Apologies for it being so long since I posted. I was busy (blah, blah) and then I was in Australia doing the family & friends thing. While I was there, I attended the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival's business seminar. During such seminar Australian Vogue's EIC, Kirstie Clements, made a statement that has had the internet slightly abuzz (especially as Australia hardly gets any fashion attention outside some fantastic designer exports). When I heard it I was surprised, bordering on shocked and fashion journalist Patty Huntington responded with an immediate tweet. What was this scandalous statement?
In a discussion with Calvin Klein's EVP of communications, Malcolm Carfrae, she asked him if they deleted negative comments off of the Calvin Klein social media forums. He responded with no and she (quite emphatically and almost happily) gave up that they remove negative comments about designers posted on the Australian Vogue website.
News got to Cutblog who felt free to share. It was also reported in Melbourne's The Age newspaper when Vogue issued a defending statement.
The fashion industry isn't particularly known for being nice. Critics have been banned from studios and shows for harsh reviews and as with any creative field, it can be diva central. But, while understanding that in tough times its necessary to be nice to advertisers, I guess we can ask where it starts and where it stops. The internet is meant to be a democratic forum where we all can have a say and there have been plenty of stupid comments posted on many a blog and website. What can be so bad that it needs removal anyway?
so we can ask:
- does a publication have the right to monitor their comments to make everyone sound good? Should they? If bloggers have to state that they received complimentary goods, should editors have to do the same (and state that they have edited their forums)? After all, isn't this the same? all in the name of truth and full disclosure?
- how will knowing that Vogue censors change comments that are left on it? The teacup that is Australia isn't big- better believe this got round fast.
- how important is the truth in something like this? Is everyone doing it? Does anyone really care? Is anyone really paying attention to these comments? Or are they?
tell me what you think.
5 comments:
i only allow the "nice" posts to stay on my blog. ummm, not really. freedom of speech, etc. has to be upheld and there's no reason to sugar coat or clean up comments. people/companies can take a little criticism. and britt, if you remove this post....
It is not easy to "make it"... to be successful... in any field... My humble opinion is that the truth should always be shown - good or bad!! - If all of this good AND bad was shared, it would show everybody trying to succeed (in any field again) that even the 'best' make mistakes... - Besides, in the creative field - it being so subjective... how can anybody have ONLY good comments? Does perfection exist?
It seems boring to only leave the good comments. Makes me not want to bother reading them at all. But I respect the person for telling the truth! I wonder if she said it on purpose, or if she accidentally blurted it out?
It all needs to be posted! Aside from freedom of speech, how about freedom of expression. Isn't it why someone posts things to said blog/website in the first place? Especially if they have a comment box. For goodness sakes, it's all constructive criticism and if your brave enough to speak about something that means something then, then you're brave enough to handle blurbs made by people who give a damn enough to comment in the first place.
Lets face it, this is the new "opinion," page...even if you're not asking...
I agree with the comments above which is so boring of me that Britt will probably remove this post. Seriously though, women's fashion magazines used to be able to control which letters, positive or not, were printed on their pages, but in this brave new world of web 2.0 and full disclosure, the editors need to be brave enough to allow their readers to take the lead on this one. Bloggers and commenters are here to stay so move over and let them have their say. Know the truth and the truth shall set you free (John 8:32)
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