Believe it or not

The line between journalism and advertising is becoming more blurred.

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6th October, 2012

What’s the difference between advertising and a news story? One is paid propaganda and the other is supposedly independent factual reportage. In terms of veracity, one is rightfully distrusted, the other generally accepted as striving for accuracy. If commercial marketing successfully masquerades as journalism, the public is dangerously misled, and when discovered, the credibility of the news organisation concerned is eroded. Trust is an essential part of journalism. Readers, listeners or viewers have to believe they’re being told the unvarnished truth and that the facts presented are a ...

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