Play Meter

- THE LAST WORD Would you print this? E xcuseme, butl'mgrouchy. Maybe my bio-rhythms are out of kilter , or perhaps Jupiter is aligned with Mars. Celestially rooted or not, things haven't been going my way . Just yesterday, some derelict in a pickup truck obeyed an unofficial rule of driving in New Orleans. He took advantage of the 20-second grace period given to those who've happened upon a light turning red, smashing into me broadside and totaling my car. Since I'm loaded with venom, I'll spew some on to this page. One thing that never fails to bug me are complaints regarding a decision to print a certain item. Every journalistic organ faces this; we aren't alone by a long shot. I'm not referring to hearsay that' s three parties removed, such as, "John told Ed, who told me, that..:' No, what I'm talking about are solid, irrefutable facts that Play Meter readers deserve-and often need-to be apprised of. The person or company doing the complaining will often agree that yes, the information we received is true; yes, he has been indicted, or the company has been caught paying off on video pokers and/or running counterfeit boards; yes, the Federal Trade Commission is putting heat on the company for improper activity; yes, he did receive eight messages from Play Meter, asking that he call to comment on the story. The list could go on and on. Let someone who champions the need for a free, unrestrained press get caught doing something he shouldn't. Want to see a Jeckyl and Hyde transformation in a flash? The incredulous attitude is 164 PLAY METER/ June 1990 something to behold. "Sure it happened; why pick on me? I can't believe you'd print that! You 're going to be sorry, buster!'' Of course, ifthe same thing were being printed about his business rival, sadistic squeals of delight would fill the air. I'm going to let you join in on the editorial meeting. The following are hypothetical situations facing the magazine, and it's deadline day. The printer is barking, "If I don't get everything by 5 p .m., your June issue will be late! Hurry, hurry!'' How would you resolve these thorny problems? *We've just received word that a major manufacturer is on the verge of going out of business. The president of the company pleads with us to not print anything yet. ''Give us some time to straighten things out," he begs. "If you make it known that we're in dire straits, operators will avoid us like the plague-which will surely kill us." Would you A) Do as he asks and hold off? B) Go with the story now, knowing that operators might be saddled with product from a soon-to-be-defunct company? C) Print the story, but in such a way that the situation doesn't sound as bleak? Remember, this is our largest advertiser. * An operator who talks to you at every trade show, buys you drinks at the bar, and generally is a big supporter of the magazine has been busted for possession of copied PC boards. His route is littered with the contraband kits. "I know this is newsworthy, and that you've printed stories like it in the past, but can't you suppress this for old-times sake?' ' he asks. ''If this gets out my name will be mud, not to mention the embarrassment it'll cause my wife and kids. Please don ' t print it." Again, what would you do? Obviously, you don't want to cause this man any more pain. On the other hand, as a trade magazine committed to the ideals and ethics of journalism, is it not our duty to report items such as this one? Make a decision; it's 3:45 p.m. * You get word that a kindred journalist, the highly respected Lou Perfidio of Vending Times, has been arrested for inciting a riot at a Public Enemy concert in New York. Being a likable guy, but misguided about rap music and its merits, would you A) Print the sordid details of his arrest, hoping it would make him see the light? B) Leave it to RePlay to report, feeling superior in the knowledge that Play Meter would never rat on a member of the writing fraternity? C) Run with the story, but sugarcoat it a bit? ("Sure, he got arrested, but give him a break. He is, after all, originally from Philadelphia.'') This, dear readers, is what real professionals face. "It's part of the territory, crawfish breath!" you counter (I had to mention food somewhere). Maybe so. All I ask, however, is that when we find out about your questionable behavior, don 't call asking for slack. The women here are ruthless . D Christopher Caire News Editor