Search Engine tries to influence tech blog
By Bala Shah

ChaCha.com describes itself as a ‘Human powered search engine’.  While the market is not sure if it will succeed, ChaCha investors are sufficiently impressed to pump in more than $60 Million. Any American can call/text any question to ChaCha and its staff will answer via a text message. ChaCha has a youngish audience with many in their teens. 

Some of the most popular topics on the ChaCha website are How to Kiss, What Girls Like, What Boys Like, Asian Joke and the like. You get the idea.

Techcrunch in the most powerful tech blog in USA with the power to make or break startups.

Techcrunch has just published the following email exchange where ChaCha tried to get a positive public relations article on its recent investment by offering Techcrunch exclusive access to the information provided it only spoke to ChaCha staff while writing the story. As you can imagine, such a story would be positive.

Techcrunch agreed.  But the deal fell through.  Techcrunch then published the mail exchange

“
From: “” < @chacha.com>
Date: July 23, 2009 8:36:28 PM PDT
To: “Michael Arrington”
Subject: RE: ChaCha Funding

ChaCha was informed they cannot make this funding news public in accordance with rules regarding public disclosure. I’m sorry, the company will not be speaking with any media about its filing.

From: Michael Arrington
Sent: Thu 7/23/2009 11:31 PM
To:
Subject: Re: ChaCha Funding

Ok

On Jul 23, 2009, at 8:01 PM, “” < @chacha.com> wrote:

Today ChaCha filed form D with the SEC, closing additional funding.
I will be able to provide you with more information about this round
EXCLUSIVELY in exchange that TechCrunch only publish news from sources at ChaCha, as opposed to other third parties.

Would you be interested in receiving the funding news?

Best,
“

While such ‘deals’ drive as many as half of the stories you see in the tech media,  the average Indian still has an image of a hard working journalist ‘digging’ out news.

Techcrunch actions are conflicted in this news report.  If you do not want to have any special deals with business,  just let them know you do not play the game.  Would Techcrunch still have published this news report if ChaCha had given them ‘exclusive’ information?  What do you think?