Not that the growing industry really needed it–but Google today came out and basically offered their legitimacy to the industry of corporate reputation management. The Google-blog came out and offered some tips on how to handle and manage your online reputation.

http://searchengineland.com/google-endorses-reputation-management-27884

A recent by Forrester Research has determined that participation in social networking sites has skyrocketed. In fact, nearly half of all adults (42%) in the United States are active on one or more social networking sites–with Facebook accounting for much of this growth. This has incredible effects on the world of international reputation management, because these sites have a range of effects on search results.
http://www.forrester.com/Research/Document/Excerpt/0,7211,55132,00.html

A reputation is something that is formed about you or your company by others. However, you can alter and re-shape this reputation through your actions and words. On the Internet, this is not neccesarily true. The anonymous and anarchic nature of the Internet allows others to shape your image without your input. Brand reputation management companies can ensure that your online reputation is not distorted by conjecture and rumor.
http://www.anvilmediainc.com/online-reputation-management-article.htm

There is a case in the Philippines where a facebook user called for a boycott of a celebrity doctor. The doctor is sueing the user for Internet-based libel in a country where there are no laws governing libel on the Internet. Indeed, most of the Internet is fairly anarchic in that regard–which is why search engine reputation management exists.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2009/gb20090925_532132.htm