The Guardian puts George Pell in the Spotlight
The award for appropriate ad placement of the day goes to the marketers behind film, Spotlight.
Banner ads for the film, which is about a team of Boston Globe reporters who uncover widespread cover-ups of child sexual abuse by the Catholic Church, are currently appearing on The Guardian alongside a story about Cardinal George Pell being too unwell to travel to appear at a Royal Commission into…child sexual abuse by the Catholic Church.
However, it does appear the ads are appearing across the site, making the placement slightly more fortuitous than brilliant, real-time marketing.
It’s curious how The Guardian never publishes virulent criticism of Muslim leaders, even when they indulge in hate speech and incitement to violence. Must be a coincidence.
Suggest The Guardian speak to the lawyers about the risk of defamation as George Pell could argue that his reputation has been damaged because of the ad placement. Plenty of examples of page layout/headlines on other stories resulting in accidental defamatory imputations. Why not ads? Then again, is there an argument that George Pell’s reputation has already been tarnished and an ad like this won’t make much difference? Any defo lawyers want to comment?
Disclaimer: In a former life, I taught media ethics and law to journalists at a Catholic-funded uni.
I saw another good one the other day. Bundaberg Rum ads bookended the Daily Telegraph online (my first visit to this abomination in years) video footage of the incredibly drunken pooch-screwing (simulated) antics of The Roosters’ Mitchell whatisname. Ironic much?! Go ‘straya! (not).
@Mike Oh Mike? The leader of the Catholic Church in Australia is wanted to appear in front of legal representatives, with regards to harm to children and there you are having a go at Muslims. Go back to your Daily Terrorgraph and follow a few more sheep you oxygen thief.
There is a very old nursery rhyme I first heard as a child, and always thought it obscure, but today it seems to have more meaning.
I do not like thee Mr Pell, and why it is, I cannot tell,
but this I know, and I know it well, I do not like thee Mr Pell.
Oh no, I remember it now, it was Dr Fell, Fell, Pell…Pell Mell!
Truth is the ultimate defence