Paul Jacobson

I write about a couple technology companies, their products and services in addition to a range of other topics which I am passionate about.  I do tend to fixate on specific companies, products and services and this does lead to concerns (and even allegations) that I may be overly biased to the point of taking on an unwarranted PR function for those companies.

I don’t believe this is the case at all and as I explained here, I admit to bias because I am passionate about the stuff I write about.  That bias could be in favour of or against the things I write about but it is there and it is up to you to decide how credible I am as a source of information and opinions.  I have taken a decision not to write about any company, its products or services if that company expresses any desire or intention of censoring me or otherwise unduly interfering with my posts.  I write what I want to write or not at all.

That being said, these concerns do highlight the importance of transparency so I have decided to publish a list of gifts or special benefits I receive, particularly from companies that I write about.  These may take the form of products I may be given or other benefits of substantial monetary benefit.  I’ll play it by ear which gifts or benefits may need to be disclosed so apologies for the inane ones.  This page was inspired, in part, by Jeff Jarvis’ own disclosures page.

1. Seacom (or its agencies) flew me to KwaZulu Natal together with a number of bloggers and journalists to visit the landing station in Mtunzini.  We were flown on BA in economy.
2. Nokia flew me to Dubai on 31 May 2009 to cover a media event.  I was flown business class and stayed at the 5 star Fairmont hotel.  Nokia covered my travel and accommodation costs.
3. Nokia has offered me a gift of a Nokia N97 as token of its appreciation for conducting the Search for N competition on this blog.  This is an extraordinary gesture and Nokia does not usually give gifts like this.  Nokia has made it clear to me that it does not wish to influence my opinions expressed in my posts in any way and indicated that I was free to refuse the gift without the risk of any prejudice.  I chose to accept the generous gift given Nokia’s respect for my freedom of expression and its stated intention not to interfere with my coverage of the company, its products or services.
4. I have been indirectly briefed by Nokia in my capacity as a lawyer and that work has been done in terms of my usual terms of appointment.  This work has been unrelated to my coverage of Nokia, its products and services on this blog.