Originally Posted by
freeloader
I get this, I think it makes perfect sense for the credit card companies. My point was that most of these bloggers blog about how great it is to "churn" cards... hit the bonus, and move on to the next ones (something that is obviously a money loser for the CC companies); some of the more reputable ones will find and report the zombie links, even when they don't get referral credit. All of this costs the CC companies money; one biggest gains (the 100k cards, the 50k + $50 one purchase United card) are their biggest losses.
The idea that bloggers' summit to discuss these issues WITH the credit card companies is somehow beneficial to the reader is questionable. that was my point. There is no benefit in any of this for the readers. Other the the CCs, the benefit is to the bloggers - to get a scoop of what to promote, to network and promote their affiliations, etc. any other spin is silly
I can tell you from years of personal experience that one of the ultimate goals of these kinds of PR programs is to try to control the journalists and bloggers.
A lot of the (less experienced) bloggers at the Ford event were clearly wide-eyed and blown away by Ford paying for (coach) air tickets, putting them up in a Hyatt Regency (which is in sad shape IMO and probably won't be a Hyatt much longer), and wining and dining them. I suspect Ford will have little trouble getting the Ford message out, exactly as intended.
As for me, I did get to learn a lot about Ford products and technology, drive on their proving grounds and track, and watch some idiot blogger forget to put his seatbelt on on the off-road course and get thrown across the back of the truck and bang his head pretty hard against the side window (he was wearing a helmut, there were about 50 signs all over the place saying to buckle up - and that's no exageration - plus the safety talk at the beginning of the day emphasized this as well). But I digress.