Anthony Parcero has posted some in-depth thinking on how PR and blogging can live together in harmony.
He fears that there is a danger that independent blogs will be replaced by a glut of corporate or marketing blogs and that as a result much of the value of blogging might be lost.
I am paraphrasing Anthony here, you should have a read of his posting.
For what’s it’s worth, I don’t think independent blogs will die. I believe that marketing people have an inherent difficulty in (to lift a phrase from the Cluetrain) speaking with their audience via a conversation.
Just look at the recent attempts of marketers/PR people to influence bulletin boards. The simple fact is that the most effective blogs are those written by knowledgeable people, who care about the subject.
As a result the most successful “corporate” blogs to date, are those written by experts in those companies, not puff pieces written by their marketing or PR folks.
Consumers will, in most cases, spot fluff. That’s why blogs are so successful. It’s self-regulating. If you are relevant people will read. If you’re simply pushing product messages with no value you will fail.
The quicker we all recognize this the better for all.
Murphy's Law 