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Journal Star

Just In Case You Were Worried About Journalism

You can stop worrying. It’s dug its own grave.

The Wall Street Journal published this article in April. Included in the article was this paragraph:

Blogger Jessica Gottlieb of Los Angeles accepted $250 to steer her readers to a recent Sears promotion: “For all you Moms like me who are having a mini (or maxi) meltdown due to the economy, let me give you the best tip ever,” she wrote. In the post, she is pictured wearing a $39 Sears dress.

Someone in Nebraska (I say someone because they don’t put their names on their editorials) spun it off to this:

The Wall Street Journal also reported that Internet entrepreneur Ted Murphy, CEO of IZEA, has arranged blog campaigns in which he offered bloggers money to write favorably about Sears products. Jessica Gottlieb of Los Angeles accepted $250 to promote a $39 dress, for example.

I’ve got thick skin, and I can take it on the chin every now and again, but I’m not able to do that any longer. That The Journal Star hires professional journalists and then continues on a path of mediocre reporting is shameful.

I’m not a journalist, but I know that real journalists and their editors fact check. Anyone in the world who wanted to find me would have a very easy time of it.

Here’s what’s wrong with the article, and it’s really only the tip of the iceberg.

  • IZEA doesn’t ask for positive reviews. They never have.
  • I was pictured wearing the Sears dress months before the campaign. It delights me to mix couture, vintage and discount items.
  • I have never recommended a product to you that I wouldn’t want for myself.

It is clear to me that whoever wrote the article at the Journal Star needs a refresher class in journalism. I’d recommend Journchat on Twitter. It’s every Tuesday night and Sarah Evans does a stellar job.

I was on the phone with The Journal Star, but apparently it’s vacation time and they can’t do anything until Monday. Lucky me, I have no journalistic standards or integrity, I can do this.

*This post is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Twitter, Journchat, or Sarah Evans. It’s all just free stuff that makes Mommies a little bit savvier than reporters had hoped.