for W3c validation

The LA Times has an interesting article (subscription required) regarding the subject of blogging for dollars — and more specifically, companies like PayPerPost who pay bloggers to mention paying advertisers.

Discussion on the topic:

• Jason Calacanis – thinks paying bloggers to post about certain companies is deceptive marketing
• Center for Citizen Media – those bloggers that accept payment are polluting media ethics
• One by One Media – compares pay for post to product placement in movies and television
• Social Media – bloggers should disclose everything in each post

I 100% agree with Jason on the fact that what is described in this quote from the LA Times article is unethical (pay attention to the last sentence):

Blogger Colleen Caldwell rants and riffs about whatever strikes her fancy – a run-in with her child’s school principal, the rising price of Girl Scout thin mints, an upcoming movie that caught her eye.

“Has anyone out there read a book called ‘The Ultimate Gift’? I just heard that a movie is being made of the book (which sold 4 million copies),” she wrote in a recent post on her site, Simple Kind of Life.

The 30-year-old software analyst from Brooksville, Fla., went on to praise the inspirational message of the Fox Faith film, which opens today, about a trust fund baby who discovers the joy of giving. Caldwell noted that each member of the opening-weekend audience was being allowed to direct a dollar of the ticket price to a charity of the filmgoer’s choice.

One thing Caldwell didn’t mention: She was paid $12 to build buzz about the movie’s opening and the charitable campaign

I think marketers are cheating the system by not blogging themselves. If marketers want into the blogosphere — they should take the time to blog themselves or pay for banner ad impressions on blogs targeting their target markets. Blogging works BECAUSE it’s pure, honest & transparent — I hate seeing bloggers that don’t abide by those ethics. So, YES, I think blogging is getting ruined by advertisers paying for mentions in the actual content of posts.