And they know he’ll play it totally straight
January 15, 2014 6:50 PM Subscribe
One of the hottest issues in journalism today is “native” advertising, the tricks that publishers deploy to elide the domains of journalism and advertising. It’s about time that Politico’s Mike Allen got his due as a native-advertising pioneer. A review of “Playbook” archives shows that the special interests that pay for slots in the newsletter get adoring coverage elsewhere in the playing field of “Playbook.”
The Washington Post's Erik Wemple vs. Mike Allen: a timeline
The Washington Post's Erik Wemple vs. Mike Allen: a timeline
The entire term "native advertising" needs to go. What's wrong with the old-fashioned "advertorial" or just calling it like it is: "paid articles" or "fake articles?"
posted by zachlipton at 7:08 PM on January 15, 2014 [12 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 7:08 PM on January 15, 2014 [12 favorites]
The entire term "native advertising" needs to go. What's wrong with the old-fashioned "advertorial" or just calling it like it is: "paid articles" or "fake articles?"
Prostitution ?
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:40 PM on January 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Prostitution ?
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:40 PM on January 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Prostitution ?
Sex workers are generally quite honest about the nature of the transaction they engage in.
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:41 PM on January 15, 2014 [22 favorites]
Sex workers are generally quite honest about the nature of the transaction they engage in.
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:41 PM on January 15, 2014 [22 favorites]
Allen is probably pretty honest about it with his Johns.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:43 PM on January 15, 2014
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:43 PM on January 15, 2014
But in public it's all "250 rose donations"
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:44 PM on January 15, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:44 PM on January 15, 2014 [3 favorites]
Why shit on Politico? We do it here too. At least Mike Allen has the good sense to get paid for blessing corporate copy.
posted by R. Schlock at 7:53 PM on January 15, 2014
posted by R. Schlock at 7:53 PM on January 15, 2014
The entire term "native advertising" needs to go. What's wrong with the old-fashioned "advertorial" or just calling it like it is: "paid articles" or "fake articles?"
It is difficult to discern whether this trend of "native advertising" that has been evolving in recent years is an act of short-sighted opportunism, desperation, or just a drive to be at the head of the pack, without a thought given to the possibility of the direction the said pack is going is toward the edge of a cliff. It's doubtful they themselves could honestly say anymore, even in private.
It reminds me of the old William S. Burroughs routine about the man who taught his asshole how to talk. It does not end well for the man who was originally in charge of the body.
To me, this strategy will not succeed for long. In the last 15 years, most internet users have learned how to ignore web advertising surprisingly fast. Ads became more intrusive, and we adapted. They became more subtle, and we adapted again. If they wish to blur the line further, so that we find it more difficult to recognize the 'real' story from the ads, they may find that we will adapt aagain, and most of their content will be ignored as well. While reading the links, my mind kept coming back to the old McLuhan phrase "The medium is the message." It seems that in the case of native advertising, perhaps a wise warning to those in charge of media outlets who value their reputation and credibility might be "The bullshitter becomes the bullshit."
posted by chambers at 8:00 PM on January 15, 2014 [6 favorites]
It is difficult to discern whether this trend of "native advertising" that has been evolving in recent years is an act of short-sighted opportunism, desperation, or just a drive to be at the head of the pack, without a thought given to the possibility of the direction the said pack is going is toward the edge of a cliff. It's doubtful they themselves could honestly say anymore, even in private.
It reminds me of the old William S. Burroughs routine about the man who taught his asshole how to talk. It does not end well for the man who was originally in charge of the body.
To me, this strategy will not succeed for long. In the last 15 years, most internet users have learned how to ignore web advertising surprisingly fast. Ads became more intrusive, and we adapted. They became more subtle, and we adapted again. If they wish to blur the line further, so that we find it more difficult to recognize the 'real' story from the ads, they may find that we will adapt aagain, and most of their content will be ignored as well. While reading the links, my mind kept coming back to the old McLuhan phrase "The medium is the message." It seems that in the case of native advertising, perhaps a wise warning to those in charge of media outlets who value their reputation and credibility might be "The bullshitter becomes the bullshit."
posted by chambers at 8:00 PM on January 15, 2014 [6 favorites]
Why shit on Politico? We do it here too. At least Mike Allen has the good sense to get paid for blessing corporate copy.
Mefi doesn't pretend to be a news site staffed by (pretend) journalists.
posted by rtha at 8:14 PM on January 15, 2014 [5 favorites]
Mefi doesn't pretend to be a news site staffed by (pretend) journalists.
posted by rtha at 8:14 PM on January 15, 2014 [5 favorites]
I'm afraid that one of these days Charles Pierce is really going to down that anti-freeze.
posted by octothorpe at 8:18 PM on January 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 8:18 PM on January 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's an advertorial plain and simple and most publications and broadcasts use them in one form or another. Fuzzy bunnies have always paid the bills, but I suppose if no one else is willing to pay them, even mothership money will do...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 9:44 PM on January 15, 2014
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 9:44 PM on January 15, 2014
I heard this on Jim Hightower's little radio spot the other day.
Thing is - this has been happening for ages. I remember when I first noticed/realized this. It was a CNN article about this new bottled water that came straight from glaciers (and the lady was down by the glacier it was supposedly taken from). I'm like WTF IS THIS? This is nothing but a straight up ad, presented as a news story.
posted by symbioid at 6:46 AM on January 16, 2014
Thing is - this has been happening for ages. I remember when I first noticed/realized this. It was a CNN article about this new bottled water that came straight from glaciers (and the lady was down by the glacier it was supposedly taken from). I'm like WTF IS THIS? This is nothing but a straight up ad, presented as a news story.
posted by symbioid at 6:46 AM on January 16, 2014
Rtha, I write for mefi and I pretend to be a *real* journalist.
posted by rebent at 8:24 AM on January 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by rebent at 8:24 AM on January 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
Meanwhile, it's common practice for bloggers (especially those who do product reviews) to disclose any potential conflicts of interest in the articles that they write. At least in recent years, the amateur journalism community seems to have embraced the idea that if you want your audience to be loyal and to take you seriously, you need to gain and keep their trust – and that independence or at least transparency is an important part of that.
This is yet another area where amateur journalists are kicking the asses of the established media, and they will probably continue to do so.
posted by Scientist at 9:11 AM on January 16, 2014 [2 favorites]
This is yet another area where amateur journalists are kicking the asses of the established media, and they will probably continue to do so.
posted by Scientist at 9:11 AM on January 16, 2014 [2 favorites]
I quit my job today, because I was told to sell advertising.
You can guess which field I work in.
Frankly, fuck this sort of thing, and burn everyone involved.
Also, I will work for food.
posted by Mezentian at 4:36 AM on January 17, 2014 [2 favorites]
You can guess which field I work in.
Frankly, fuck this sort of thing, and burn everyone involved.
Also, I will work for food.
posted by Mezentian at 4:36 AM on January 17, 2014 [2 favorites]
Wait, wait.....
"I got asked to sell advertising today, and you won't believe what I did next".
Did I pass the audition?
posted by Mezentian at 4:37 AM on January 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
"I got asked to sell advertising today, and you won't believe what I did next".
Did I pass the audition?
posted by Mezentian at 4:37 AM on January 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
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