Let me start off by telling you about this great new podcast
Media Hacks. Some of the coolest kids from
PodCamp get together and talk about the social media “space”. In case you are un-aware, the social media “space” is the “space” where people go online and talk. That’s it. Whether it be a blog, podcast, vlog, or social network… it’s all about open online dialogue. (email is not in the “space”)
Here is some background for complete transparency. I heart
Julian Smith,
Chris Brogan,
Chris Penn, and
CC Chapman. So when they talk in this show, I listen. I also have a great respect for the rest of the cast and
Mitch Joel who is the organizer of the show. Mitch is a hardcore marketer who does the social network/media thing, but is always looking for the value social media has for him and his company (good for him). This makes Mitch a knowledgeable source for how to use and work the “space”. Check out his regularly updated podcast at
Six Pixels Of Seperation.
After listening to the first episode I really got annoyed with Mitch’s stance on blogger relation campaigns. Mitch is of the opinion that in order to have value to your readers as a blogger you must keep journalistic standards and not take anything for free from companies. Something about integrity and standards for blogs.
Mitch… friend, you are not a journalist. So why are you holding other people in the “space” to that standard?
I was thinking about it this morning and I realize that journalist’s standards were created for people who were paid to report about a specific subject. Journalist are “ethically” not allowed to be involved with the subject of what they report about, so much so that they are dis-inclined to hold stock in companies related to their beat or subject as well as to be a part of the subject industry groups. These ethical standards are to control bias in the reporting both positive and negative.
Unless you are being payed to report about a subject, you are not a reporter and your bias is going to play a role in your participation in the "space" whether you are taking free stuff or not. Actually, I think taking free stuff or money is the easier part of the ethics issue, it’s clear and simple. Take the stuff and you are showing bias. But what about not taking the free stuff, what about not reporting about negative things, what about not reporting about companies you would like to gain as clients?
It’s what you are not saying that is also very important as a journalist. Seeing as Mitch is in the “space” and does not want to piss off current or potential clients I think he is going to be dis-inclined to talk trash about either group. So, Mitch… have you ever blogged/podcast; trashing others for bad content or poor use of the “space” when this would effect your business? I suspect you have not, hey you are a smart guy….( I know I cannot bad mouth companies that will bring me business)
I think that bias is a part of the “space”. Taking free stuff and not talking trash is a part of the “space”. But like Chris Brogan points our, online relationships to your readers is about
trust and transparency. In order to gain trust you must be clear about where you are coming from and what you are doing. You cannot take free stuff and act like it’s not going to bias you a bit. You cannot talk about your field of interest and not feel pressured not to talk about the flaws of companies within your field because of retribution or possible job opportunities lost in the future.
So the “space” is not a completely open and honest conversation beholden to journalistic standards. But what public conversation has anyone ever had that was truly open an honest?
