janharders - 9:30 pm on Jul 8, 2009 (gmt 0)

I can't disagree with the principle of what you are saying, but at the end of the day isn't all marketing about presenting a certain image to a prospect?

Absolutely. I'm just feeling ambivalent on the topic, because on the one hand, as a consumer, I don't like those paid awards, on the other hand, you have to do what makes your business run.
It was a sad day when one of my clients who is in PR told me how much a study with a very positive outcome from one of the major consumer rights foundations in my country costs.
Of course, that's the way it works, but I still have a little naive idealism somewhere and so I have a different opinion on that based on the time of day and the music that is playing ;)