And Now, a Hidden Word from Our Sponsor [1]
Submitted by Diane Farsetta [2] on
The Wall Street Journal reports [3] that Subway Restaurants "launched a new sandwich last night by having it written into the story line of NBC's 'Will & Grace'." Such advertising [4] is increasingly spreading beyond television and movies, and into magazines and newspapers. According to a media consulting firm [5], "Revenue from product placements in magazine editorial copy [6] - the stories and photographs - is expected to rise 17.5 percent to $160.9 million this year, and in newspapers by 16.9 percent to $65 million." The Christian Science Monitor points out, "Product placements, if done in exchange for payment, would violate the operating guidelines of most publications, which usually insist on a clear division between stories or 'editorial copy' and advertising as a mark of responsible journalism."