I just noticed Lifehacker (my 2nd favourie site after OzB, has started including 'Advertorials' in their feed.
A sad day to spoil the otherwise interesting articles with pointless crap.
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2014/09/replace-your-outdated-w…
I like whilfpool too but those mods banned me :(
You stated 1080p too many times, that is why.
With the significant number of LH readers using Adblock Plus (since they themselves advocated the use of the browser addon) its little wonder why they need to put advertorial posts in..
That said the advertorials are at least clearly marked as such and you can simply scroll past them if you're not interested.
Yeah the advertorials have been going on for awhile and are fine by me.
I thought it was interesting this particular one was in their top 5 link things that appear at the bottom of lh/gizmodo/kotaku pages where it wasn't marked as an advertorial.
I dont mind the advertorials as a rule, as some of the deals are actually quite good; but it seems shitty that comments are disabled as if I find a better price it would be reasonable (if counterproductive to the ad) to be able to post it.
LH has been an ozbargain and reddit aggregator for a while.
Visit ozbargain, /r/lifeprotips and /r/diy and you'll get 99% of the content before it reaches LH
A clear - or at least 'clear enough' - declaration of advertorial content, is the best we can hope for - both now and in the future, and not just online.
The intent of marketers, and the increasing acquiescence to it by struggling print publications and TV, is of promotion seamlessly masquerading as news or general information, and without any actual declaration of the often in-kind conflict involved in that.
The ABC's 'Media Watch' has highlighted a few nauseating ones recently involving Australian and overseas newspapers, and also Channel Nine's ACA, 'news' and The Today Show's 'cozy' arrangements with certain companies that have interestingly 'disproportionate' regular advertising budgets directed to Nine relative to Seven.
As for purely online stuff, justified or otherwise, my eyes have widened a little while reading a number of pieces written and NOT declared as 'advertorial content' on both Lifehacker and Gizmodo.
As for other online, I won't even start on the full horror (not just current horror) of what I know marketers intend by way of deceit for Twitter and Instagram followers and for Youtube viewers.
Teenagers already fully immersed in some nasty social media douchebaggery, really are going to be completely screwed-over and most of even the really smart ones won't be able to tell.
End of rant.
Aaargh!!
my eyes have widened a little while reading a number of pieces written and NOT declared as 'advertorial content' on both Lifehacker and Gizmodo.
Interesting. Got an example?
Beyond sneaking suspicions of journo-kickbacks/favours of the minor variety (I'm always suspicious of those), nothing very recent or very obvious that dawns. If something specific crosses my mind, I'll post back.
I've also been taken aback by a couple of posts on 'The Verge' - those actually pretty recent. I can't remember the detail of those either. Left a bad taste in the mouth, but then you move on.
No problem with it as LH has declared them clearly. Also Life Hacker AU - owned by Allure Media, owned by Fairfax. Should be thankful that there's no 20 free article limit each month…
Scotty, just as a general statement about the state of the media, online or otherwise…
There are more blurred-lines now than ever before and it will get worse.
Reduced banner/text ads revenue is possibly one contributing factor that causes raise of "Advertorials" and all that blurred-lines stuff. Just read this report from PageFair where they conducted survey on adblocking — 18.4% of Australian internet users are using adblockers, and that number is raising fast. That certainly got the publisher of this website worried :)
Scotty, only my supreme confidence that you (on principle / as a Starfleet officer) would not allow yourself to personally use (or have installed on the Enterprise's computer) any adblocking software, is the only thing which will allow me to sleep tonight.
Unless I have some more caffeine. Then I'm screwed.
On one hand advertising shits me
I read the feeds in Feedly RSS and it isn't as obvious scrolling through the list
on the other hand at least they are Upfront about it
I suspect there are many paid for articles (in cash or considerations etc) on sites such as this that are not disclosed
One of my favourite sites as well (up there with Reddit & Whirlpool).
They've been doing Advertorials for a few months and I seem to recall sponsored posts and definitely sponsered meetups in the past. Nothing wrong with advertorials as long as it is clearly marked.
Lifehacker has definitely stepped up its game in that past couple of years (e.g. Takeaway Truth). If they need the added revenue to keep the site going, then I say go for it.