Media have to pay to cover Zapiro's book launch

UPDATE: Apparently there has been some sort of a mixup regarding the Zapiro book launch. It seems as though there is someone from the PR company and Charity organisations involved with Zapiro didn't really know when the book launch was so instead she led us to believe that the launch was at her event which was a charity event and hence we were asked to pay.I am not 100% sure why the lady who we were in contact with didn't simply let us know that the Zapiro book launch is happening in Cape Town on the 27th November 2008 at 18:00 for 18:30. Recreation Centre, Pollsmoor Prison, Steenberg Road, Tokai.My thanks go out to Richard who represents Zapiro, for getting in touch with me personally and sorting things out. Either way I think the Zapiro book launch is going to be fantastic.On a side not: I still maintain that media should never pay to promote events or attend functions.I absolutely love Zapiro's work. I think the man is a genius and one of South Africa's great heroes. With that said, I think he has made a shocking error with his book launch.It is not clear whether Zapiro is calling the shots or whether his PR agency has completely and utterly lost their minds. Either way I am a bit shocked.To attend Zapiro's book launch as media is going to cost R200 per person. Crew of two = R400 for the event. I have done many weird, strange, odd, different and uncomfortable things in my time in the practice of journalism. I have NEVER paid to cover a story or promote an event.Zoopy was told to pay R200 per person to attend the event and were basically told that we should feel lucky because media gets a 50% discount. Really? Media get a discount, well gee-wizz-wow I am bowled over at your kindness.Direct quote from "events coordinator":

As per our discussion earlier, unfortunately we don’t allow any media to attend any of our upcoming events for free.Our normal price per person to attend the event is R427-50 including VAT, however we offer Media a discounted rate of R200-00 per person including VAT.Should you still be interested to attend the event, please contact me before the end of today and have your credit card details ready to process the payment online as we only accept payments upfront to pay the venue. Our system is set-up to only accept credit card payments when a booking is made 5 working days prior to an event.

So in return for our R400 Zapiro's book launch will get national exposure, a professionally produce media video and the possibility to be featured on some of the biggest news websites in the country. That sounds like a fair trade to me.I am sorry but I don't care if you are a journalism intern, the editor of the biggest magazine or Jeremy bloody Clarkson, media should not have to pay to attend any launch of any book that could aid in the sales of that book.Absolutely ridiculous.The frustrating thing is that Zoopy (and I am sure many other media organisations) have covered Zapiro launches and events very successfully and for free in the past:If you want to read Zapiro I suggest you visit Mail&Guardian online every day and have a look at Zapiro's free.Again I need to state that I think that Zapiro cartoons and all of his work is absolutely incredible, so don't make us pay to help you spread the word.