This Biting Life
Everyone else from Sara De la Guerra to Craig De la Smith have blogged about this already, but no one has pointed out the best part of the News-Press's ad on Craig's List for a restaurant critic:
Scene, the weekly arts and entertainment magazine of the Santa Barbara News-Press, is looking for a local writer with a foodie background to serve as its restaurant critic. The ideal candidate will have journalism experience and a food or restaurant background. We're looking for someone to write straightforward critiques of local restaurants, with an authoritative and unbiased voice that gives credit when it's due, but isn't afraid to explain why something just doesn't work. This is a freelance position. The writer-reporter will eat at each restaurant at least twice, and will conduct original research and interviews. One article will be published each week, for $125, which includes dining expenses.
I know it's the mantra over there--after a sneeze you probably have to say "May the unbiased God bless you"--but what in the world is a biased restaurant reviewer? One that likes the same food Mayor Blum likes? One that likes non-vegetarian food? One that criticizes the buffet at the Chumash Casino?
Well, at least they're looking for a local writer. Given recent hires it would be easy to assume they might hire some Englishman who could spend his column inches explaining to us what the royals would eat based on reading an establishment's website menu.
Scene, the weekly arts and entertainment magazine of the Santa Barbara News-Press, is looking for a local writer with a foodie background to serve as its restaurant critic. The ideal candidate will have journalism experience and a food or restaurant background. We're looking for someone to write straightforward critiques of local restaurants, with an authoritative and unbiased voice that gives credit when it's due, but isn't afraid to explain why something just doesn't work. This is a freelance position. The writer-reporter will eat at each restaurant at least twice, and will conduct original research and interviews. One article will be published each week, for $125, which includes dining expenses.
I know it's the mantra over there--after a sneeze you probably have to say "May the unbiased God bless you"--but what in the world is a biased restaurant reviewer? One that likes the same food Mayor Blum likes? One that likes non-vegetarian food? One that criticizes the buffet at the Chumash Casino?
Well, at least they're looking for a local writer. Given recent hires it would be easy to assume they might hire some Englishman who could spend his column inches explaining to us what the royals would eat based on reading an establishment's website menu.
Labels: news-press
posted by George at 10:22 AM
11 Comments:
I suppose at the N-P a biased restaurant reviewer is one who eats meat...
Let's see if I understand this right: they plan to pay $125/per article, *including* dining expenses. Assuming you try a lunch ($15) and a dinner -- with appetizer, and dessert ($50) -- to try to be "unbiased", that means they are compensating the writer $60 for their time and the talent they've developed in their craft. With 3 hours of eating time, I hope the writer can write their review in an hour or less to make their time worth something. And faster if the place is pricier.
And it looks like Dr. Laura's spot is gonna be available for awhile too:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-drlaura25may25,1,792277.story?coll=la-headlines-technology
I have a Hungry Cat joke formulating in my head, but it's not materializing.
What..."Nipper" (the Prince of Bottled Water) not interested? And at $125...I think that probably covers 1 meal and some of these joints in Montecito.
Speaking of non-von Nipberg, we can only hope that he might someday find his only area of "expertise" going the way of the dodo:
http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/la-tm-thebiggulp20may20,1,970700.story?ctrack=2&cset=true
I've been trying to avoid it, but all your comments have led me to it: remember when Nipper was the food critic he wasn't paid much but he collected fringe benefits.
Sorry if I made you all throw up in your mouths a little.
good lord george!!! you shouldbe sorry
WV:zwkuz
re the ad for the ne nip...how could you eat and review anything but the local coffee shops and taco places with such generous pay???
Is this what non-Von earned?
$125 "Including meals...!"
Nope. Non-Von earned more; he just thinks you shouldn't.
Could I take the job and just write whatever my date says. I know she is unbiased because she never likes a dish that cost me less than $125.00.
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