Flatbed journalism
Dr Mumbo has learned that the phrase “The writer travelled as a guest of…” at the end of a news article is rarely linked to great journalism.
Take today’s page two story in the print edition of Fairfax’s Sydney Morning Herald by Perry Williams.
Williams – who “travelled to Macau as a guest of Crown Resorts” – reports on a promotional film featuring Hollywood stars to promote the casino.
Invite’s in the mail Mumbo
Putting aside whether this is newsworthy content, the posted paragraphs are woded entirely different. There are only so many ways you can write these types of stories.
I don’t think the wording is the point Kate.
Why go on a junket if your going to just tell your readers something your paper already told them nearly a year before.? Because you fancy a jaunt?
‘The writer traveled as a guest of…’ is industry code for ‘you just voluntarily read an ad you fucking moron…’
When the public catches on, they won’t be pleased and Fairfax/News’ market share will shrink further.
@Tim, you’re right, but how on earth are newspapers supposed to make money? no one buys paper copies, online edition of the age is free if you delete cookies, can’t do native because internet hacks (like myself) will jump down your throat, can’t do paid & acknowledged advertorial for the same reason, can’t make money off classifieds any more…
what’s a poor publisher to do?