Stephen Baker at Blogspotting asks:

Now that we’re opening up the process and making things more transparent, is it OK to blog our interactions with PR? This would give more perspective on how companies are pitching their line and positioning themselves. My feeling is that blogging pitches is OK, but journalists should make it clear that the conversation is on the record. Otherwise it can look and feel like an ambush.

I rarely blog about companies pitching story ideas because I have enough ideas of my own. But if decided to write a blog entry based on a PR pitch, I’d probably disclose that fact.

Public relations companies are in business to make money for themselves and their clients, so they should feel no shame if a blogger they pitched blogs about the story and the pitch. It’s simply more publicity, and I’ve learned through my blogging years that there’s no such thing as “bad publicity.”

Unrelated Update: Friend and fellow blog consultant Paul Chaney is blogging from a conference called BlogAsia. The world of business blogging is becoming more interesting every day.

Blogger Darren Rowse calls out another blogger he says is using content without crediting the source:

Have a look at Blogger Tips (no follow tag used) - a blog that is filled with either posts that are ‘free articles’ or other people’s content. In both types of posts there is no credit given to the original author.

I’ve got nothing against using free articles (I don’t think its the smartest way to build a blog) - but this blog isn’t even crediting them. Free articles are able to be freely posted on your blog - but you’re obligated to include a signature with a link to the author.

Content stealing is probably more common than people realize.

(Hat tip: Blog Herald)