Sponcon Disclosure Lessons from Teen Vogue’s Facebook Article Controversy

As the lines between journalism and advertising become increasingly blurred, media companies must be on high alert for potential pitfalls around the failure to properly disclose sponsored content. The proper characterization of content as commercial advertising, and the proper disclosure of such sponsored content, has drawn the scrutiny of both the Federal Trade Commission and the National Advertising Division in recent years. Teen Vogue’s equivocation on whether an uncritical article on Facebook’s role in the 2020 election amounted to sponsored content provides many lessons from which other media companies should learn. Earlier today, Teen Vogue published an article titled, “How Facebook Is Helping Ensure the Integrity of the 2020 Election.” The Twitterverse was set abuzz, because it seemed to be overly laudatory of Facebook and did not contain any critical questioning.  Commentators found the questions posed and the tone of the article surprising in light of Facebook’s role in the 2016 election and its recent public pronouncement regarding its approach in 2020. “Interesting pivot for Teen Vogue here to… Facebook PR?” tweeted Steven Perlberg, a freelance writer formerly with BuzzfFeed News and The Wall Street Journal, while Molly Jong-Fast of The Daily Beast described the article as “so sketchy.” Approximately an hour after it was posted, Teen Vogue added a prominent disclosure below the headline, stating, “Editor’s note: This is sponsored editorial content.” In a... Continue reading at 'Folio Magazine'

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-01-09 00:40:34 UTC ]
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Signs that Facebook food videos are losing their luster

The food video format that launched successful publishing brands like Tasty is no longer new, forcing publishers to look for new revenue sources. The post Signs that Facebook food videos are losing their luster appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Springer Nature blocks journal articles in China

Publisher Springer Nature has blocked access to 1,000 journal articles in China. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook tells Congress that 126 million Americans may have seen Russia-linked ads

As many as 126 million Americans may have seen divisive Russian-generated ads and posts on Facebook over the last two years, apparently part of a wide-ranging effort by Moscow to influence the 2016 presidential election, the social media company told Congress on Tuesday. “Many of the ads and... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook announces new ad transparency before Russia hearing

Under pressure in advance of hearings on Russian election interference, Facebook is moving to increase transparency for everyone who sees and buys political advertising on its site. Executives for the social media company said Friday they will verify political ad buyers in federal elections,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cambridge Analytica used data from Facebook and Politico to help Trump

Speech by company executive contradicts denial by Trump campaign that claimed the company used its own data and Facebook data to help the campaignCambridge Analytica used its own database and voter information collected from Facebook and news publishers in its effort to help elect Donald Trump,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook launches dedicated used car Marketplace section, complete with Kelley Blue Book pricing

Facebook Marketplace has been with us for a little while now, giving users of the social network a handy place to buy and sell goods in the same place they chat with friends and post holiday photos. The company today announced a series of changes designed to make it easier to buy cars through... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2017-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook's new media guidelines are focused on stopping fake news

Facebook came under fire after it admitted that it published 3,000 Russian-linked advertisements designed to influence the US Presidential Election. Those ads pointed to Pages that trafficked in fake news, which has been one of the social network's b... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Tests a News Feed Without Posts From Publishers

Antsy publishers are starting to fear for their position within Facebook's powerful News Feed, now that tests have begun pushing their posts to an alternate timeline.On Monday, Facebook acknowledged it was testing a version of the social network overseas where publishers' articles appear in a... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Philip Pullman's swearwords are a useful lesson for children

His children’s book La Belle Sauvage has scandalised some with its use of bad language. But learning how and when to curse will enrich young readers’ lives“Philip Pullman Litters New Children’s Book With Swear Words.” So ran the Daily Mail’s headline introducing pearl-clutching coverage of his... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Facebook has been a disaster for us’: Candid thoughts of European publishers

Attendees at the Digiday Publishing Summit Europe expressed unhappiness with Facebook and worry about coming enforcement of the GDPR. The post ‘Facebook has been a disaster for us’: Candid thoughts of European publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook offers (some) clarification about newsfeed changes amid panic from page owners

Changes to the Facebook newsfeed are generally somewhat controversial, not least because many people wish Facebook would just stop buggering around and leave things as they are for a while. But the latest change that's being tested has some people -- page owners and publishers in particular --... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Do’s and Don’ts: Facebook Releases News Feed Publisher Guidelines

Facebook Tuesday unveiled its News Feed Publisher Guidelines, a set of best practices. Head of News Feed Adam Mosseri announced the release in a Newsroom post, writing, "We launched the Facebook Journalism Project to collaborate with the news industry in support of an informed community. A... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Your Tuesday Wake-Up Call: Amazon Feels the Love. And Facebook Just Gave Publishers the Jitters

$10 millionCalifornia billionaire Tom Steyer is waging a $10 million campaign to convince lawmakers to impeach President Trump. His video ad is to-the-point: He calls Trump "a clear and present danger who is mentally unstable and armed with nuclear weapons." Money says his commercials have run... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Are Really Not Going to Like Facebook’s Latest News Feed Test

Publishers on Facebook who have complained for years about declining organic reach may look back in the near future and think of these times as the good old days. The social network confirmed that it is testing a division of its News Feed into two separate feeds--one containing posts from... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Fox 32 became the most engaging news publisher on Facebook

The Chicago-based news affiliate recently topped a list of news publishers that included Fox News, NPR and the BBC. The post How Fox 32 became the most engaging news publisher on Facebook appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook moving non-promoted posts out of news feed in trial

New system could destroy smaller publishers if implemented, after journalists report drop in organic reach – but users will still see their friends’ postsFacebook is testing a major change that would shift non-promoted posts out of its news feed, a move that could be catastrophic for publishers... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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College student says classmate used Facebook post to falsely accuse him of rape

A man who says he was defamed on Facebook by a fellow college student filed a lawsuit Friday against the woman in Los Angeles, alleging she falsely accused him of raping her. The plaintiff in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit is identified only as John Doe and the defendant as Jane Roe. He... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury buys Cornish fishing village book after TLS article

Bloomsbury is to publish the story of life in a Cornish fishing village by new writer Lamorna Ash, after a fortuitous reading of an article in the Times Literary Supplement. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers are caught in the crossfire of the Facebook-Apple fracas

A long-awaited test to let publishers sell subscriptions through Facebook has been complicated by Apple. The post Publishers are caught in the crossfire of the Facebook-Apple fracas appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Government considers classifying Google and Facebook as publishers

Culture secretary says internet firms may have legal status changed amid concerns about copyright and extremist materialKaren Bradley, the culture secretary, has said the government is considering changing the legal status of Google, Facebook and other internet companies amid growing concerns... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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