Blogging issues (Crisis & Ethics)

Companies & their PR agencies are getting savvy (Jim Allchin meets bloggers) in the way they handle influential bloggers, which raises full disclosure & ethical issues for bloggers. A well written article by Rebecca Buckman in WSJ highlights the these issues. (here's the other side of the story)

Anonymity is a desirable feature in blogging. I do not think "credible" and "anonymous" blogger/blogging is an oxymoron. That said clearly people (anonymous or otherwise) should be able profit from their "influence", why should it be restricted to movie stars, athletes, models...

As long as one is not crossing legal boundaries (insider trading, contractual confidentiality etc.) I do not think the ethical issues are as simple as straitjacketed "full disclosure".

As bloggers wade through these issues corporates have to prepare for the consequences. Link to an interesting article on the Economist.