In the past couple of months, we’ve been constantly getting invitations from local companies and interest groups to meet with them, visit their offices and possibly write about their services or products in our blog. This seemed a little new to me but it looks like there’s growing awareness of the blogosphere and how it effects perception on their products/services (even in a minuscule way).
I know heard this kind of arrangement is common among journalists who get to travel and bring home freebies from conferences and product launches in the hopes of getting favorable write-ups. Connie was actually pointing this out to me that one travel/lifestyle journalist had a note at the end of her article stating “Wanna be featured here? Contact me!”
Anyway, I’m not generalizing here or implying anything. I just though that while journalists are guided by their code of ethics or something, bloggers don’t have one. Still, like the issue on the Pay Per Post, bloggers should have some sort of disclosure clause added to their About section or something.
I think it’s good to have one — state your affiliations with companies, businesses you are involved with, or partnerships with other people or bloggers. That way, you are clear to write (read: pimp) about them since you’ve already declared your interests.
It is very true. I’ve witnessed and was involved in such activities during my work in the gaming industry. As much as I don’t like it, but that’s how the game/competition works.