That said, people who go to press events to drink and eat, and never intend to write a word, shouldn’t be working IMO. I’m all for honesty and integrity, and never lie to a PR, but never promise them coverage either.

If you feel obliged to write about something just because someone in marketing (a sleazy occupation that gives me shivers just thinking about it), bought you a steak, then you are basically just a meat eating whore.

I’d have to say, “Gratitude, Please”. I haven’t done anything along the lines of a press event for a game, but I used to organize conventions and did once-overs on press interview events for guests of honor in the industry. Some publications were very gracious about the time, while others made it seem like they were doing US a favor by being there.

I get that there is a symbiotic relationship between the press and companies, but even a big press entity is there on the company dime. Just like you’re supposed to say thank you at the dinner table when you were a kid at someone else’s house even if the dinner was McDonald’s, it doesn’t hurt to give a thank you to the person or person(s) who gave you the opportunity to gain an exclusive or credibility to your rag, online or not. I see a lot of write-ups missing this more often than not, and all I have to do is scratch my head and wonder who taught them basic manners.