Do you think H & H have a responsibility with its features...?

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Bubblegum

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Am a big fan of H&H and the features.
But over the last few months a couple of articles have really annoyed me.
First there was the one about lady dealers .... One of the dealers was a 'lady' (I use the term loosely!) with whom I have had personal experience. She advertises regularly in H&H. But I know as a fact that she definitely is NOT the reputable dealer it intimated she was in the article...
Second a recent article about re-homing ex-racehorses. The yard in question was painted in glowing colours. I know that the way they operate is quite a lot less than perfect....
Is it just me .. maybe I have had unfortunate experiences. But doesn't it add a considerable amount of kudos to an operation if they have mention in H&H? I do hope the powers that be in the H&H office research their subjects carefully. They have a responsibilty to do so...
What do you lot think?
 
As a journalist myself (pls don't shoot me!) we try and research our subjects as carefully as possible, however, sometimes features are sprung on us at the last minute and we don't always have enough time and end up using a lot of information provided by the subject.

At the end of the day, a feature is generally an opinion expressed by the publication at that moment in time. It doesn't excuse poor or misleading information but everyones experiences of people / places are different.

I agree that there is a massive degree of kudos from appearing in a 'favourite' publication and there are lots of businesses who court publicity endlessly in order to achieve coverage. Equally though, the buyer has a responsibility to research the seller / provider carefully before parting with their money.....
 
I think they do the best they can.
I bet if you asked around long enough you would find someone with a personal gripe about any top yard in the country, it's just the way things are.
I don't think H and H is promoting anyone in particular, more describing what happens and allowing anyone reading it to make up their own mind.
There are things that go on in top yards that would take your breath away at times, but who is going to say they saw a top dressage rider cuttting a horse's mouth for instance? Or knocking seven bells out of a horse with a piece of wood?
Both were hearsay so I don't know if that is true, and so of course it may not be!
I think H and H does a damn good job myself. It can't possibly take note of every bit of gossip it may hear...
 
I think, tbh, that if they didnt do features on the yards/dealers/riders at the top whose practises werent altogether 'horseman-like' they wouldnt have a lot left to write about!!
 
No I wont shoot you! Its good to hear it from a journalists point of view.... as I said it may be that I was in the unlucky minority in both these cases and that the vast majority of clients had positive experiences....
That said, it does make me wonder how much coverage is given to 'top' people just becuase they can afford to support said magazines.
Me being synical? Probably....
 
I would have thought that they give coverage to the top people because that is who people are interested in reading about!!

It is only when you see any of 'the other side of it' and realise that *some* of those top people actually couldnt give two hoots about their horses, and dont look after them as well as most caring horse owners, that it isnt actually that interesting to read about their latest winnings.
 
I think H&H are as careful as they can be, given that it is a weekly publication. i have submitted copy on several occasions, and they have always been careful to check and verify my submission (remember I am commenting on legal matters, so getting it right is important)
 
well thats good to know. thanks... as I said I am a big fan of H&H features. Just felt a bit let down by a couple recently, thats all.
 
Bubblegum, you'd probably find that the people at H&H are really approachable and are interested in genuine feedback. Why don't you give them a ring and talk to them about your concerns? I bet they'd listen - and you'd feel better too.
 
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Not necessarily, magazines don't always charge for ads in return for editorial, if an advertiser wants to write their own 'story' then it's charged out as an advertorial and is marked as such at the top of the page.

[/ QUOTE ]

Speaking as another journo, the ads and the features in H&H,and indeed most publications, are completely separate. All publications will be biased in some way because that is human nature (and writers do get things wrong!).

But it would take a lot of money or a fantastic contact with the owner to make them advertise something in an editorial without meaning it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Not necessarily, magazines don't always charge for ads in return for editorial, if an advertiser wants to write their own 'story' then it's charged out as an advertorial and is marked as such at the top of the page.

[/ QUOTE ]

Speaking as another journo, the ads and the features in H&H,and indeed most publications, are completely separate. All publications will be biased in some way because that is human nature (and writers do get things wrong!).

But it would take a lot of money or a fantastic contact with the owner to make them advertise something in an editorial without meaning it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree- advertising and editoral have nothing to do with each other.

I wish H&H would put more features in. Some weeks there's not much to read for £2.30!
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