Blogging, Double Standards, and Recommendations | Jessica Knows May 4, 2009
Posted by Jonathan Hewett in : delicious links , 1 comment so farJessica Smith responds to the WSJ article referred to by NYT (see previous post):
"Bloggers are being scrutinized for transparency and disclosure issues but the same “traditional” media that’s reporting on it? Pot. Meet. Kettle.
Case in point. I was recently quoted in an article in a major newspaper. While I wasn’t misquoted, what I said was grossly taken out of context.
I have a disclosure policy on my blog that says that I may have been compensated for some reviews. Let’s be clear here. Compensation has many definitions and unless I say the post was “sponsored” by someone? I did not receive cash. I received either a product or service for review. "
Blogging for cash (or cars) May 4, 2009
Posted by Jonathan Hewett in : delicious links , add a commentPaid-for editorial not an option, says Huffington Post — unlike others?
"But an article in The Wall Street Journal on April 23 made clear that part of that future was already here. According to The Journal, Jessica Smith, who blogs at JessicaKnows.com, has written for and about Wal-Mart Stores and Electronic Arts. In reviewing the Ford Flex crossover, she said, “It was love at first sight. The Flex also proved to make me feel safe and secure while bringing out the exciting and rebellious side of me at the same time.”
That’s just the kind of rebellion Ford can get behind, and they gave Ms. Smith a Flex crossover vehicle for a year and a gas card. If it turns out it’s not as much of a dream as she first thought, don’t look for Ms. Smith to write that up. She told The Journal she does not write negatively about products she is asked to review because “I choose not to be critical.” "
Virologist interviewee linked to anti-flu funding drive — Media Guardian May 4, 2009
Posted by Jonathan Hewett in : delicious links , add a commentPeter Wilby on swine flu coverage: "Several papers, and particularly the Daily Mail, gave prominence to Professor Nigel Dimmock, a Warwick University virologist, who warned "this has the potential to be bigger than Spanish influenza", the 1918 pandemic that may have killed 50 million worldwide. Dimmock, as no newspaper mentioned, founded a university spin-off company called ViraBiotech, which is seeking investment to develop "an entirely new method of protecting against flu" (I quote from a press release smartly issued by Warwick University last Monday, with a footnote admitting it was using "the current heightened global concern" to help raise funds). I do not suggest this influenced Dimmock's views in any way. But it would be helpful if newspapers informed us of these things."