Scumbag?

Native advertising, it is a thing despised by Leo Laporte and @profjeffjarvis, two scrupulous experts on journalism. When one is viewing a respected publication such as the New York Times, one may read a story that is actually a paid ad in article format, with a disclosure that it is an ad  only revealed in small print. This is a disgrace. This is offensive. This is known as native advertising.

As we know, 70% of the podcast audience is audio only.  They do not see a lower-third. Therefore, it is the host’s responsibility to make them aware when he is reading an ad.  Most reputable radio networks employ policies requiring phrases like “and now a word from our sponsor” or “this show is brought to you by” to be read, so the audience knows, at the outset, that it is an ad. Listen to the clip (below) and see when or if #soupguzzler does a disclaimer that he is reading an ad for Blue Apron. This is especially offensive on a podcast where the host often talks freely about favorite games and apps and phones and movies and maybe food services too. The #soupguzzler does these native ads constantly.

How long does he wait to say it is an ad?
Does he ever reveal it is an ad?
They’ll figure it out when they hear an offer-code?

Theeeeeeeeeeee Tech Guy!

https://soundcloud.com/ghostdog-6/commercial
He Like a de women!
Original content aired by TWiT.TV under Creative Commons license

7 thoughts on “Scumbag?”

  1. Good to see one of Tech’s top ten hotties Amber and the up and comer Cali Lewis wedged in tight with Soup, though I suspect Soup is wearing a push down bra as to not out shine either young tech lady…

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  2. Always find it funny when Leo bashes native advertising, while his whole advertising model is based on personal statements (“I love squarespace!”, “We’re having two Stamp.com subscriptions so that our employees don’t fight about the great USB scales!”) to make the ads more “believable”. Not a new trend (he “loved” his Mustang too in the days of the Ford ads), and to an extend understandable, but his and moral statements about native ads and “Professor” Jarvis’ constant condemnation of them while praising Leo’s business model at the same time (“You build relationships!”) are at least a bit hypocritical.

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  3. What Leo typically does is called an on-air endorsement and is no more ethical than native advertising. It’s also subject to FTC oversight, and he could be held liable for liable for statements made in such testimonials.

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