David Swick
This week: Air Canada Flight 624 crash lands at Halifax airport; we speak to King’s College journalism prof David Swick about the Chronicle Herald’s advertorials promoting Nova Scotia Business, Inc.; and listen in as councillor Gloria McCluskey attacks fire chief Doug Trussler.
Listen to Episode #7 of Examineradio below, or subscribe to the Examineradio podcast via iTunes. Examineradio also broadcasts on CKDU, 88.1 FM, Fridays at 4:30–5pm.
My local PEI newspaper of record once inserted a subtletly written, two-page advertorial in their free once-monthly magazine supplement. The magazine began as what appeared to be an effort to reach and bring in young readers/subscribers. It covered a variety of topics written by some in the community and was edited by a staff journalist. Read it regularly. I value journalism to an extreme degree and like to think I understand words and nuance. The magazine content (like its parent newspaper) began to change and deteriorate, but what the heck, it was free. My laissez-faire attitude changed in time when I reached the second page of a two-page article and began to suspect it was not what it appeared. It wasn’t, and when I questioned it, it was readily admitted to have been advertorial. Worse, it was defended. My respect for them, my trust in them, vanished that day.
On a related note, many in our society have been disrupted (the current operational word) by technology and change. Newspapers and media aren’t immune, though it appears they expected to be, and I’m tired of their selling out those of us who supported and traditionally believed in them. They failed to recognize and adapt to the internet in early days, and they – and those of who who value good, credible, well-researched journalism – continue to fall victim to their malaise and hubris.
Newspapers and/or magazines (the few left) who foist deceitful advertorial upon us will pay dearly for their betrayal, deservedly so.