...I always say it's a writing job. If my lack of anonymity compromises my writing, if it becomes less convincing, I will be sacked. End of.
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 30, 2013
Following New York magazine critic Adam Platt's decision to reveal his identity, UK critic Jay Rayner voices his approval over Twitter. Rayner — who appears on television and whose photograph runs alongside his reviews — writes that he has "yet to find a bad restaurant which becomes a good one because I arrive," echoing a previous argument he has made in favor of unanonymous reviewing.
Rayner also points out other practical considerations that make anonymity difficult. In one tweet he says that restaurant reviewings is not a full time job, meaning he has "to do other things, which compromise that anonymity." He adds that if being unanonymous "compromises" the quality of his writing, he will get fired. While Rayner clearly feels Platt made the right decision, he does note that anonymity has its upsides, like how famously anonymous UK critic Marina O'Loughlin "get[s] the skinny on crappy service in a way I cannot." Check out the tweets below:
1/2 @plattypants abandons restaurant critic anonymity http://t.co/VsNuD1X9Wp for obv reasons I agree with what he says. That said...
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 30, 2013
2/2 I do sometimes envy the true anonymity of my colleague @MarinaOLoughlin She does get the skinny on crappy service in a way I cannot...
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 30, 2013
3/3 ...The benefit she gets is only I think a small part of it. And I also get crappy service despite being recognised.
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 30, 2013
Re my own lack of anonymity... I am, to quote a colleague, yet to find a bad restaurant which becomes a good one because I arrive. 2ndly...
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 30, 2013
The restaurant column by itself while a nice gig is not a full time job. I have to do other things, which compromise that anonymity. 3rdly..
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 30, 2013
...I always say it's a writing job. If my lack of anonymity compromises my writing, if it becomes less convincing, I will be sacked. End of.
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 30, 2013
· @jayrayner1 [Twitter]
· New York Magazine Critic Reveals His Identity [-E-]
· All Critics Coverage on Eater [-E-]
