No trip to Barcelona

This was followed by the expected "no". The matter could then be shelved.

It's not quite that simple: Ms. Nicola Leske, Head of Global Media Relations, personally tried to argue the denial of accreditation in an e-mail to me.

Unfortunately, Ms. Leske has no arguments! However, she adds in her letter that this "no" also applies to future SAP events.

And then came the sentence that was like an accolade for us. It wasn't just anyone who pronounced this ban: There is a board resolution!

This is a very gratifying recognition and award. Whether I get a free ticket to TechEd is so relevant that the SAP Executive Board is looking into it?

Ms. Nicola Leske wrote in her email:

"The entire SAP Executive Board supports this decision."

Thank you!

At the beginning of this year, we launched a semi-transparent paywall and expanded our service to include PDF downloads, tablets and smartphones. It didn't take long before the first call came in from Walldorf asking how we could get hold of the printed E-3 magazine?

Our answer: a paid subscription! As SAP obviously had no budget for our educational work, we soon received a second call with the same request.

We don't want to be spoilsports and have therefore decided that since September Walldorf, including the SAP Executive Board, will again be supplied with E-3 magazines free of charge - in return, of course, a free TechEd Barcelona ticket would have been a nice gesture.

But we remain modest:

The recognition of our critical and constructive information and education work by the SAP Executive Board is reward enough. Ms. Leske's predecessor assured me that the E-3 magazine has the same importance for SAP as the FAZ.

No matter how this situation is assessed, for me the SAP Executive Board's decision is the ultimate in recognition - a journalist could not wish for more.

The official recognition of our work by the entire SAP Executive Board will help E-3 Magazine enormously in its educational work with and for the SAP community.

It underlines and proves our independence and autonomy - it is a noble privilege and accolade.

Does the canceled educational trip to Barcelona result in an information deficit? Probably not, because E-3 Magazine has been around for over fifteen years. Only at the very beginning and during the brief reign of SAP Senior Vice President Hubertus Külps (Head of Global Communications) did E-3 Magazine have free and funded access to SAP events.

Mr. Külps also wrote the sentence that has often been quoted:

"The E-3 magazine is as important for SAP as the FAZ."

The current SAP Executive Board decision obviously confirms the importance of the E-3 Community magazine once again and perhaps even surpasses it. I can only say:

Thank you and don't be afraid!