automotive editorial standards

[cobram at juno.com]

Brett Dikeman <brett at cloud9.net> writes:

> Seriously- Forbes auto reviews read just like the dealership 
> booklets, only fruitier.  You can see some reporting thinking "hmm, 

Brett, it seems that sometimes covering automobiles (and the field of
transportation in general) is either a punishment for reporters or
something they throw at the newbie intern fresh out of journalism school
trust fund baby boy (girl).

At a large antique auto show (more of a monthly get together) in the
Houston area many moons ago, a guy from OK was showing his 1950's
Studebaker pickup truck, which had a Big Block super charged Cheby, air
suspension and a litany of other mods.  The Okie, with a straight face,
started describing all this equipment to the reporter as standard
equipment on the 1955 (I think it was '55).  Sure enough, next Sundays
Auto supplement had a 1/4 page article with  a picture of the open hooded
truck and all the "facts" about how advanced the Studebaker was for it's
day.

BCNU,
http://www.geocities.com/cobramsri/