General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: ... [View all]laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)that half of your news stories - especially 'special interest' stories in health and the like - are manufactured stories placed into the news, prepackaged, pre-filmed mini-ads. Those stories about 'eating X reduces your risk of Y' or "A isn't as bad for the environment as previously though - B is actually worse" are usually the culprits. New organizations love these stories because they fill time cheaply and masquerade as news. The corporations love this style of advertising because air time is essentially free for them.
I thought of myself as pretty savvy and well informed (heck, I've been at DU since 2003-4
) when it came to advertising but even I didn't know this until I went into business school and took some marketing courses. There are ALL kinds of ways big corporations are able to spread their 'advertising' (euphemism for blatant propaganda) for what is considered 'low' or 'no' cost to them - pamphlets in your local pharmacy, and yes, message board trolls were mentioned, and I wouldn't doubt it if they've now infiltrated schools. It's sickening.