In many of the online forums I frequent debate rages over the practice of “ghost tweeting”–communicators who work either within a corporate environment or on a contract basis to maintain the accounts of their bosses or clients. It’s the type of activity that has been going on for years in the corporate and political world. As director of corporate communications in the energy and health care industries, I’ve frequently been the “voice” of CEOs, executives and other spokespeople. It’s common and accepted practice, at least among communicators and those they speak on behalf of… But, what about the “uninformed public” and often misinformed media, particularly “citizen journalists.” Do they know who they’re really listening to and who they may be quoting? Does it matter? Continue reading “Ghost Tweeting: Who are you really listening to? Do you care?”
Tag: ethics
Don’t Believe Everything You Read…Especially Online!
When I was a kid my dad frequently told me: “don’t believe everything you read.” This was most often in response to some nugget of information I chose to share which he didn’t believe. However frustrating this was to me as a child (and it was very frustrating!), I’m sure it played a large part in shaping what I consider my “healthy skepticism” about most things (and what others, I’m sure, generally find simply annoying). At any rate, this advice came to mind recently when I read a story about a San Francisco-based plastic surgeon who had made some egregious medical errors and yet Continue reading “Don’t Believe Everything You Read…Especially Online!”
Do You Believe Everything You Read? Be Careful Out There
Bloggers Beware!
The FTC recently issued guidelines whereby bloggers could be fined up to $11,000 for plugging products/services – e.g. making endorsements – for which they had been paid or compensated in some way.
That’s an important move toward establishing some credibility in an online environment that Continue reading “Bloggers Beware!”