The Truth About The Truth About The Truth About Cars' Take About Newspaper Car Reviews

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

This "article" by Sam Moses appeared on an newsletter/website called autowriters.com, an Inside Baseball-type publication for automotive journalists. When I read the not-so-divine Mr. M's diatribe, I was more than slightly miffed. His rant completely misrepresents Frank Williams' editorial on automotive reviews in newspapers. So I called autowriter.com's main main, Glenn F. Campbell. I asked the publisher point blank if he'd actually read Frank's article. Nope. But that was O.K. because it's OK to publish someone's opinion, even if it is factually inaccurate or, in this case, devoid of factual justification. When I reminded Campbell that he's legally liable for libel (just to tweak his nose), Campbell didn't get it. "You said there were no facts cited so what could I check – to see if my opinions agree with Sam’s? Homogenous opinions would make a dull, narrow-minded Newsletter." And yet, that's what he's created. I've calmed down enough to see the unintentional humor of Mr. Moses' TTAC attack. Still, I think it's important for our readers to contemplate the full glory of what we're up against, day in, day out.

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Robert Farago
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  • Strippo Strippo on May 16, 2008
    If Moses is right about a pop-up ad for the Dodge Journey suddenly obscuring the text while he was reading the article - that’s letting the side down and definitely embarrassing. I do hate when that happens. OTOH, NCTD considers the Journey "a crossover SUV with big utility" and "with intelligent cabin design and the availability of family friendly entertainment features. For the young family on the go, the Journey will offer a pleasant ride, plenty of room, and enough storage and entertainment options to keep the kids occupied." Yet TTAC calls it cheap, forgettable, and doomed to failure (paraphrasing), alleged annoying ad notwithstanding. So I guess I'm not getting the joke Moses finds so funny.
  • Benders Benders on May 16, 2008

    I like TTAC because we can all read about every car's new features (in local newspaper reviews) that say this car has a retractable hardtop or a redesigned interior but TTAC is the only outlet that tells you if the retractable hardtop sucks or the new interior is dull and unwelcoming or if transvestites will hit on you in this car. And TTAC does it with the flair and daring wordplay the other reviews won't (mostly because you can't copy and paste 'flying vagina' if it doesn't appear in the manufacturer's press release). Mr. Moses seems to think that auto reviews should be nothing more than lists of numbers and available features. Any moron can do that. It takes real writing to write to people who actually seek out the 'good technical information' for themselves and know how a car stacks up on paper against the competition. And WTF is a Clog?

  • Jthorner Jthorner on May 17, 2008

    "to Mr. Moses’ reviews of the 2008 Jeep Compass, 2008 Dodge Durango or 2007 Cadillac XLR." I spent a few minutes trying to read them. Wow, his stuff is simply horrid. Typical of the manufacturer friendly pablum you find in the "Drive" advertorial sections of the weekend newspaper. And the writing, damn it's bad. I need to go read some Calvin and Hobbes strips to cleanse the mind.

  • Sherman Lin Sherman Lin on May 18, 2008

    It doesn't matter autowritersdotecom google rank zero SamMosesdotcom google rank zero TheTruthaboutcar.com googlerank seven I doubt if they attract as large an audience in a month what TTAC attracts in a day. I believe TTAC is possibly in the top 25000 websites which is phenomenal. TTAC is already the 800 pound gorilla that cannot be ignored. (Although they might pretend to ignore TTAC) It would not totally surprise me if Mr. Moses’ attack is simply a proxy for others who feel their meal ticket is perhaps being threatened.

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