chris@que.UUCP (Chris DeVoney) (08/02/85)
In the August 5, 1985 issue of InfoWorld, David Beckerman, VP of Advertising, Radio Shack/Div of Tandy Corp, has a letter to InfoWorld. The essense of the letter is that John Dvorak's column, "Six Million Dollar F-- Up," appearing in the June 10, 1985 issue, was blazingly inaccurate. His points: 1. Four-letter words used by John Roach (Tandy chairman) reported by Dvorak is inconsistent with Roach's personal and business behavior (Beckerman has known Roach for 17 years). 2. The rumor reported by Dvorak of an additional price drop of $500 further hurt Tandy and Dvorak is making a malicious attempt to see how many more millions he can cost Tandy. (The article by Dvorak was about how a premature annoucement of the Model 1200 price drop cost Tandy $6M.) 3. InfoWorld sensationistic approach has hurt Tandy, from a cover story of "Radio Shack Tackles Its 'Schlock' Image" to the premature announcement of the Model 1000. Beckerman has instructed his media department to cancel all advertising contracts with InfoWorld and all other 60 CW Communications computer publications and for his Marketing Information Department to crease all communications with InfoWorld. He regrets taking these actions be sees no other alternative when the negatives of a relationship outweight the positives. InfoWorld's editors respond by saying Dvorak's column is popular, they have signed him to a new contract, it is understood by readers his column is gossip and not news, and they always try to check out a story but Tandy's policy of not responding to queries denies it an opportunity to deny the report. Before we go dashing off responses (hopefully to net.flames becuase I already feel the heat), read the original articles. Beckerman and InfoWorld express themselves very well and any condensation does not capture the sutlities. -- Chris DeVoney voice: 317/842-7162 Que Corporation uucp: ihnp4!inuxc!que!chris Indianapolis, IN #include <trademarks.all && disclaimer.all> /* you know what these are for */
john@moncol.UUCP (John Ruschmeyer) (08/03/85)
>From: chris@que.UUCP (Chris DeVoney) >Message-ID: <402@que.UUCP> >Organization: Que Corp, Indianapolis > >[...] >Beckerman has instructed his media department to cancel all advertising >contracts with InfoWorld and all other 60 CW Communications computer >publications and for his Marketing Information Department to crease all >communications with InfoWorld. He regrets taking these actions be sees no >other alternative when the negatives of a relationship outweight the >positives. This is especially unfortunate for owners of Tandy computers. One of CW Communications other Publications is 80 MICRO, the last of the general publications about Tandy computers, which covers it I/III/4 and 1000/1200/2000 series machines. The relationhsip between the magazine and Tandy has only been since CW bought the publication from Wayne Green, but seemed to be a good one with Tandy owners receiving the benefits. > >[...] >InfoWorld's editors respond by saying Dvorak's column is popular, they >have signed him to a new contract, it is understood by readers his column >is gossip and not news, and they always try to check out a story but >Tandy's policy of not responding to queries denies it an opportunity to >deny the report. Boy does this sound familiar. Wayne Green supposedly had a good relationship with Tandy, then he printed a few unfounded rumors and criticized some of Tandy policies and what happened... Tandy refused to admit the existence of 80 Micro. As they say, the more things change.... -- Name: John Ruschmeyer US Mail: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ 07764 Phone: (201) 222-6600 x366 UUCP: ...!vax135!petsd!moncol!john ...!princeton!moncol!john ...!pesnta!moncol!john Silly quote: Little boy, I don't care if your dog can talk. Please tell him this is a TARDIS, not a "Way-Back Machine".