AP Story Highlights CEO Blogging

An Associated Press story this week focuses on the advantages and perils of CEO blogging. Focusing mostly on blog trends at Fortune 500 companies, the story highlights well-known efforts from Jonathan Schwartz of Sun Microsystems and Bob Lutz of GM. It’s a nice overview piece that should be shared with management in any organization.

It doesn’t suggest that a blog is for every CEO, however. Consultant Debbie Weil points out that most CEOs aren’t good writers and are used to the messages crafted by their communications teams. And the worst blogs, she points out, are those written without a good understanding of the blogosphere.

The story has generated some thought-provoking chatter from bloggers. Amy Gahran makes a persuasive case for why CEOs should steer clear of blogs. Dave Taylor expands on his quotes from the AP story and notes Sarbanes-Oxley and other legal factors that must be continually measured.

All are valid considerations – but I fear most CEOs and communications departments automatically rule out blogs long before they ponder those important questions. If your CEO would make a good blogger, and a CEO blog aligns with your communications strategies, get out there and let the posts, comments and trackbacks begin.