Yes, in marketing this is called impressions which are created through product placements. Viewers are being subliminally influenced by those produce placements. As Xzibit said, YouTube requires full disclosure of all sponsors. Because NVIDIA isn't actually paying for the product placements in a lot of these cases, NVIDIA is encouraging YouTubers to skirt the YouTube rules but still get their impressions by applying sponsorship pressure.
I agree that there should have been some behind the scenes investigating before publishing it. btarunr no doubt agrees with that judging by the statements made in this thread. TPU is taking the flak because they're the first major publication to cover the complaint.
Right, and I get that, but let's look at TPU for a little while, most notably the reviews of specific products picked on the frontpage. Any outsider could easily
think it was no different here given the products picked out for review at times while others never get a mention. And until recently, the scores given out under conclusions of reviews could be more of the same too.
What I'm seeing, to be honest, is tech press (broad sense, not just TPU) being hypocrites because it may hurt their bottom line, and it happens all the time everywhere you go. If TPU is the actual exception to that rule, roll like GN and exploit that as a strength, don't remain part of the grey mass that can handily picks the side that generates the higher amount of clicks. Because in that sense, this whole ordeal is well deserved and, again, should be a big fat lesson for the future.
More investigating behind the scenes? No. Being honest and looking in the mirror, that is what tech press needs.
I'll never be able to prove anyone that I don't have an agenda. I woke up in the morning, logged into TPU 5 minutes after waking up (big mistake), saw a PMs from forum members about this story, and like a dog chasing cars I ran behind this story without due diligence. Unlike what some of you may think, I don't have a glamorous tech-journalist life, I've never been to a tradeshow on TPU's behalf, and almost all my hardware possessions are hand-me-downs from W1zzard who's been like an older brother to me in these past 12 years, because I run my house with the money TPU pays me (I have no other source of income). So someone in my position has two options that will satisfy everyone, and one option that won't satisfy everyone: 1. I can quit TPU and have no livelihood left. 2. I can kill myself (nobody has lulz over a dead person), or 3. Try to put my 12 years of experience and some 10,000 newsposts on the line, apologize to everyone (including you), and hope that life gives me a second chance to be better.
The agenda of picking and posting stories to maximize clicks. Are you saying it doesn't exist, now?
You won't find me accusing TPU of bias, if that's what you thought I meant. That is not the issue here. I take a stand against things that (may) hurt TPUs credibility. Its the same reason I don't like those CD key ads; even though I happily buy those keys for myself. Hypocrisy too, but I'm not a public figure, that's the difference here.
Beyond that, on a personal level; don't get too worked up about it, you did what you could to fix the matter, and I hope there have been lessons learned - not just for your person but for the aforementioned agenda.
