Re: ONLINE-ADS>> $1,027 - the price of journalistic ethics?

Kathy E. Gill (kathy.gill_at_boeing.com)
Wed, 31 Dec 1997 16:33:41 -0800

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"Mark J. Welch, Esq." <markwelch_at_ca-probate.com>
> I nearly choked on my sandwich while reading InfoWorld
> today during lunch. There, on page 55 of the current
> (Dec. 22/29) issue, was praise in the editor-in-chief's
> column for Bob Metcalfe, for his October column in
> which he plugged CyberGold.

Whoa! I share Mark's concern about the ethics of this practice.

Of course, there's also the possiblity a person gives a software or
hardware product a favorable review -- but they don't tell you that they
own stock in the company? I mean -- how many writers/editors/publishers
of PC rags own Microsoft or Intel stock???

I was educated as a journalist -- but I've spent my career being amazed
at the laxity of disclosure/ethics in the 'speciality business' press.
That was before the Net.

I have a friend who is a political reporter -- he's so concerned about
conflict of interest that he is NOT registered to vote.

I firmly do NOT believe that bob or infoworld should have benefited from
the column. Jeez -- he even used his INFOWORLD e-mail address!

If Bob wrote a promo piece on HIS own website -- then yes, more power to
him to generate traffic to his site (that's what InfoWorld did for his
column -- who else pays the promo fees, Bob or InfoWorld?) AND
subsequent $ for referrals. I don't see that as being any different,
really from being an Amazon.Com associate. But this was a regular column
in an established publication! I can't believe that InfoWorld condoned
it, much less PRAISED it! Can you see the Wall Street Journal or the New
York Times doing this? Please, say no ...

Kathy E. Gill
keg_at_dotpargon.com
http://www.dotparagon.com/
http://agriculture.miningco.com/

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