mean HEY this SUCKS and this is how you FIX IT! type of feed back(MS HATES me ON VISTA and WIn 7 and Bing Reviews I am never easy on them or anyone) but i have never changed my mind on a product in anyway. If a piece of hardware sucks it sucks and there is no way I can not tell some that even if the said BTW you can keep it. No that would just be bribing me in hope of a good review and Leo is th the same he not going to make him say WOW this just got a $1k item free for just saying great and tell everyone to go buy it.. and people do and it suck and then the fall out would be very bad for Leo but not the makers as they would have made Bank on it and Leo just gets Egg on his face.for lying to people So Testing something and hoping to get a freebie is never good idea and I do not ask or want the software i test unless it is something i know I may use everyday and even then i would just hope at getting for it fir a bit off ther retail than to just have it given. I work hard on being honest in my reviews and i think Leo does too. I think Mike was joking and it turn out badly for him as Loe didn’t and could not see that maybe he was getting Ribbed by mike who seem to be taking a very high ground on Leo having the Palm for review(know Leo just said it was 7 day loner) Leo said he was going to try to buy one but he think he would be too late and not find it Mike I think too that as a plug to Palm from Leo saying(hey guys I like to have this help me find one) and as we saw things just went down from there.
I think Mike need to state why he was jerking Leo around.
I will say Yes I think some should disclose if they were given or Lone something on a review and if it persuade them on that. Leo is smart enough i hope to see that he is on top and people will send and request his blessing on their products.
I am a small fry when I have to request to be able to test or those i have tested for come back to be a tester as again and i do not get paid for any of my reviews or have ever been told i would be given anything in return.(and as i said I have gotten a few copies programs but not due to good reviews really programmers want to know if there product is going to crash or not work as the want and a bad review is gold for fixing it as long as you tell them what ws wrong not just “this sucks”)
Let move on Leo and Mike need to work this out between them and get back to doing their shows.
GC
[...] This could be a legal nightmare for reviewers, who often rely on manufacturers to lend the products for review. In fact, most reviewers depend on this system, with a few rare exceptions such as This Week in Tech’s Leo Laporte. Even then, he doesn’t buy every single product he reviews. [...]