If native advertising is so harmless, why does it rely on misleading readers? | Bob Garfield

It's hard to read the latest gimmick for infusing a dying industry with cash as anything other than journalism selling its soulThe devil walks into a bar and sits at a table with eight newspaper and magazine publishers plus one strange little fellow in shabby, dated robes. The devil says, "How'd you all like to get some advertising revenue at higher rates than what you've been fetching for the past five or six years?"The publishers crowd in to hear to his offer. All they need do in exchange is make the advertising look similar to the surrounding editorial matter. "Can we label it as advertising?" one publisher asks. "You can label it 'sponsored content,'" the devil replies."And it will be worthy?" chimes in another publisher."Oh yes," says the devil. "My clients don't benefit if people don't read the stuff.""But won't this confuse our readers," ventures another publisher, "and even deceive them into reading brand propaganda when they're expecting arms-length journalism?" The devil has an answer for that, too. "I repeat: the rates are higher than for the regular display ads that nobody ever looks at. What say we put this to a vote?"One by one the publishers raise their hands. The Economist. Forbes. The Atlantic. The Huffington Post. The Washington Post. Time Inc. The New York Times. And, most recently, Yahoo. Nine people sit at the table, and eight hands eventually are raised. Only one, the strange fellow with the odd garments and a thick German accent, fails to accept the... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Your new literary dream job: reader-in-residence.

Who among us hasn’t wished that they could get paid to just sit and read for a little while? No strings, no work-related tasks involved—just good old fashioned American currency in exchange for reading a book of your choosing, for pleasure. Well, fellow dreamers, I have good news! Perelandra... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

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Erica Berry on the Polyamorous Intimacy of Reader, Author, and Audiobook Narrator

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Winter Institute 2024: Cincinnati Caters to Readers

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‘It’s like comfort eating’: why readers are hungry for Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover’s novels took the top six places on last year’s New York Times bestseller list, while in the UK she rivals Richard Osman as the biggest author in recent times. How has she done it?The first Colleen Hoover book I read was It Ends With Us, and when I opened it on the tube, I saw... Continue reading at The Guardian

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The season of sitting outside in the sun and reading is upon us — and, fortunately, so is a sale on Kindle e-readers. Amazon is running a deal on its adult and kids Kindles, with the original model down from $100 to $80 — a 16 percent discount. At this price, the base model is just short of its... Continue reading at Engadget

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