I think we have to use our intuition to an extent and not lose faith when something we have supported turns out to be misleading. The opportunity to spread wealth directly to extremely poor communities is too good to miss...
The difficulty is that it requires a bit of training. Honest blogging can become proof in itself with enough photos, film clips, description etc, so that the community gets to know you and the good work you do. It could be possible to encourage community leaders to take on the role of blogging and wealth distribution as a primary job. But for that to become a reality, that person needs to be encouraged and rewarded and advised. Like you said in your interview, a few dollars means a lot in certain communities and its sublimely easy to dole out a few upvotes here.
I also feel like charity has lost a lot of impetus over the last decade or so, because people have lost a lot of trust in it. But maybe the idea of charity without a middle man would make sites like HIVE more attractive to wealthy 1st worlders than the idea of blogging themselves for a pittance.... Im just rolling on a thought train here, dont mind me!