Last week, I took a look at the ways in which blog writers have reacted to FTC’s proposed rule changes concerning blogger compensation, paid endorsements and gifts. The proposed rule changes led to a vocal outcry from many bloggers, and sparked a debate amongst the many voices writing on the web.
Shifting gears this week, I want to explore the reaction of newspapers and cable news outlets to the proposed changes. In particular, I want to see if these news outlets make any mention of the fact that traditional journalists are exempted from these new regulations.
Lets start with everyone’s favorite go-to news source, the New York Times. In an article dated October 5, 2009- Soon, Bloggers Must Give Full Disclosure. Most notable about this article is the tone it takes regarding the Internet and regulation. Whereas many blogs took issue with the FTC rules seemingly applied haphazardly to advertiser and bloggers, while not applying to traditional journalists, the New York Times article believes this move it intended to open the Internet to further scrutiny and regulations more in line with newspaper and television. The Times quotes Clay Shirky stating, “It crushes the idea that the Internet is separate from the kinds of concerns that have been attached to previous media.” The article takes the tone that bloggers days of receiving free products or sponsorships are over, and that it the new regulations will increase accountability amongst bloggers.
The blogosphere continues to react to the proposed FTC rules proposed on October 6th and set to go into effect December of this year, regarding disclosure of any goods or services that a blogger receives and reviews.
