Ed Lee over at Blogging Me Blogging You has a hot post called, Ads On Blogs? The posting is based on a banner campaign from the CNW – Canadian News Wire which drives to an online game, The PR Game. CNW is trying to engage communications professionals through online gaming (it’s all the rage).and they’re getting this attention by placing banner ads on some key Public Relations professionals’ Blogs.
Some Bloggers have taken the advertising for the money, some have done it to see how ads perform on their site (research), and some have done it just to do it. All are valid reasons to run the CNW banners. The challenge is that there is still a stigma attached to Bloggers who run advertising.
Back to Ed Lee’s post, Ads On Blogs? I’d like you to run over and take a read, but make sure to view all of the comments as well. The reason I found Lee’s post so fascinating is that he does not hold punches (in this post or his other ones). It’s not like Lee is a high-level, revered PR practitioner (yet – he’s on his way) and he even calls out people who are his senior. I think that Blogging Me Blogging You is powerful because of this. His posts could hurt his career if it rubs someone the wrong way. His posts could offend (or provoke?) others, but Lee sticks true to the ethos of a valuable Blog: speak from the heart, have a human voice and write about how you really feel.
So who cares if a PR Blog is running ads or not? If you’re going to put those big questions out there, regardless of where you are in your industry’s food chain, think about Ed Lee and speak with candor, engage in the conversation and see where it can take you.
Advertising, Blogs And The PR Of It All
Posted by 
Never another podcast episode or article 
Does this mean I get a patented “Firestarter” blog badge?
In all seriousness, I’m not trying to call out the senior members of my profession, I’m simply trying hard not to accept everything on face value and question any (perceived) imparities.
I’m hopeful that in learning not to accept things at face value, I can be of better service to my clients, my employer and, ultimately, myself. If more people ask questions, probe, prod or try to see behind the curtain, it can only be good for the “conversation”.
And that’s what’s happened over at the post you referenced, people (friends and colleagues) are having a civilised conversation and debate about an interesting, highly subjective topic.
Ed
It dove tails perfectly with your posting, Nose Against The Window? – http://bloggingmebloggingyou.wordpress.com/2006/11/22/nose-against-the-window/
I just wanted to post about the issue and let people know that there are many levels to the new conversations. It’s the content and the story behind the content.
Damn skippy. Ed gets my vote too.
Regardless of whether I happen to agree with his POV or not, the fact that he has both an opinion and enough faith in his own voice to be willing to state it: that’s what makes his blog stand out.
Our business needs a lot more smart, assertive young practitioners of Ed’s calibre.