Gag Orders In Watch Town

Shamelessly borrowed from the worldwide infoweb

Without putting too fine a point on it, it would appear that the efforts to try and keep the press and media of Watch Town compliant (i.e. "Shut up, and type!") seem to have hit a wall. And while the full impact remains to be seen, it is pretty shameful to see the efforts to silence the voice/s of honest and objective coverage.

Now, being a proud member of the original wave of journos told to get stuffed over ten years ago, it is curious to see the lengths that the big dogs will go to ensure that Watch Town's Fourth and Fifth Estates remain compliant. I can hear the response now from the PR Mavens (internal and external) carrying the water for the big brands, extolling the importance of their exclusive editorial curation in the ongoing Kabuki theatre of the absurd that passes for PR / brand communication.

I get contacted every February by about 10 or so brands asking if I will be at Watches and Wonders. And every year? My answer is the same - I did not receive an invitation. It used to worry me, but in truth? I no longer care. 

But what is now curious is the outright open hostility between a few of the groups and a few journalists that has bubbled over in the past few days. Because what this does is illustrate just how short-sighted and foolish the effort to silence this perceived dissent is. The outcome has been just the opposite of what the big dogs want - it actually amplifies how hypocritical their chiefs are being, and encourages open criticism of their cronyism. More concerning? It ensures that the smaller brands (that are now beginning to overpopulate a previously exclusive ecosystem) will now lose out on having some of the better watch writers and commentators visit their booths. Booths which these other, smaller brands have spent a shit-ton of money on. 

On the US side of Watch Town? Don't worry! Hodinkee, Worn & Wound, and A Blog To Watch will have 10 invites each for their outlets, ensuring that almost nobody else will be getting one ; ) 

And the best part? You won't have to read each outlet, because you'll get pretty much the same rundown whichever you choose ; )

Let's just see how that same strategy plays in Europe...