Microsoft Ad Campaign ‘People Ready’ - Paid Bloggers
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Some dust is being kicked up about a group of bloggers who have accepted payola for endorsing Microsofts ad campaign named ‘People Ready’. The particulars of the indiscreations are being batted around blogger land and some well known journalists have chimed in their thoughts. But the community as a whole seems divided on the subject if ethics for bloggers should apply the same as it does for journalists.
So I went to the Society of Professional Journalists located here and found this on their site in reference to ethical behavior:
Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
IMO I think that is it up the blogger if they wish to follow the rules of the game or not. I also believe that the public is smart enough to smell a ‘rat’ and know when they are being deceived or not, and have a general sense about what they read and who wrote it.
But what do you think?
Comments welcome.
Complete gory details here.
[tags]microsoft, ad, campaign, bloggers, paid, [/tags]
2 Comments
shadowmyth
June 27th, 2007
at 11:44am
Bribes for endorsement are not only wrong, but undermine the originating sources reputation. It is redundant that Microsoft is taking this route in an effort to improve their reputation. If they had a lick of sense, they would focus on the new technological advancements they have been working on, and finally accept the fact they are headed downward in the software industry. No one stays on top of a market forever, but a smart company will learn to ride the waves instead of dominate them. If Microsoft had since the beginning of the open source movement embraced it with open arms, they could have advanced themselves, and their competitors. Greed is something that cannot prosper indefinitely. Microsoft needs to wake up and realize it is the people that make them rich, and the people that can ultimately take them down. No one wants to support a company they can’t trust, or be a victim of price gouging. The open source community has proven that communal endeavors can provide far superior products than capitalist projects. The importance of being the richest, staying on top, etc., is only a sign of deep ego and insecurity issues.
If Microsoft wants to stay a powerful force in the computing industry, they need to let go of their selfish attitudes, and learn to share. Lying isn’t going to get them anywhere.
Ron Schenone
June 27th, 2007
at 4:18pm
Hi shadowmyth,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. They are appreciated.
Ron