CNET gives credit to Engadget after stealing scoop.
So CNET’s Gamespot and News.com finally gave credit to Engadget after stealing their big scoop about the XBOX 360. CNET lifted the photos from our site (we have technical proof) and didn’t even bother to ask or give credit. That’s low.
If you want to know the backstory this took me calling and emailing the the CEO of CNET Shelby Bonnie who I met for the first time at Esther Dyson’s PC Forum (which was purchased by CNET last year). I told Shelby about his editors not crediting bloggers and he acted shocked.
Of course, the fact that the CEO of the company has to pressure the editorial department to give credit where credit is due shows exactly how little respect CNET has for the blogosphere. As one of my readers pointed out even Gizmodo and Kotaku gave credit to Engadget!
You see bloggers respect bloggers because they know how much hard work it takes to get a scoop like this. Of course, CNET not putting this up earlier today cost us hundreds of thousands of page views which results in a loss of hundredsif not thousandsof dollars. Not to mention the fact that CNET takes credit for the story with their readers.
That’s really what CNET is up to: they don’t want to introduce their readers to newAND BETTERnews sources like Engadget, Gizmodo, GigaOm, Battelle Search Blog, and Rafat Ali’s PaidContent.org.
However, the more CNET tries to keep their readers from blogs the more their readers will seak them out. CNET is taking the same sad approach that Dan Rather took to the blogosphere: ignoring it. Shelby, you might want to take notes about how that ended for Mr. Rather.
Now, I’m happy that CNET edited the storybut you notice they didn’t print a correction. Nope, that will never happen.
I’ve got a long list of bloggers who have complained about CNET not giving credit and stealing scoops from bloggers John Battelle, Rafat Ali, and Om Malik have all written about it. These are great bloggers you might want to pay attention Shelby.
My suggestion to blogger who are having their scoops stolen is to call out CNET and to call Shelby’s office. Defend yourself, because if you don’t they will just continue to roll over you forever.
Some folks have suggested to me a blogger boycott of CNET. I’m tempted, but I’d rather see everyone just call them out every time they steal a story If CNET will not do the right thing perhaps bloggers can shame them into treating bloggers with the same respect CNET shows to other writers.
