Bloggers who get gifts or money may have to own up

[Nostalgia]

I'm not a blogger, but the story below really amazes me.

 

First of all, it's the perfect example of 'me too' regulation - lets put in the same rule as some other regulator because we feel safer with precedent: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10269962-38.html

 

Secondly, the assumption here is that INDIVIDUAL bloggers have more influence than, say newspapers or magazines. When was the last time someone looked at the correlation between say, advertising dollars spent, and favourable reviews in magazines and newspapers? Car magazines and IT magazines come particularly to mind. What about premiums accorded by manufacturers to journalists when doing 'media events' and launches? Free airfare? Hotel? F&B? Night out?

 

It seems to me to be particularly narrow minded to target bloggers, of all people, if the point was to highlight 'corruption' and undue influence... After all, if I was looking to restrict something, wouldn't it be far more efficient to lay siege to an entire industry with a single rule (i.e. journalists should have clear disclosures etc) rather than to individually ferret out and regulate any of tens of thousands of bloggers?

 

Perhaps the restrictions are already there on the press. Would anyone in the know please comment?

 

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http://digital.asiaone.com/Digital/News/St...012-173058.html

 

Bloggers who get gifts or money may have to own up

Mon, Oct 12, 2009

The Straits Times

 

by Chua Hian Hou

 

BLOGGERS and users of other new media may soon have to say so upfront if they receive gifts or money for their write-ups.

 

The Media Development Authority (MDA) has said it is looking at stricter disclosure rules.

 

 

Its deputy director for development policy, Ms Yuvarani Thangavelu, says such regulations will protect consumers by enabling them to make an informed assessment about what they read.

Edited October 12, 2009 by Nostalgia

[Evoluzio]

Personally, I find that most such articles, or advertorials as some call it, are just one step below advertisements in the level of hard selling. Most writers come across as trying too hard, such that soft sell becomes hard sell.

[Nostalgia]

Personally, I find that most such articles, or advertorials as some call it, are just one step below advertisements in the level of hard selling. Most writers come across as trying too hard, such that soft sell becomes hard sell.

 

Yes, it's so blatantly obvious.

[Lex250]

how about those foodie programs on TV? A lot of these are actually paid for ... does TCS owe the public a duty to call it advertisement i/o packaging it as a prime time program??

[Sosaria]

Once again, underestimating the people's intelligence... if i read a food review in the newspapers, or hear about it on the radio, or see the programme on TV, I naturally have a very healthy suspicion about the authenticity of the coverage. Don't think people are dumb enough to believe everything that bloggers say, even media**** programmes also i only half-believe...

 

[Amuze]

That Steben Lim clown asks for donations in his website.

[Lex250]

Once again, underestimating the people's intelligence... if i read a food review in the newspapers, or hear about it on the radio, or see the programme on TV, I naturally have a very healthy suspicion about the authenticity of the coverage. Don't think people are dumb enough to believe everything that bloggers say, even media**** programmes also i only half-believe...

 

 

Very ture...gotto take most things with a pinch of salt these days....

[KapitanE]

posters in forums such as this one should say upfront if they are paid by the workshop, product seller etc when they write something good about them too... this is so that readers will not be misled into thinking that the reveiw was unbias......

 

 

 

[Jman888]

it is not what the blogger says about the product and be responsible for their statement, it is about the benefit they received. more and more coy switching some of their ad budget to blog, these costs were expense off by coy but no one declare income. hence they quickly impos this before the amount getting bigger (or iras lossing more!)

[Sosaria]

Ha ha... even letter-writers to ST Forum, yes, even the printed version in the newspaper. How do we know if a letter writer is a genuinely independent man-on-the-street who was moved or passionate enough to write in? Especially when they support or oppose a certain issue?

[Kwchan]

may be they just want the control? who knows next time want to setup blog must register with MDA first, so that MDA can trace you if you anyhow post in your blog

[1l0v3you]

That Steben Lim clown asks for donations in his website.

haha siao.

he is damn disgusting.

the only donation i'll give is a kick in the ass.

yuck.