I was listening to an amusing podcast today where the host is a stand up comedian with unfiltered views on the issues of the day and the guests had their own show dubbed ‘the most offensive podcast in the world’.
The conversation wandered around, touching on the sort of issues that incense some sections of society, but both the hosts and guests acted as if they are bulletproof when it comes to the social media mob.
The host made the point that podcasting, unlike working in mainstream broadcasting, made him captain of his own ship, and that by not apologising when the Twitterati took offence, they gave up fighting with him.
The guests made a related point. Having been labeled as the most offensive podcasters in the world, nobody takes offence at them.
Being unapologetic was part of their schtick as well.
The conversation chimed with me because the watch industry is as trigger happy when it comes to taking offence and cancelling people as any politically correct movement.
And the vast majority of journalists and editors kowtow to the brands for fear of losing advertising or access to luxurious trips and other jollies.
This strikes me as bizarre, particularly since the brands have cut advertising to levels that would barely support a part time blogger, let alone a serious editorial team.
Their money goes instead to a combination of big ticket sponsorships, Meta (Facebook and Instagram), and Alphabet (Google and YouTube), platforms where they have zero influence beyond being more visible if they spend the most.
With the exception of WATCHPRO, Traditional watch media continues to fight for survival using 20th century weapons; lavishing brands with sycophantic praise, but gaining nothing in return
Worse, consumers have learned to ignore content so obviously created to serve brands rather than viewers, listeners and readers, so they move on.
I’m proud of the independence we’ve maintained at WATCHPRO, and our unswerving mission to tell it as we see it, regardless of who it bothers.
We are 11 years-old, read by around one million people per month, maintain a full time team of six amazing people and a virtual team of the best writers on the planet.
And we have come this far with barely a penny from the biggest brands: Rolex, Cartier, Omega and the like.
The reality is we have offended all of these brands so often that they no longer take offence.
It has not been easy to get to this point but I’m very glad we have.
Good for you Rob. There are few publications with this kind of editorial integrity. The best one I know of, Miss Tweed, is privately funded by subscribers, and so is not beholden to the whims and caprices of any brand’s PR Director. Keep up the great work!!!