I just read an article on Adotas the trade blog for interactive advertising that addresses the question of Celebrity Bloggers and the new FTC guidelines that cover revealing any sort of paid endorsement of any sort 
of product.
OK, I can understand the guidelines - in my book it is ethical and something that I have always done, whenever I endorsed any sort of relationship - fully disclose what's in it for me.
Well, if you want a chuckle I suggest you take the time to click through the link above and read the relatively short article that addresses the issues of celebrity endorsements.
Apparently actress Gwyneth Paltrow did a nice endorsement for a hotel where she was allegedly comped with a free stay, but did not disclose that in her blog. Daily Finance reporter Jeff Bercovici asked Rich Cleland, associate director of FTC's advertising division, "what's up with that? Wasn't she in violation of the guidelines that were stamped into law recently? Shouldn't she at least get a slap on the wrist?"
Cleland apparently wasn't very concerned suggesting that celebrity endorsements are different than the average Joe on the street. He said, "It is one of the issues where celebrity endorsements are a little different than person-on-the-street endorsements.... Would consumers understand that celebrities are always getting free stuff? It's a factual question."
FAMOUS PEOPLE ARE PRESUMED...
So, I guess, as a society, we expect whenever someone of any importance or celebrity status opens their mouth for any reason that they are being paid for it and because of their status and our assumptions they don't have to follow the
If you read the article in the link of the first paragraph, you'll find information that may lead you to believe that the guidelines are "toothless" and have no real standards, rules or fines and the author believes that calling them "guidelines is a stretch".
So, I get recognized on the street from time to time because of my Internet presence...do I now qualify as 'famous' and not have to divuldge that I am offered a free meal for a good review on my blog?
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