Peter Menkin http://www.jta.org/user/profile/70432 en-us zsilberman@washingtonjewishweek.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 I'm checking out Ben Harris' page on JTA, and though I am not the subject of the comment re being taken to lunch, here are some of my thoughts on this controversy. I never found being taken to breakfast or lunch as a writer so bad. It's kind of like working your way across the water in a ship. You get a few perks as a writer or journalist. I've not been bought off yet for a $10 breakfast or $50 lunch. They come too rarely these days, especially something more than $15. I did an interview with a Baptist Minister recently who took me to lunch. We had a good talk on what it is to give a sermon. I had a hamburger and fries. As Religion Writer for the San Francisco Examiner website, I have to report the hamburger was second rate, but the conversation first rate. Usually, when it comes to tickets to an event I review, I do pay my own. This just happens, as I feel less beholden to write if I change my mind about doing a piece. But if the event is out of my budget, I let them give me a press ticket. Again, I never shake the feeling I'm there on a job, not to entertain myself solely. I'm sure JTA has a policy. As a bank teller, I once got a gift of a bottle of wine for the holidays. I had the job part time. In other jobs, gifts of a modest kind are okay. As a writer, it is a work kind of thing and one doesn't do it for the pay of a lunch or dinner. A friend who is a lawyer also wrote on restaurants, doing reviews. She brought me along for company. I can't remember if it was a gratis deal or she paid. In any event, I didn't. There it probably wasn't as fair, but I was glad for the company and no one complained as it gave another opinion on the food. A subject about which I know little, but what I like. That makes my full confession. Peter Menkin Mill Valley, CA USA (north of San Francisco) 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00