Press Trip ? No, it's a "Blogger trip" to Amsterdam.

25 "New York" based bloggers like CityRag, AmericaBlog, TalkLeft, Slice NY, and Jossip have been invited by my Dutch neighbor's tourism board on a free trip to discover Amsterdam. This is a great twist on the traditional press trip.

"The bloggers must agree to be interviewed by the tourism board, and provide the board with free ad space on their blogs; the board will use that space to highlight the trip."

However, the bloggers will not be required to post about the trip.

The promotion's website is at http://www.bloggersinamsterdam.com/ 

Via MediaPostPublications

Comments

[Mike Driehorst]

Philippe,
As I'm sure you've likely read, there has been some discussion on whether blog junkets are good for blogging.

It's a fine line for media -- either professional media or bloggers -- to go on trips like these. It can challenge their credibility.
Take care,
Mike

For other reads on the topic:
Micro Persuasion seems to be okay with it:
http://www.micropersuasion.com/2006/01/blogger_junkets.html

But, POP! PR and Canuckflack are not:
http://www.micropersuasion.com/2006/01/blogger_junkets.html#comment-13384306
http://www.canuckflack.com/archives/001267.html

I have my own take on them at my blog, for what it's worth.

[Philippe Borremans]

Hi Mike, thanks for the comment and the links.

I still believe you can do press trips which are newsworthy to reporters without having to pamper them to the extremes.

On the other hand, bloggers, that they like it or not, will become part of a huge portion of PR/Media Relations plans...

As with reporters they will have to protect their credibility but again, the one can go with the other, at least in my view of how PR is, can be and should be.