Is it News, or is it Advertising?
The increasingly blurred distinction between fact and spin
One of the links in today’s “In The News” post generated the following tweet from @SteveatLFPress:
Taking us to task on the editorial vs. advertorial I see. Can you call that in to Rant Line? I’d like to get a reply on the record.
And then this subsequent tweet:
I just spoke with P. Berton re the issue. He supplied a very sound argument in response. I asked him to record as part of RR podcast.
(If there’s anybody reading this who doesn’t know what a “tweet” is, it’s a micro-blog using Twitter’s service. For a better explanation, see: “How to explain Twitter to your Grandma“)
There was a time when it was fairly easy to tell the difference between news and advertising. The thought that an item which was being presented as news might be something else, wouldn’t have entered anyone’s mind.
The mainstream media (MSM) used to have very little competition when it came to getting advertisers. If companies wanted to promote their products, they didn’t have much choice. Today, that’s no longer the case, and consumers of news have to be increasingly wary about what is presented to them.
I’m not trying to pick on the local newspaper. I started being concerned and speaking out about this several years ago, when Jim Chapman started to do the “Ask The Experts” segment on his CJBK talk-show program. Hell, I even went so far as to make an inquiry of the CRTC.
Earlier today I happened to watch a television program about computer products. You’ve likely seen it – it’s called Dotto Tech. It was accompanied by a fairly prominent disclaimer by the station that made it clear that the content was advertising. I’ve got no problem with that at all. In fact, I admire the honesty.
Anyways, I’ve just got finished calling in the Reader Rant that Steve asked for. I’ll give them the chance to publish it on their site first, before I make it available here.
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