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Corporations have begun hiring bloggers to put out their messages and to promote products, wrote Mary Jacobs in the ''Dallas Morning News''. Examples: "Stonyfield Farm Inc., a dairy products maker in Londonderry, N.H., hired a corporate blogger to write company-hosted blogs on nutrition and health as well as organic farming. [[Microsoft]] Corp. plans to hire bloggers to generate excitement about an upcoming product release. Electronic Data Systems Corp. of Plano last week launched its "Next Big Thing" blog at www.eds.com/blogs to discuss the future of technology." And [[Hill & Knowlton]], one of the world's largest PR firms, is encouraging its employees all to blog—after they pass a quiz. Question #1: "Why do you want to blog?" is multiple choice, with the following options for answers: a) Get promoted; b) Get noticed; c) Get fired; d) Get headhunted; e) All of the above; f) None of the above; g) I don't know. [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/careers/sales2/061905ccwcCareersSalesmain.2b0553b2.html]
== The PR Industry Goes Blog Watching ==
In an article posted to the ''Legal PR Bulletin'', [[Richard S. Levick]] of [[Levick Strategic Communications]] advises companies on how they can defend themselves against online critics. Levick warns: "It is only a matter of time before blogs become commonplace weapons allowing well-organized adversaries to both disseminate and preserve shrewder anti-corporate messages. One recent blog, for example, attacks a plan by FedEx to build a hub at the Piedmont Triad Airport in Guilford County, North Carolina. Guilford County is a sprawling community that cannot easily convene town meetings to debate development projects. The blog is a natural substitute. ... The FedEx experience is illustrative for a larger reason as well. NGOs have often been marginalized as radicals. But because blogs are pure stealth warfare, people who might never choose to ally themselves with activists are more susceptible to their messages." And "NGOs are but one possible adversary. Labor unions and plaintiffs’ counsel are others. ... Tactically, blogs pose far greater threats than any other kind of online attack." [http://www.prandmarketing.com/legalpr/news_virtualomnipresent.html]
==RedState Blogger Boosts Wal-Mart For Bucks==
PR giant [[Edelman]] has hired RedState.org blogger [[Michael Krempasky]] "for his ability to connect with conservative audiences," O'Dwyer's PR Daily reports. "Krempasky, on his site, refers to the Edelman gig as his 'day job' versus his blogging hobby. His first mission is to play up Wal-Mart Stores' contribution to Hurricane Katrina. The world's largest retailer, which had over $282 billion in sales last year, has donated a total of $17 million for hurricane relief and is opening up "mini Wal-Marts" in effected areas to distribute food, diapers, clothing, water and other items to those in need. According to Edelman, Krempasky's hire demonstrates the firm's "leading role in trying to harness the power of the blogosphere for its clients." [http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0921edel_redstate.htm]
==Related SourceWatch resources==
*John Quiggin, "[http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=afr&kw=John+Quiggin&pb=afr&dt=selectRange&dr=day&so=relevance&sf=author&sf=headline&sf=text&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=AFR050901O54EI662NPF Let a hundred blogs bloom]", ''Australian Financial Review'', September 1, 2005. (Sub req'd).
*Steven Warren, "[http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/columns/article.php/3547411 The Benefits of Corporate Blogging]", ''IT Management'', September 9, 2005.
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0921edel_redstate.htm Edelman Hires RedState Blogger]", ''O'Dwyer's PR Daily'', September 21, 2005. (Sub req'd).