Samsung says sorry, but what do bloggers say?

BANGALORE, INDIA: When it comes to attending company-sponsored technology events, it is generally a royal trip to exotic places which doles out an opportunity to be the first to get hands on newest products.

But for Delhi-based blogger Clinton Jeff, Samsung's IFA Mob!lers 2012 Program at Berlin turned out to be a sour experience.

The blogger was chosen by Samsung to attend IFA at Berlin. But he and his friend were in for a shock when Samsung officials withdrew their sponsorship and told them to book his return tickets.

Reason: They refused to wear a Samsung-branded shirt and promote the company's products.

Despite making a prior agreement to attend the event as a reporter, Jeff was told to obey the company norms or buy his tickets home, according to reports.

Left with no option or money, Jeff unwillingly wore the shirt and attended the event.

However, Samsung later issued a statement regretting the incident and said it was a misunderstanding between the Samsung and the blogger as the latter was not properly briefed about Samsung Mob!lers' activities at IFA 2012.

When CIOL tried to contact Jeff, we got an automatic reply that said he was away at IFA 2012 in Berlin and didn't have decent enough internet connect to reply to the mail.

Perhaps, this incident will soon be forgotten as just one-off case, but tech events continue to be held and reporters continue to go on sponsored trips. But not everyone attending such events feel the moral bind to write pleasing stories about the companies.

Tech blogger Pradeep Nair says: "No I don't feel compelled to write positive stories. Nor there has ever been a pressure from anyone to write positive stories."

The best part of being bloggers is they don't have to please everyone.

"If ever I experienced something like Jeff, I would definitely come back and tell the world about my bad experience. But that wouldn't affect the way I would review the products. There would be a clear demarcation," says Raja Matri, tech blogger.

However, for some, travelling at the cost of the company makes them slightly responsible towards ensuring the right balance. "I feel it's purely a PR exercise, so the events will surely have some feel-good factor. But when I write, it will be for the readers. I would see how the product or service benefits readers. But while attending such events, I do feel hands tied," says Charan C S, journalist.