Earlier this week MarketingVOX reported on the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s release of its online advertising spending numbers for 2008, stating “revenues in the US remain strong, with Q408 revenues hitting $6.1 billion, and revenues for the year topping $23 billion.” While these figures resulted in the fifth consecutive year of record results, eMarketer released its own online spending forecast and was less optimistic about the state of online marketing. eMarketer points out that “online advertising growth was cut in half last year. US online advertising revenues grew only 11% in 2008 to $23.4 billion—the slowest rate of growth since 2002.” As a result eMarketer projects that in 2009 online ad spending will reach only $24.5 billion.

While these two articles offer consistent statistical information, each one is presented in completely different lights. MarketingVOX clearly tries to put a positive spin on the results - noting the record performance in ’08, while eMarketer focuses on the declining growth rate of online in the future.

So what is your take on the state of online? Join the conversation on twitter.