After learning about and doing research on sponsored content, information I’ve learned has changed my perspective. Sponsored content, though seemingly harmless and authentic, is, in my opinion, one of the back-alley practices in journalism. Platforms like Buzz Feed, Instagram, and Twitter have tailored their posts and highlighted content by pushing sponsored ads towards the forefront of conversation.
While these sponsored articles may be worthwhile and as controversial as other non-sponsored material, it’s the general public’s right to know how advertisers promote their content. For one, it is necessary that sponsored content is labeled as such, and not discreetly or underhandedly. The criteria for journalism itself are publicity and authenticity, and not disclosing that to the reader would be a breach of this code. Consumers need to know that advertisement companies pay platforms to put their content in articles and other forms of media before reading into and being persuaded by this content.
Other criteria of journalism include truth. A part of this includes advertisement. Though disclaimers show people that content is in fact sponsored, usually truth is stretched or exaggerated. Clearly a journalist or reporter wouldn’t want to trash any brand if asked to write an article on them. Because of this true facts that are good about any specific company are often highlighted. However, sometimes in cases like this, exaggeration turns into fabricated fallacies about a product. Thus debunks the official ethical and judicial code of journalism.