That means you, too, bibliobloggers.
The Federal Trade Commission will require bloggers to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products. It is the first time since 1980 that the commission has revised its guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, and the first time the rules have covered bloggers.
That means if IVP sends you a book to review, you have to say so. I think, frankly, most bibliobloggers already do this. It’s the mommy-bloggers who are sent products to review that seem to be a little bit disingenuous when it comes to full disclosure. Shame on you pilfering deceptive mommy-bloggers!
What am I doing wrong? Nobody sends me books, ever.
By: Jona Lendering on 10/05/2009
at 14:34
well you’re certainly more interesting than *$)@**$ ! (name withheld to protect the overly sensitive)
By: Jim on 10/05/2009
at 14:47
I don’t review things on any of the places I blog, but publishers send me stuff anyway. If you don’t review it you don’t have to confess to receiving it.
By: Chuck on 10/05/2009
at 15:06
if they send it to you for review, shouldnt you send it back if you arent going to review it?
By: Jim on 10/05/2009
at 15:09
will apple stop sending me macs and toyota stop sending me priuses if i stop saying wonderful things about them?
By: bobcargill on 10/05/2009
at 15:29
i’d say that’s a safe bet.
even publishers will do that though (not all of them, mind you. i’ve said some things about some eerdmans publications and they continue to grace me. ive said some things about harper – collins though and been blacklisted). depends, i suppose, on the integrity of the publisher.
By: Jim on 10/05/2009
at 15:34
Do you foresee a problem with this? I note that McGrath, and others, have been publically attacked, either through their pastors, etc… because of their theological views.
Could this be used to hinder bloggers by those who don’t care for the blogger?
By: Joel on 10/05/2009
at 17:34
i’ve been badmouthed a good bit by folks and so know a good deal about this subject. and what have i learned? first, if folk don’t like you, so what? it’s not like the world is going to come to an end. second, if they really hate you but they keep reading you, it just proves they don’t really hate you at all. the people i dislike, i don’t read. do you? and third, the people who whine the loudest about posts are the ones most directly affected by them. so, for instance, if i post on child molesters and some dimwit defends that sort of behavior, i know i’ve touched a nerve. which says nothing about me, but everything about them. in sum, if naysayers have all that free time on their hand it only means that they don’t have anything productive to do and pretty soon they won’t even bother you anymore- they’ll move on to some new target.
By: Jim on 10/05/2009
at 17:43
I agree, Dr. West. I reckon my fear is that those kind moral police officers will use this against those bloggers who they do not like. Heaven help us if we don’t measure up with the vague rules in place.
By: Joel on 10/05/2009
at 18:11
ah dont worry about the thought police. usually they are cowards hiding behind anonymity. or if they use their own names, they’re nobody’s.
By: Jim on 10/05/2009
at 18:24
[...] Bibliobloggers, Review Books, and the FTC As others have already noted, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced yesterday that it has adopted a series of revisions [...]
By: On Bibliobloggers, Review Books, and the FTC « The Voice of Stefan on 10/06/2009
at 01:49