Would you like some news with your ads?
The LA Times inserted itself into an ethical dilemma Thursday when it published a front-page advertisement that resembled a news story.
According to the story, which was written by two of the paper’s own reporters (an ethical issue in itself! See my April 3 blog “Covering Yourself”), the advertisement was labeled as such.
But would the average reader be able to differentiate between paid content and a legitimate news story? Many times the labels that identify advertisements are printed in tiny type.
The publisher’s decision to run the ad seemed to anger many, newsroom staff and readers alike. About 70 readers and a dozen editors complained, the reporters wrote.
Although situations that blur the line between the business and editorial sides are not new, I can’t help but wonder at what point a news outlet’s need to make money will dictate how they run advertisements.
When they make such business agreements, ethical questions pop up regarding the company’s objectivity and freedom from influence, and it jeopardizes the trust of readers.
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