British and a minor here too so it doesn't matter to me personally. It just doesn't make me happy.
In general what the lovely people at IFB call 'transparency' is good though, there's such a huge difference between going out and buying a product you really like to review and being paid to write something solely positive which you may have been asked to put exact phrases in. As you say, refer to your conscience.
I'm less happy about, well I can't say I understand it all but they said on IFB about disclosing what you are paid for advertisments, I could have the wrong end of the stick though... As long as you say it's an advert me thinks, do people really have to know amounts?
Hmm, does that make sense?

Thank you for your lovely comment I've been told I've got to go into hospital this week and am having a panic.. I'm trying to distract myself!

Florrie x

Yes, that makes sense That's exactly what I was talking about.

And I'm sure that whatever you're going into hospital for will be fine! Don't panic - and we're all crossing our fingers that you feel better soon : ) xxx

I fully agree, that being paid to write a good review is wrong. That is advertising, and has no place on public blogs that claim to be 'impartial'.

If I post a review of something on my blog, be it a book, film, TV series or episode, recipe, cake, holiday package, or anything else, it is because I want to give an honest, unbiased review of it. And that is because I found it either good, brilliant, bad or bloody awful.

If someone would like to send me freebies to review, whatever they are (food, men's toiletries, shoes, clothes, books, films, software, etc) then by all means, I will review it. Just don't expect it to be a necessarily glowing review. If you send me some of Aunt Mildred's best cookies, and they taste like mouldy bread, then I will post on my blog that they taste like mouldy bread. If your book or movie sucks, then that is what I will say. Don't complain, you sent it to me. I didn't ask for it.

If anyone were to ask me to accept a payment for a good, brilliant, or glowing review, then I'm afraid they will be politely informed where to stuff they wonderful product. No matter how big it is.

Because of my morals in this subject, I will usually state on my blog review whether I have paid good money for the product I am reviewing, or whether it was a freebie. However, I am strongly opposed to the idea of someone fining me if I chose not to do so. That is the seriously bad thing.

Here here : )

I find the wonderful thing about blogging is finding honest and authentic feedback from others on all types of topics. I have been asked to do reviews as well, some for payment and some not. I only did the first request because I already was a fan of the item, their advertising and was interested in learning more about their product and company history. I declined payment. My new policy is not to create paid for or manipulated posts. I want my blog to be authentic and I am sure my readers appreciate it. Blogs that do create "posts for hire" are obvious to me and I instantly lose a certain respect for the blog. So, I say.... no, no... to posts for hire. Keep it REAL.

This is a very interesting debate as I am pretty new to blogging. I always thought the best thing about it was being able to write what i liked without the constraints attached to mainstream journalism. Very recently I am getting requests from companies to try their products out for free and what I have said is that I will try out/take the freebies but reserve the right to post a blog or not. If I genuinley like the product I will write and if not I won't write anything at all. Ireland is a small country, really like a big village in business terms and with companies marketing budgets slashed bloggers are an obvious target for 'free' or cheap advertising.
I don't agree that taking money to write a blog is honest and personally I won't be doing it. If some bloggers choose to do it that's their choice but I wonder how many of them will still be there in a years time?

That's an interesting thought - and I think that the implication in it is probably correct.

What's your blog URL? I'd love to have a look!

I have no issue with sponsored posts, and that is how many bloggers make money. However, ALL paid posts must very clearly disclose that they are sponsored posts. FTC mandates that bloggers disclose their affiliation, or risk a fairly hefty fine - http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10367464-93.html.

I do believe that you always have to review honestly. Social media is about authenticity, not broadcasting a message from a TV. However, accepting money and writing a negative review - well, I am not sure about that. I guess it's tantamount to accepting a job in an industry that you may have an issue with, or for a company that you do not think highly of. I wouldn't do it, but that's my personal view. I do believe that whether or not you accept money, you should always be truthful.

Accepting free product to review, is also a form of payment; and most bloggers who get a free product are still honest about their experience, whether negative or positive. But with free product, it somehow seems more acceptable.

It's one thing to receive payment for a POSITIVE review but when it's for an honest review regardless, then I don't see a problem with it. And have no problem with freebies, that's just gifting, really. Just the bias of the review is the part in question.

Essentially the same as payola with radio play, which was illegal and now look..