Did Microsoft pay star writers?

Friday, June 22, 2007 by Dave Winer.

Valleywag has a story that Federated Media is paying "star writers" to recite a Microsoft marketing slogan. 

I sent emails to several of the writers and Microsoft PR. I also asked John Battelle, the founder of Federated Media, if this is true. He said: "As usual, it's a bit more naunced." 

I have reason to not trust Valleywag, they've said things in the past I've known were not true, so right now I don't know what to believe.  

On the other hand the Federated Media site is for real, and it has quotes from the people Valleywag says are quoted. So some of it is true. Battelle didn't deny it. 

Om Malik: "I have requested Federated Media, our sales partners, suspend the campaign on our network of sites, and they have."