Paying bloggers to make up fictional testimonials: ethical or unethical

[mandy]

"Has anyone out there read a book called 'The Ultimate Gift'? I just heard that a movie is being made of the book (which sold 4 million copies)," she wrote in a recent post on her site, Simple Kind of Life.

The 30-year-old software analyst from Brooksville, Fla., went on to praise the inspirational message of the Fox Faith film, which opens today, about a trust fund baby who discovers the joy of giving. Caldwell noted that each member of the opening-weekend audience was being allowed to direct a dollar of the ticket price to a charity of the filmgoer's choice.

One thing Caldwell didn't mention: She was paid $12 to build buzz about the movie's opening and the charitable campaign — bringing her blogging-for-dollars take to more than $7,700...

full article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal...7465.story

The other side of the story:

PayPerPost is an online marketing company that allows advertisers to pay bloggers for product mentions and reviews. The company has received negative press from bloggers, including myself, who consider the practice unethical. I decided it is only fair to give PayPerPost an opportunity to address these concerns and tell their side of the story.

full article: http://blog.valuewiki.com/2007/03/27/int...c-dan-rua/

[jezebel]

ethical or unethical

unethical