Well said.

That's been my journalistic experience as well. The fact, unfortunate though it may be, is that a newspaper that people don't read (or a TV show that people don't watch, etc.) will not survive for long. And people don't want to read about stuff that works.

My first editor's word for what he wanted from me was "provocative." (At the time I was writing opinion columns, known in the trade as "op-ed" because they usually run on the page opposite the editorial page.) He wanted columns that would get readers stirred up, even indignant, but at least motivated to do something. A "see how nice X is, it works as it should" piece would not accomplish that.

So, much as dog breeders might regret the media fascination with dogs who bite people, and their lack of interest in dogs who don't bite people (unless they do something else newsworthy), they know they have to live with it. By the same token, we have to live with their equally unfair fascination with how FF programs don't work, usually ignoring the many ways in which they work quite well.

The good news is that, if the general public gets scared off trying to collect and redeem FF miles, it leaves more seats for us.

On that basis, Karen, go for it. Scare 'em off! Make sure nobody who reads your piece ever asks for an award seat I might want! Tell 'em we told you to, and tell 'em why!