New York Times Travel Writing Policy, NY Post's Page Six

I read Page Six of the NY Post today with a little smile; only because I knew some emails would come in today. The topic about the NY Times policy about travel writers taking press trips has come up at frequent dinners over the years. The Times doesn’t accept pieces done while on press trips. Indeed I was told that if you were ever on one there is a big blacklist you are on. I personally do not care, while it would be amazing to get in the Sunday Travel Section it has never been a goal.

The reason I was interested in the Page Six piece was because it was about the Times perfume critic, Chandler Burr passing out free samples at a dinner of fine French perfume, he got for free. It happened to be a perfume that he gave a five star rating to in a recent review. The rebuttal that I frequently hear about the policy is that it only pertains to freelancers. Many times I have run into a writer that uses the, “Don’t ask don’t tell”, policy. Mine is do what you feel is right. I am still holding on to my position that any publication has the right to their own policy, even if you think it stinks