An ad masquerading as a report
JEERS TO the Manila Bulletin for making an advertisement look like a news article.
The Bulletin published a report on a hotel’s newly-opened grand ballroom on page 15 of its News section, without proper identification as an advertisement, even if it was written like one. It also carriedf the byline of a Bulletin reporter. (“Marriott Hotel’s new Grand Ballroom: Luxury par excellence,” July 3, 2015)
“If you think you already know what “grand” really means, wait until you see Marriott Hotel’s newest Grand Ballroom – the country’s largest luxurious hotel ballroom set to redefine the industry of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE),” the report gushed.
The report went on to promote the ballroom, to the extent of providing such details as its sized and capacity, which, according to the report, creates a “perfect canvass” for various celebrations.
It also detailed the “state-of-the-art technology” used by the ballroom, which, the report said, “ is one thing that makes Marriott Grand Ballroom stand out from the rest.” The Bulletin had already published a June 24 article on the grand ballroom online, which detailed the same items published in the July 3 report, but it was in  the Business section. (“Marriott Manila opens largest ballroom in PH“)
The Daily Tribune also published a feature on the ballroom, but put it in its Lifestyle page. (“RP’s biggest ballroom opens,” July 3)
CMFR has previously reported on  advertisements disguised as news. Failing to identify a paid advertisement as such, and including a reporter’s byline, may lead the readers to conclude that the ad is a regular, “objective,” news item. (“Blurring the lines between news and ads,” May 22, 2015)
let me be clear on this.
so if it’s in the lifestyle page, it isn’t news… Maybe same goes if it’s in the show biz, sports, and other sections apart from news right?