Categories: OLD Media Moves

Businesses are blogging, but it's not journalism

The Chicago Tribune reviewed in the Sunday paper the growing phenomenon of businesses and other entities that have begun blogging on the Internet, trying to portray their opinions and views in an unfettered way. Among those blogging are General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz, who says he blogs “to correct what he considered inaccurate reporting about GM products in some of the biggest U.S. newspapers,” the article stated.

Greg Burns, the Tribune reporter who wrote the story, also said, “But not everyone thinks the medium’s ability to self-police can overcome more sophisticated put-ons, or identify covert conflicts of interest.

“‘A lot of this stuff that masquerades as honest information is being supported by somebody,’ said George Harmon, a business journalism professor at Northwestern University. ‘They’ve all got an agenda, and a lot of times it’s hidden. This is a new way of delivering the same old Shinola.’

“Nevertheless, corporations are expected to keep on blogging, seizing the new opportunity to communicate with customers and employees in a first-person, conversational style, as well as to advance their marketing strategies. Some bloggers definitely have connected, such as the organic dairy farmer whose manure-tinged musings have struck an authentic chord on behalf of food marketer Stonyfield Farm.”

Read the entire article here.

Recent Posts

Pacific Business News hires Meierdiercks as editor in chief

The Pacific Business News, an American City Business Journals publication, has hired Janis Magin Meierdiercks  as…

21 hours ago

Sifted reporter Nowshin departs

Sadia Nowshin, a reporter at European startup news site Sifted, is leaving to join literary…

22 hours ago

Variety promotes Shanfeld to TV reporter

Variety has promoted Ethan Shanfeld to TV reporter. William Earl of Variety writes, "Shanfeld joins the entertainment…

22 hours ago

Klimasinska named Bloomberg’s DC breaking news team leader

Kasia Klimasinska is the new team leader for DC breaking news at Bloomberg News. She…

24 hours ago

NYC event to honor Ledbetter is next week

  Paul Smalera has organized a gathering of James Ledbetter's friends and colleagues—open to all…

1 day ago

CoStar hires Scheier to cover San Francisco market

Real estate news service CoStar News has hired Rachel Scheier to cover the San Francisco commercial market.…

1 day ago