Before booking our accommodation, restaurant or attraction tickets we tend to read reviews about the places first and a well written review helps with making our decision.
A REVIEW is a powerful tool not only for journalists but also for the consumer. Before the dawn of the Internet, they only way for a member of public to have their say about a service or company is by way of direct written or verbal communication with the service provider or company. Or a more drastic action of writing to the media or a regulating agency.