The Federal Trade Commission recently ruled that bloggers aren't officially journalists, and should be treated differently than traditional journalists.

The FTC took an unusually hard stance against video game bloggers last year, saying they must disclose if they received a video game or game product for free.  The majority of bloggers didn't have any true influence 10 years ago. Now, however, companies seek out bloggers who post on sites with large followers -- a blogger's endorsement of a product could mean big bucks for companies.

It's not uncommon for journalists to receive free materials -- video games, books, materials, review items, etc. -- though it's an example of where traditional journalism and blogging are help revolutionize the writing industry.  Many bloggers who receive free products don't disclose how they received the product, which can lead to unfair and unbiased reviews, the FTC says, and it hopes to crack down on this type of behavior.

Many newspapers don't allow writers and editors to receive any free gifts, though they are able to attend movie screenings for free of charge.  However, it's not uncommon for restaurants and others looking to perhaps have a product send something to the news room for the journalists.  The Sacramento Bee, for example, had a long-standing rule that prohibited any reporters to receive products, and they had to be returned or donated to charity immediately.

It's not uncommon to hear of reporters getting fired for keeping free products, but "new" journalism has drastically blurred the lines.  Not only do bloggers often receive free products, it's not uncommon for them to actually be paid by companies or third-parties to write the reviews.

I personally read blogs and expect to see a certain bias -- as many of you do as well -- towards a specific company or product.  I'm not overly concerned about whether or not a blogger paid for the product, as I'm usually able to spot any type of added bias towards a company or product.

There have been issues with computer shows issuing press passes for bloggers, who often aren't required to abide by long-written rules of journalism.  Some computer shows issued regular press passes to bloggers, while others have a custom blogger pass specifically for non-journalists interested in attending a tech conference.

Some journalists want bloggers to have their own work rooms, and don't think they should be allowed entry into press dinners and events.  I've spoken with some reporters who note some bloggers are not only messy and rude, they also are often more unprofessional than regular media.

It's certainly an interesting issue that will continue to be addressed in the future, but we'll have to see what happens.