Thursday, October 29, 2009

Bloggers should disclose “material connections” – yay or nay?

When you get a chance please read the link at the end of this post. It is an article detailing the Federal Trade Commission’s set of guidelines to bloggers that they show any “material connection” or financial benefit they are receiving for brands or products that they write about. Just like the society of professional journalist’s code of ethics these are simply GUIDELINES, the First Amendment prevents this from being law. I hope people will follow these guidelines as the public have a right to know in what way bloggers, they are following, are benefiting. Do you think bloggers, in great numbers, will follow these guidelines? Does anyone think it the subject of making such guidelines into laws should be debated?

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2009/tc2009106_866275.htm




9 comments:

Michael Sweeney said...

I don't think it should be made into a law, as it'd be stepping on the toes of the first amendment.

And I definitely don't think bloggers will follow this; at least not in multitudes. The blogosphere is too vast for rules and guidelines to encompass. Journalists are in paid positions and in the public eye - anybody can start a blog. I just can't see this catching on.

Alex.S said...

I agree with Michael.Not only will this law contravene the first amendment.

Bloggers have power to write about whatever they want. The purpose of creating a blog, and emerging as a leader in the blogosphere is all about imposing your beliefs amongst others.

I think if PR practitioners/ organizations, which offer bloggers benefits via promoting their product or service, is nobody else's business since anyone can create a blog- and generate discussion in the blogosphere.

Jeanette said...

Guidelines are important for an interactive society but they are just that, guidelines. I don't think these should be made into law because of the conflict with the First Amendment. And I am not sure in these difficult economic times, if someone can get financial compensation for blogging about a product, if they would be inclined to divulge that relationship.

Nicole said...

I think this is a good idea. If anyone has ever read the blogger Dooce, you will know what I mean. She makes apprx.$40,000 from her rants about organizations and such. She does not disclose which advertisers pay her so you never know if one of her rants is bc she is being paid for it or not. Ironically, because of this she is now one of the most influential women in media. Drives me nuts!!

valerie said...

I think having guidelines for bloggers exposing their compensation for advertising on their blogs, is a sound idea.Blogging has become such a popular and acceptable form of journalism ,it should be treated as any other media venue.
How else are we,as readers to know if their writings are swayed by a paid endorsement or unbiased opinion? Making this a law would be improbable, but having bloggers know that their blogs may be monitored , which i'm sure is also improbable, to determine if they were being compensated, they may have some financial or legal penalty for not disclosing this information, may help in the public being properly informed.
Like anything else we don't want to be deceived, and although blogs may have started as a personal diary business, it has evolved into a huge industry.Why shouldn't they be subject if possible to rules and disclosure of such information , which they are hugely profited from.

Crystal Y. said...

Dooce (as much as she drives me bonkers) is somewhat a decent example - and as a fledgling blogger myself I almost feel a lean towards my own right to publish and say what I want without any authority stepping on my toes.

That being said - part of me still agrees with the FTC. Why would I be afraid to disclose sponsorship from a company in trade for a few words on their product? It's only fair, besides to avoid that disclosure seems a little dishonest to me.

jkl said...

Honesty and credibility are big issues here. If you don't disclose and do this regularly, eventually your readers are going to figure it out or at least begin to doubt when you are offering a legitimate review/opinion versus peddling a product. Then your readership goes out the window.

It seems like the majority of bloggers are not being paid to advertise or endorse products, but for those who are, it just makes sense to follow these guidelines. By putting these out there, it helps to have an authority to look to as a jumping off point.

Chanda said...

Any law passed would be an infringement on the First Amendment, but there should be some form of disclosure. As Megan said, it becomes an issue of honesty and credibility. Any media outlet would have to disclose that kind of conflict of interest. Even infomercials let you know that you're watching a paid advertisement.

Bloggers should be held to a similar standard considering the mass media nature of blogging now. The public deserves to know if we are hearing a true opinion or just an opinion based on dollars and cents.

Jsmith said...

Interesting ethical question, I had never really given this much thought. I have to agree that I think people should disclose, but I don't think it should be a law. If they were to enact a law, I really don't think many bloggers would follow the letter of the law on this one.