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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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 Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 1:18 pm Post subject: The incestuous world of bloggers and companies |
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http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2938602
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it�s accepted that popular bloggers are compensated in some way for their food, beverages and electronic device reviews by the people that stand to profit the most.
�Most bloggers who write reviews about beverages, foods and electronic devices receive around 100,000 won ($93.81) in commissions per review,� she admitted.
There are also freebies - of course, with strings attached. A popular social commerce site approached Chung, proposing that she use its deals for free in return for introducing one of the site�s deals every day on her blog.
Also, after she posted a critical review on a restaurant in Gangnam, the restaurant manager sent her a message offering her a free meal - on the condition that she write a positive review next time.
There are bloggers who enjoy such power. One restaurant owner told the Korea JoongAng Daily that he regularly gets calls from bloggers demanding a group table. They bring their families and friends, who are not bloggers.
These bloggers are also invited to exclusive events where products are showcased. They�re showered with products and services on the condition they write reviews to induce sales.
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Do you think any of the expat bloggers do this? It sure sounds like their "We love every restaurant/bar we review" philosophy comes with a price tag. The next time you try a restaurant, or a barber shop, or a recruiter at the advice of a blogger, or a pair of bloggers, remember that these kinds of tactics are common in the world of blogging. |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: The incestuous world of bloggers and companies |
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Isn't this the 2nd time you've posted this? Seems like a bit of a pet issue for you.
I don't bother with expat food bloggers because they just review places in Itaewon, Hongdae, and Gangnam...places any newbie can walk around and find a decent spot to eat. |
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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| It's not just bloggers; it's all journalists in Korea. See all those new product stories that are in all the papers--those are all accompanied by white envelopes and a free sample. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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| I think it is common worldwide. Can't trust blogs. |
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isisaredead
Joined: 18 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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| in other news, water is wet. |
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tiger fancini
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Location: Testicles for Eyes
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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| sojusucks has a new cause. Wonderful. |
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akcrono
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Nice article soju. Shame, because there's no real way to tell if a positive review is honest. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:50 am Post subject: |
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| tiger fancini wrote: |
| sojusucks has a new cause. Wonderful. |
This is big news in Korea. Ask your Korean friends. Just passing along the information. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:56 am Post subject: Re: The incestuous world of bloggers and companies |
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| nukeday wrote: |
Isn't this the 2nd time you've posted this? Seems like a bit of a pet issue for you.
I don't bother with expat food bloggers because they just review places in Itaewon, Hongdae, and Gangnam...places any newbie can walk around and find a decent spot to eat. |
First time I posted this article. In fact you could argue that expat bloggers are more influential than Korean bloggers because the expat community in Korea doesn't have much else in the way of media except online boards. |
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isisaredead
Joined: 18 May 2010
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:47 am Post subject: Re: The incestuous world of bloggers and companies |
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| sojusucks wrote: |
| nukeday wrote: |
Isn't this the 2nd time you've posted this? Seems like a bit of a pet issue for you.
I don't bother with expat food bloggers because they just review places in Itaewon, Hongdae, and Gangnam...places any newbie can walk around and find a decent spot to eat. |
First time I posted this article. In fact you could argue that expat bloggers are more influential than Korean bloggers because the expat community in Korea doesn't have much else in the way of media except online boards. |
what about one of the two lousy newspapers that i'm pretty sure every hagwon, university and public school gets?
i really don't take expat bloggers seriously, anyway. oooh, look at me - i'm living in a foreign country. i must share my wisdom with the world.
and then they all turn out pretty much the same.
besides, if you're using a blog for recommendations on where to eat, i think you've got bigger problems than blogger transparency. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:43 am Post subject: |
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Bascially most expat blogs are like journal entries.
I find them to be pretty irrelevant and sometimes passingly interesting if the blogger is able to go beyond him or herself.
Blogs CAN BE and ARE mostly useful to the bloggers friends and family as a place to keep in touch and share experiences.
Some long time expat bloggers have something to offer beyond the classic 'my perspective on Korea' but a lot of this is just someone who needs to get read and seen or someone who starts taking his blog too seriously.
Up to everyone to get what they want from these blogs. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:49 am Post subject: |
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Zen Kimchi and Seoul Eats are pretty solid, and the Seoul Eats guy is really good about disclosing when he's been invited and/or comped by the owner, and even in those situations seems willing to offer some negatives, though perhaps they're mere lip service.
As for this:
| isisaredead wrote: |
| besides, if you're using a blog for recommendations on where to eat, i think you've got bigger problems than blogger transparency. |
Care to elaborate? |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:32 am Post subject: |
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what about one of the two lousy newspapers that i'm pretty sure every hagwon, university and public school gets?
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Do you mean the Korea Herald and Korea Times? They are not expat media. They are Korean media in English.
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isisaredead wrote:
besides, if you're using a blog for recommendations on where to eat, i think you've got bigger problems than blogger transparency.
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Yes, the longer you are in Korea the more you should know but there are some who use blogs for information and others who do follow their recommendations. Hopefully, articles like these will open some eyes about the real nature of the blogger industry. |
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isisaredead
Joined: 18 May 2010
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:57 am Post subject: |
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| fair enough. |
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tiger fancini
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Location: Testicles for Eyes
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 10:30 am Post subject: |
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| sojusucks wrote: |
| tiger fancini wrote: |
| sojusucks has a new cause. Wonderful. |
This is big news in Korea. Ask your Korean friends. Just passing along the information. |
According to my Korean friends, the big news right now is about Technomart in Gangbyeon shaking, and the soldier who went nuts and blew away his comrades. Oh, and the olympic bid. None of the Koreans I know are talking about about this. |
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