Open invite to Berlind, CNET from ShowStoppers
Pepcom has reportedly threatened to deny admission to any CNET staffer, including ZDNet executive editor David Berlind, if those CNET staffers organize and invite anyone other than CNET staff to a post-event bloghaus after any Pepcom event. David blogged the threat here: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Berlind/?p=699
Event sponsors and journalists have a smarter alternative -- ShowStoppers.
Earlier this week, I invited Berlind to organize a “bloghaus” after ShowStoppers for the Digital Holidays. This is our fifth-annual showcase of consumer, business, lifestyle and digital tech for Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa and Black Friday. It is scheduled for 26 September, 6-9 p.m., at the new New York Times building in New York.
In fact, I invited David to organize a bloghaus after any future ShowStoppers, including ShowStoppers @ CTIA, ShowStoppers @ CES, ShowStoppers @ CeBIT and any other press-only event we produce. And I also offered our help in organizing the bloghaus.
Unfortunately, David respectfully declined and, at this point, says "I have decided to discontinue the bloghaus program for the forseeable future."
We hope he reconsiders this decision – and our offer is still on the table.
We have produced ShowStoppers events for 15 years. These events help to generate coverage of the companies that sponsor the events – and the products they introduce, sneak preview and demo.
We have a proven history of working with show management and other organizations. As one example, we currently work with Hannover Fairs USA and Deutsche Messe to produce the official US press reception during CeBIT, the world’s largest IT and enterprise technology tradeshow. As two other examples, we served as the sales agent for the official press reception at CTIA Wireless, and we produced a press reception at the Ziff building in New York that included tours of the famed PC Magazine labs. As yet another example, we have hosted the annual product awards of PC World Magazine for six consecutive years.
It is logical, compelling and obvious to us that a bloghaus after a ShowStoppers event is going to make it easier for editors and reporters to work through notes, press releases, product photos, podcasts, video and other information in order to quickly post more coverage of the event, the companies that sponsor that event, and the products introduced at that event. And it is flat-out, basic common sense to also encourage CNET, ZDNET, PC Magazine, eWeek and other reporters to invite ShowStoppers sponsors to bloghaus for in-depth, extended interviews after ShowStoppers ends for the evening.
Bottom line, we get it.
We look forward to seeing our friends from the press in New York. Here’s my email address, sl @ showstoppers.com. Here’s my phone number, 512-288-0950.
Sponsors, you have a choice. Do you want to meet the press? Join us. Contact Dave Leon. He heads sales for us. Here’s his email address, dave @ showstoppers.com. Here’s his phone number, 845-638-3527.
Steve Leon
Partner
ShowStoppers