Do you know they are actually getting paid? I don't think I have ever seen any disclosure (not that I read any of their stuff) but if they are getting paid by promoters or the companies directly (including shareholders) for placement of "analyst" opinions it's a major violation of SEC guidelines. I suggest filing a complaint with the SEC if they are getting paid for "positive" writeups and they havent disclosed every potential conflict of interest.
If they just own shares and write a puff piece that is OK - but when you get paid in $$$ or shares and there's an expectation whether implied or not - then they have a major problem.