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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As Facebook Live video dreams fade, publishers look again to Twitter

Twitter's approach to promoting and monetizing live video is winning fans among publishers. The post As Facebook Live video dreams fade, publishers look again to Twitter appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook and Twitter could face 'online abuse levy'

The government wants firms such as Facebook and Twitter to publish annual reports on abuse. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2017-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ofcom chair raises prospect of regulation for Google and Facebook

Patricia Hodgson says she believes sites could be classified as publishers, as businesses face pressure over fake newsThe chairman of the media regulator Ofcom has said she believes internet businesses such as Google and Facebook are publishers, raising the prospect that they could eventually... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook aims to balance its fact-checking with a right-wing magazine

Facebook made much ado about bringing on third-party fact-checkers to curb fake news. However, it has faced accusations that the fact-checkers themselves are biased -- allegedly, too many of them skew to the left. And it appears that Facebook wants... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2017-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Facebook is in a hole over data mining | John Naughton

It’s Mark Zuckerberg’s business model that allows Facebook to be manipulated by political activists – no wonder he’s in denial about itOne of my favourite books is The Education of Henry Adams (published in 1918). It’s an extended meditation, written in old age by a scion of one of Boston’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Some publishers give Facebook and Google visitors a worse user experience

Some publishers show more pop-ups, autoplay ads and content recommendation ads to flyby readers. The post Some publishers give Facebook and Google visitors a worse user experience appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook test brings context to links that are shared in your newsfeed

One of the problems with Facebook -- and the internet in general -- is that it has been incredibly democratizing in terms of who is able to publish news and other messages online. Democratization of anything is usually perceived as a good thing, but as the genuine problem of "fake news" (i.e.... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2017-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pivot to pennies: Facebook’s key video ad program isn’t delivering much money to publishers

Facebook's still testing mid-roll ad breaks with a limited number of publishing partners -- and, yes, the dollars are still low. The post Pivot to pennies: Facebook’s key video ad program isn’t delivering much money to publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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`Si' Newhouse, Billionaire Publisher of Vogue and GQ, Dies at 89

Samuel "Si" Newhouse Jr., the publishing billionaire who oversaw some of America's best-known magazines, including Vogue, the New Yorker, GQ and Vanity Fair as head of the closely held media empire built by his father, has died. He was 89.He died Sunday at his home, the New York Times reported,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2017-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook loses attention as publishers shift focus to other platforms

They're either spending less time on Facebook either in absolute or relative to time they’re spending on other platforms. The post Facebook loses attention as publishers shift focus to other platforms appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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OUP responds to Biff, Chip and Kipper book 'cottaging' controversy

Publisher says its books ‘are created with utmost thought and consideration’, after Twitter user highlights apparently dubious sceneOxford University Press has moved to reassure parents that its books “are created with the utmost thought and consideration” following a social media storm over an... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Turning off retargeting could hurt publishers and empower Google, Facebook

If users could opt out of retargeting with a single click, it could have ripple effects throughout the ad and media industries. The post Turning off retargeting could hurt publishers and empower Google, Facebook appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘It is harder to differentiate in the platforms’: Publishers want more data, monetization options from Facebook, Google and Apple

Publishers said they want more data sharing, better subscription options and greater flexibility in how articles and ads can be designed within distributed platforms. The post ‘It is harder to differentiate in the platforms’: Publishers want more data, monetization options from Facebook, Google... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook wants to know: is it good or bad? You tell us …

The site is polling users about how they perceive it but declining to publish the results. Answer these survey questions and let us know your thoughtsIs Facebook having an existential crisis? The company has been asking users a stream of questions that indicate some wear and tear in the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obama tried to give Mark Zuckerberg a wake-up call over fake news on Facebook

Nine days after Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg dismissed as "crazy" the idea that fake news on his company's social network played a key role in the U.S.’s November election, then-President Obama pulled aside the youthful tech billionaire and delivered what he hoped would be a... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Social is a black hole’: Commerce-focused publishers have a Facebook problem

For publishers that are trying to drive revenue through commerce, figuring out where Facebook fits into their strategies has been a challenge. The post ‘Social is a black hole’: Commerce-focused publishers have a Facebook problem appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook moves to block offensive terms from targeted advertising campaigns

Advertisers on Facebook no longer can use offensive search terms such as “Jew hater” and “how to burn Jews” to target specific audiences, the company said Wednesday. The new policy comes a week after ProPublica published a story demonstrating how advertisers could reach thousands of Facebook... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook gives, but continues to take more from publishers

Publishers have to scramble to keep up on Facebook, while the platform sends very little revenue in return. The post Facebook gives, but continues to take more from publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Facebook is the engine’: Overheard at Digiday Moguls

Over three days in Miami Beach, top publishing executives weighed in on Facebook video, user experience challenges and platform publishing. The post ‘Facebook is the engine’: Overheard at Digiday Moguls appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Live API Updates Shoot for Professional-Quality Videos

Facebook introduced two updates to its Facebook Live API (application-programming interface) aimed at enabling publishers and developers to create professional-quality live video. The two updates being introduced Wednesday are automated encoder configuration and frame-accurate start times.... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2017-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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