Call me what you will, but I am not a “sell out.”
That label, though, is being thrown around the blog world like spam e-mail and it has finally hit us mothers.
“Mommy blogging” has taken off in the last five years, and many moms turn to popular mom blogs to get advice on parenting issues such as potty training and discipline, and to read product reviews for kid-friendly items, from cereal to strollers. The ethical problem comes when bloggers start doing daily posts that turn into internet PR for the manufacturers rather than the advice, stories and personality that are the blog’s true substance. Along those same lines, readers may not be clear about what products the blogger genuinely likes and uses of their own volition, and those products that bloggers are merely being paid, or at least given free merchandise, to review.
The debate over the ethical side of blogging came to a climax at the BlogHer conference, held last month in Chicago, with bloggers joining to form a new blog about how to keep blogging to its’ truest form, called Blog With Integrity. Yes, a blog about blogging. Bloggerific. However, as a result of the site’s efforts, hundreds of bloggers have signed a pact vowing to disclose to readers which posts are true content, and which are paid advertisements.
As a blogger myself, I never accept offers from companies if it means using a product that I would never truly buy, and if I dislike a product, I do not hesitate to tell my readers. As a reader, it has been fairly obvious to me which product reviews are done because the blogger truly would normally use the product and if it falls into their blog genre, or if it is a product that is appearing on multiple blogs and is not something that would even have been on the blogger’s radar. For example, if a vegan mom blogger is suddenly promoting a new line of beef jerky, I’m going to get suspicious. As a result, there have been times when I have chosen not to return to a blog that I feel is no longer giving sincere, unsolicited content.
Maybe these bloggers are getting free blenders and jerky, but if the cost is readers, perhaps it’s just not worth it.
Comments
PunditMom
September 1st, 2009 - 6:28:01 PM
Thanks for mentioning my blog, but I must set the record straight in terms of my content. I do not write about parenting issues, potty training, child discipline nor do I write product reviews of cereal or strollers. While I have a small seperate review blog for books and a few other products, PunditMom blog is a site where I write about the intersection of motherhood and politics. Current events is the focus of my blog and I tak exception to the suggestion that PunditMom blog is somehow a site that is a place for product promotion. If that is your thought, I suggest you revisit my site and take a better look.
PT-LawMom
September 1st, 2009 - 8:13:39 PM
I have to agree with PunditMom. Her content is consistently original and thought-provoking. I think you've missed the mark by citing her as an example of a "sellout". She is anything but.
Meghan
September 1st, 2009 - 8:20:39 PM
I'm going to assume that you never actually read Punditmom's blog, or that you mistakenly listed Punditmom when you meant someone else...
Diana
September 1st, 2009 - 8:31:00 PM
Just another comment to "vouch" for PunditMom, her blog is far from being about potty training and product reviews. Linking is and always has been an integral element to participating in the blogging community but linking to a blog you've blatantly mis-characterized is much less participation and much more akin to the spamming PR pitches the very community you're writing about is trying to get away from.
Cynthia
September 1st, 2009 - 8:31:24 PM
My gosh! You can influence a lot of people here and this post is so unfortunate. Punditmom is a highly respected political observer and writer, and her perspective is invaluable. I would urge you to do a full post, not just a comment, to correct this. You wouldn't want someone to do it to you.
Veronica
September 1st, 2009 - 8:32:08 PM
WOW...You so didn't read PunditMom's blog since she rarely writes about parenting issues like potty training. Rather she is a leading voice on parenting issues like health care reform and pay equity. PunditMom is the kind of mom blog I think you would really enjoy.
BAC
September 1st, 2009 - 8:36:43 PM
Sarah, I have to question whether you have ever visited PunditMom -- which I visit to read her take on current events. I find it a bit ironic that in a post about ethics and integrity in blogging you would so misrepresent PunditMom's blog. BAC
Myrna
September 1st, 2009 - 8:41:16 PM
Of all the shoddy "review" blogs out there you choose PunditMom's site to use as your example? Based on what evidence do you make these assertions? I considered her a blogger with integrity well before the "Blog with Integrity" widget got passed around. Good grief.
Catherine
September 1st, 2009 - 8:55:24 PM
I'm here in support of PunditMom. You've misrepresented her blog, she is a blogger with great integrity.
BETTER Vacation Rentals
September 1st, 2009 - 9:01:06 PM
Please consider editing your blog post. This is shoddy blogging as PunditMom really is a "mommy blog" for thinking moms and does none of the sort of things mentioned in your post.
Liza
September 1st, 2009 - 9:04:16 PM
Is this a joke? Your post is surrounded by ads and links to shiny plastic product reviews, but you take issue with other people's blog integrity for reviewing products? People whose blogs you obviously don't actually read?
Jeni Hill Ertmer
September 1st, 2009 - 9:22:34 PM
Labeling Punditmom's blog as a "Mommy Blog" is akin to saying a loan shark believes in truth in lending and will not break your arms or legs if you miss a payment. How did you do your comparative research for this piece and by what method of logic did you come to the conclusion that this particular blogger is giving out advice on how best to raise children? A post like this would make me distrust any advice you handed out as being dishonest for sure. Definitely doesn't come under the umbrella of ethical blogging for sure!
Sarah Matheny
September 1st, 2009 - 9:27:49 PM
I am so very very sorry for the misunderstanding. I have removed the references to all specific blogs in this post. I referenced Pundit Mom merely because the CNN article I linked to in my story said that she one of the first mommy bloggers to sign the pact to blog with integrity. I am sorry that the context in which I mentioned Pundit Mom may have given the impression that she was doing anything otherwise. I feel terrible about this situation. Blogging while tending to the needs of a two year old and a four year old probably is not the best idea at times, but that is no excuse for any misconception I may have given my readers about Pundit Mom. Please accept my sincere apologies.
mom101
September 2nd, 2009 - 4:18:14 AM
As one of the founders of Blog With Integrity, thanks for mentioning the effort. As of the writing of this article, there are 1300 signers, not a few hundred -that was the statistic before CNN had written their piece. I also want to correct the implication that blogwithintegrity.com is for bloggers who do product reviewers or that we aim to to get blogging to "its truest form" - we do not. We make a strong point of saying that there is no one right way to blog and we make no judgments about blogs that are strictly product review blogs, provided there is transparency about the relationship. (Also, it's not actually a blog. It's a very rudimentary website.) A few more reasons it's good to actually click on direct links and sources instead of just analyzing a CNN article. Thanks for the correction on pundit mom - I'm a big fan of hers too!
PunditMom
September 2nd, 2009 - 6:32:59 AM
Yes, I was an early signer of the Blogging With Integrity pact, but I would have hoped you would actually have read my blog before characterizing me in such a way. Thanks to all the commenters for your lovely shout-outs and for standing behind my content!
Dreamy Breakfast « Leftovers For Lunch
September 17th, 2009 - 7:29:05 AM
[...] PS – had crazy blog-world dreams last night! Involving Kath and Jenna and Hallie! It was quite interesting, discussing how some bloggers “lose their blogging voice.” Maybe a result of my reading Sarah’s article on blogging yesterday? [...]
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September 23rd, 2009 - 10:47:25 PM
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Online Stock Investing
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