Comments on: Wheels: The New York Times’ New Auto Blog http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26785 Steve Thu, 11 Jan 2007 18:25:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26785 I can certainly can appreciate the suggestions above that the media are institutionally corrupt insofar as they are sustained by the advertising dollars of those they purport to objectively report upon. But Aaron's point about the ethical question raised when a journalist" accepts gifts from an entity that he is purportedly "covering" should not get lost in that general analysis. I'll concede that it is probably the case that journalists covering trade shows have traditionally observed relaxed ethical standards. And perhaps the Times feels the usual rules should not apply because this coverage a styled a "blog" and it is supposed to be "fun." But to me, that illustrates one of the dangers of the blurring of blogs and more traditional media. You might think that "Wheels" carries its own remedy for this ill because commenters can remark right under the picture that it is questionable for journalists to accept gifts from the objects of their coverage. But I notice that no such a comment appears there--perhaps because of the Times' policy that "Comments are moderated and will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. They may be edited for length and clarity. For more information see our Member Agreement." The fact is, transportation is a highly politicized issue. I checked the Wheels blog today and learned that the auto journalists attending the show voted the Saturn Aura--the flagship sedan of a line of supposedly "environmentally conscious" vehicles offered by Saturn--the best sedan of the year. However you can tell from the relative size of the tags based on their usage (right hand column here: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/ ) that there is a lot more coverage of SUVs on this site than of "green" vehicles. I don't think "green" vehicles are very important in the grand scheme of things, but I would expect Wheels to give balanced coverage to them, rather than shamelessly promoting of Jeep because it gave some bongos out to reporters. I can certainly can appreciate the suggestions above that the media are institutionally corrupt insofar as they are sustained by the advertising dollars of those they purport to objectively report upon. But Aaron’s point about the ethical question raised when a journalist” accepts gifts from an entity that he is purportedly “covering” should not get lost in that general analysis. I’ll concede that it is probably the case that journalists covering trade shows have traditionally observed relaxed ethical standards. And perhaps the Times feels the usual rules should not apply because this coverage a styled a “blog” and it is supposed to be “fun.” But to me, that illustrates one of the dangers of the blurring of blogs and more traditional media.

You might think that “Wheels” carries its own remedy for this ill because commenters can remark right under the picture that it is questionable for journalists to accept gifts from the objects of their coverage. But I notice that no such a comment appears there–perhaps because of the Times’ policy that “Comments are moderated and will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. They may be edited for length and clarity. For more information see our Member Agreement.”

The fact is, transportation is a highly politicized issue. I checked the Wheels blog today and learned that the auto journalists attending the show voted the Saturn Aura–the flagship sedan of a line of supposedly “environmentally conscious” vehicles offered by Saturn–the best sedan of the year. However you can tell from the relative size of the tags based on their usage (right hand column here: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/ ) that there is a lot more coverage of SUVs on this site than of “green” vehicles. I don’t think “green” vehicles are very important in the grand scheme of things, but I would expect Wheels to give balanced coverage to them, rather than shamelessly promoting of Jeep because it gave some bongos out to reporters.

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26753 Angus Grieve-Smith Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:27:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26753 Thanks for the tip, Sean. I posted a comment on that story to the effect of "Hey, he does a good deed in the subway and this Vines guy's first thought is to take him out of the subway?" Hopefully he'll sell the Jeep and use the money for a nice vacation. Thanks for the tip, Sean. I posted a comment on that story to the effect of “Hey, he does a good deed in the subway and this Vines guy’s first thought is to take him out of the subway?” Hopefully he’ll sell the Jeep and use the money for a nice vacation.

]]> By: someguy http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26718 someguy Wed, 10 Jan 2007 18:37:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26718 Yes, selling snake oil :) Yes, selling snake oil :)

]]> By: brent http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26711 brent Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:54:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26711 Adam- back then there was a healthy small business community. Adam- back then there was a healthy small business community.

