Originally Posted by
Adam1222
Really? As a reader, it helps me evaluate the independence and credibility of the sources -- the same way it is important in print journalism whether an article is written by a outside contributor, a staff writer, the editorial board, or the marketing apartment. It's also important with BA because so many of its writers have no real qualifications or expertise.
How hard is it to dismiss the idea that links shared by Boarding Area have any sense of additional value/import because of the BA affiliation? It is an ad sales network, not an editorial board. Forbes does the same crap. Find voices you actually trust, not marketing groups.
In print you see a byline. You have no idea if that person is a FTE or freelancer shilling. Arguably there is some editorial control but in the case of the websites that is exercised by the individual title, just like with a magazine or newspaper. Do you dismiss the reporting in Wired because you don't like/trust Vogue? Both are under a common administrative umbrella but really operate as separate entities.
Originally Posted by
Adam1222
It's about (1) standards of quality, given how frequently some of the newer BA blogs say things that are either demonstrably false or misguided, (2) disclosure standards for when credit cards or other products are being sold, (3) disclosure standards when bloggers are given freebies or better treatment from travel providers.
Do you legit believe that there are BA-affiliated blogs that have CC links but are not disclosing such? Point to one. I'd love to see it. The affiliate programs are ridiculously strict about such. No one making bank selling CCs is going to risk that at this point, especially with how hard getting links is and especially how hard it is to get back in once booted.
Originally Posted by
Adam1222
At this point, Randy and Boarding Area are "experts" in credit card marketing.
I believe this statement misses a lot of reality, unless the expertise is simply posting all the time, regardless of relevance. And the BA crew who do so are hardly alone. I also don't quite get the "Randy/BA" inclusion there rather than naming a few blogs that are actually good at it and make real money from it. Certainly there are others unaffiliated that are as good if not better, assuming you're measuring by revenue.
I think there's plenty of crap being published all over the place. But the obsession with the idea that Boarding Area is anything more than an ad network is just bizarre to me. Especially since this isn't new news. Y'all have known for years this is the case but insist on claiming otherwise. I just don't get it.