2 chapters across the catalog
An anecdote describes how IDG founder Pat McGovern allegedly used non-existent, ghostwritten personas to write scathing reviews of companies that did not advertise in his magazines. When the targeted companies complained, McGovern would offer to "fire" the fictional writer in exchange for an advertising contract.
Fake Columnists, Pat McGovern, Media Manipulation
John C. Dvorak recounts a story about IDG founder Pat McGovern using fake columnists in trade publications like InfoWorld. These fictional personas would write scathing critiques of major companies like IBM to provoke a reaction; when the companies complained, McGovern would "fire" the fake columnist to appease the advertiser, only to replace them with a new fictional entity to target a different company.
