There's no better time for advertisers to flex their collective muscle in the
Today and throughout this weekend, for example, newspapers and TV stations have become product placement
Under a company-wide plan orchestrated by a department assigned to Banikarim, GCI sites in 15 markets are expected this month to showcase a combined 150 retailers that all accept Amex cards. And readers aren't being told about the Amex tie-in.
Here's a small sample of what I found today across the company's network:
Greenville, S.C., is publishing an "Ulitimate Gift Guide" on its homepage, a rotating carousel featuring 31 things to buy, each paid for "brought to you" by the very merchants selling the very products and services. (Example.) Editorial or advertising? You decide!
Denver offers a video interview with two retailers that prominently mentions American Express. We wouldn't be surprised if those two merchants accept Amex cards.
Des Moines has a marketing solutions two-fer on its homepage: links to its Shopping Main Street page and the Cold & Flu page paid for by "sponsored by" Swiss over-the-counter medicinal maker Similisan. (Screenshot, left.)
Everyone seems to have that same Shopping Main Street page. (Here's Cincinnati's.) The journalism-lite page incorporates local versions of the Amex merchant profiles, plus maps locating those merchants; an embedded shop local Twitter feed; and a promotion disguised as a story for Amex' Small Business Saturday special rebate deal solely for credit card holders.
Uliltimate is a cool new word!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jim!
ReplyDeleteThe strike-throughs are hilarious, and provide just the proper amount of snarkiness for this turkey of a company.
Once again, Jim reveals the "(wo)man behind the curtain" as further proof that as far as Gannett is concerned, their viewer's wallets are
"ALL WITHIN REACH"
I am in favor of ANYTHING that brings in sales revenue! The unhappy folks complain every time there is layoff. But heaven forbid the sales department does something these same naysayers Don't like. Well get a grip folks. This is how it is folks, the past is just that, the past
ReplyDelete4:58 Anything? Really? Would you allow advertisers to pay for "positive" news stories about themselves -- without the readers' knowledge?
ReplyDeleteOh please Jim. You and your old school pals reject anything you don't like. No that wouldn't be okay you, well not you because you are a former journalist, but your pals don't like anything that is associated with the news product that drives revenue. I mean most businesses can't survive on your $14,000 a year. They actually have to generate revenues and the wall you and your Jurassic park pals created 100 years ago no longer apply. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Jim does the term "Jurassic Park Pals" get this post bounced? Just trying to establish a point of reference for your readers.
ReplyDelete6:24 Your comment is garbled. Are you saying it would be OK -- or not?
ReplyDeleteHow about this: Would you allow advertisers to pay for the right to keep bad news about themselves out of the newspaper or off TV broadcasts?
I give this one to Jim. If there's going to be a semblance of journalism left, it can't be ANYTHING. That's why most news companies are fading away fast and a few worth paying for (NYT) will be much smaller, but still survive.
ReplyDeleteThe definition of journalism has changed. Journalism no longer exists. The non profit foundations are almost out of business. Poynter anyone? The for profits on any platform exist to make money not supply news. In the days before the net it wasn't that way. You can pin point the demise of newspapers, the day Craig's List was introduced.,with five years Classified was dead. If Print companies can't find a way to make the web pay They will be put of business. The haters love to pick on Gannett but there isn't a shining start out there. Folks won't pay for content on the web and young folks don't read papers. Folks here scream about print content quality or lack of, but that's a red herring. Habits changed, most of you post here on your iPads. You don't pay for this blog and you don't pay for most if any of the web sites you visit. Journalism as we knew it is over. That's the discussion we should flesh out
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ReplyDeleteJim, think you're riding the pony express on this one...the church/state separation simply doesn't exist--nor should it-- in digital media. If you applied ASME rules to digital, nobody would make money.
ReplyDeleteJim, the idea that media is unbiased and not favorable to advertisers or powerful government influences is a great myth. Come on, is reality really what is published in newpapers? Pull your head out of your arse on this one.
ReplyDelete9:19 The goal is to be unbiased and to not favor powerful interests, including advertisers.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying that goal is always achieved.
In this case, however, the goal was just the opposite: to deliberately favor one advertiser in the news columns.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteAt The Clarion-Ledger, our Amex-sponsored page today is clearly marked as advertising.
12:31 Kudos to Publisher Leslie Hurst, who doesn't get many on this blog.
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ReplyDeleteTo 11/24/2011 6:24 PM:
ReplyDeleteObviously, you don't work in a newsroom or Local Information Center. The goal of the newsroom (historically) is to provide information to readers, not produce revenue. That's the goal of advertising and circulation and there is a reason that advertising and news have been kept at arm's length although that seems to breaking down in Gannett's pathetic attempt to increase revenues with puff pieces. You can increase revenues by putting out a topical product people want, but you can't do that when all the good and high-priced news folks have been thrown off the ship. Jim isn't taking a holier-than-thou attitude. I fought for years against advertising naboobs who wanted newsrooms to do puff pieces on their clients and I'll continue to do that. Merry Christmas and instead of reading this blog go out and sell some advertising.
A ray of hope and common sense, 12:31. Thanks.
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