03-08-2007, 10:52 AM
Quote:Microsoft has landed in hot water for hiring a writer to "correct inaccuracies" around several open source related documents on Wikipedia. McDonald's (among many others) has posted promotional images and messages under the guise of user-generated content...
There is a fine line between influencing the message and creating propaganda. While the practice of positioning paid promotional content as news or editorial or entertainment is hardly new, wikis, blogs and video-sharing sites have made it increasingly easy for companies to post information about themselves, their markets or their competitors without identifying themselves as the source.
What is appropriate in the new age of marketing where user-generated and community-generated are commonplace? When do brands go too far and what are the possible repercussions?...
full article: http://imediaconnection.com/content/13868.asp