In a nutshell, here is why General Motors got bent out shape by Thomas Friedman's recent diatribe. GM is so used to controlling a complacent press that they were shocked when suddenly they could not publish whatever they wanted.
From AdAge:Editorial wall is an unfunny joke
Study results released last week by “PR Week” and PR Agency Manning Selvage & Lee indicated that nearly half -- 48.9% -- of senior marketing executives admit they have paid to have commercial messages integrated into print and broadcast editorial content. Those findings from a national survey added fuel to the fiery debate raging over the church/state wall that is supposed to keep editorial and commercial activities independent of each other. One side argues this separation is crucial to maintaining a media company's credibility and the trust of its readers and viewers. The other side argues the explosion of alternate digital media controlled by consumers, as well as the disrupted landscape wrought by continuing, widespread media fragmentation, have forever changed the rules of what is acceptable, and that marketers and journalists have to “work together” in ways that they wouldn't have considered before.
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And, apparently, such standards are no secret to consumers. Indeed, a study done in October 2005 by MS&L's sibling media agency Starcom MediaVest found that 65% of consumers thought editorial mentions of a product had been paid for.
Exactly. Especially when certain political ideas and policies are included in the definition of “product”. Otherwise, why would the Dauphin even be in office?
Tags: GM, /media, /Thomas_Friedman