]]> By: Adam http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26709 Adam Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:50:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26709 How on earth did newspapers fund themselves before automobiles were invented? How on earth did newspapers fund themselves before automobiles were invented?

]]> By: brent http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26689 brent Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:25:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26689 This blog is good news. It is concrete proof of the Time’s commitment to automobile culture. Also, I find it very hard to dialogue with motorists in the public realm because (one) they dominate it. (Two) They are isolated from the rest of us in a glass and metal pod and can only be seen in the flesh in the mysterious world of surface parking lots. And (three) they tend to be impatient, must always be in motion, and aggressive road rage can lead to them using their car as a 3 ton weapon when confronted. The blog may be a good forum to examine and discuss this topic with non-like minded people. By the way, if it wasn’t for the SUV ads in the auto section, the Sunday Times would cost $12! This blog is good news. It is concrete proof of the Time’s commitment to automobile culture. Also, I find it very hard to dialogue with motorists in the public realm because (one) they dominate it. (Two) They are isolated from the rest of us in a glass and metal pod and can only be seen in the flesh in the mysterious world of surface parking lots. And (three) they tend to be impatient, must always be in motion, and aggressive road rage can lead to them using their car as a 3 ton weapon when confronted. The blog may be a good forum to examine and discuss this topic with non-like minded people. By the way, if it wasn’t for the SUV ads in the auto section, the Sunday Times would cost $12!

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26562 ddartley Wed, 10 Jan 2007 05:17:47 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26562 In Korean, "bongo" means "fart." Appropriate for cars. In Korean, “bongo” means “fart.” Appropriate for cars.

]]> By: Sean http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26505 Sean Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:43:29 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26505 Oh, and he got a free parking pass for a year. Savor it again. Oh, and he got a free parking pass for a year.

Savor it again.

]]> By: Sean http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26504 Sean Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:42:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26504 I'm a committed cyclist and <a href="http://newtonstreets.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">safe streets advocate</a>. But, I am also a long-time auto enthusiast (and Ezra Dyer fan). So, I have very mixed feelings about the Wheels blog. I confess that during my bike commutes, I sometimes fantasize about owning a cool car that I see, though I promise that I do not fantasize about commuting in it, except if it's really cold <i>and</i> raining. There's really just one explanation for the Wheels blog: newspapers need automotive editorial content to wrap lucrative auto ads around. Regardless of the general merits of the Wheels blog, it did contribute this irony meter-blowing gem: <a href="http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/new-york-city-subway-hero-gets-free-jeep/" rel="nofollow">Daimler/Chrysler gave the saved-a-guy-from-subway-death hero a new Jeep</a>. Savor it. I’m a committed cyclist and safe streets advocate. But, I am also a long-time auto enthusiast (and Ezra Dyer fan). So, I have very mixed feelings about the Wheels blog. I confess that during my bike commutes, I sometimes fantasize about owning a cool car that I see, though I promise that I do not fantasize about commuting in it, except if it’s really cold and raining.

There’s really just one explanation for the Wheels blog: newspapers need automotive editorial content to wrap lucrative auto ads around.

Regardless of the general merits of the Wheels blog, it did contribute this irony meter-blowing gem: Daimler/Chrysler gave the saved-a-guy-from-subway-death hero a new Jeep.

Savor it.

]]> By: seth http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26488 seth Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:06:29 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26488 I can't seem to find the source right now, but bicycles have out sold cars for the second year in a row. This obviously refers to units not dollars, but does mean that more people purchased new bikes tha new cars, which hasn't happened since the 1970's. I can’t seem to find the source right now, but bicycles have out sold cars for the second year in a row. This obviously refers to units not dollars, but does mean that more people purchased new bikes tha new cars, which hasn’t happened since the 1970′s.

]]> By: P http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-26418 P Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:55:05 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/09/wheels-the-new-york-times-new-auto-blog/#comment-26418 I guess when bikes begin selling for sixty thousand dollars we can look forward to a New York Times supplement on bicycling... I guess when bikes begin selling for sixty thousand dollars we can look forward to a New York Times supplement on bicycling…

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