Online Public Relations Thoughts

This is interesting news, if true. The Federal Trade Commission is considering whether to regulate bloggers who write about products and services. The FTC's thinking is that people have a right to know whether a blogger is being paid by a manufacturer to publicize a product or service. While the commentator is skeptical, I think it is a good idea. It protects credibility and people have a right to know. The commentator is correct in stating that traditional media reporters were often paid off in the past. Payola didn't end until Watergate when publishers and editors became concerned about gifts PR people were giving to reporters. There is little of that being done today. Of course, should the FTC make the regulation, the next question is how it would enforce it. There are millions of blogs and not nearly enough regulators.