Advertising is killing Tech Journalism

Date:
Sat, 15 Oct 2022 05:05:29 GMT

Description:
And I should know -- I've seen it from every angle.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

I am going to put forward a simple idea:

Advertising is absolutely destroying Technology Journalism.

To prove that point, I would like to point you to the current front page of ZDNet . Which looks like this:

Note the absolutely immense size of the advertisement across the top. Thats annoying, to be sure. But thats not the big issue here.

To get to the heart of this problem to really dive down into this lets look
at the top article on ZDNet today: What is the best VPN for Android users
and is there a free option?

At the moment, the top of that article looks like this:



Ok. Sure. Seems like a valid idea for an article. A rundown of the VPN options for Android. Could be useful information here!

So.

What, exactly, do the esteemed writers for ZDNet consider to be the best VPN for Android?

The ZDNet winner is NordVPN! Is ZDNet getting paid for that opinion?

Now, heres the thing, NordVPN may be great. Im not going to knock it here.

What I will point out is that this is the URL that ZDNet uses to link people to NordVPN: https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=378&aff_id=307&source=zdnet&aff_sub=zd-3 156339e8da34582b5473a1232a26efa-dtp&aff_sub2=bestandroidvpn22

Take a good look at that. Thats an affiliate link .

Meaning: It is highly likely that ZDNet is being paid, in some way, for sending new customers to NordVPN.

And, whats wild here, is that ZDNet uses affiliate links for all of the VPN options they are reviewing .

ExpressVPN: https://xvctlink.com/?offer=3monthsfree&a_fid=zdnet&&aff_sub=zd-ed2f6076b0b64b f78ec9ad2cf0f8893a-dtp&aff_sub2=bestandroidvpn22

IPVanish: https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-9041660-14542878?sid=%5Bsubid_value%5D?sid2=be standroidvpn22

SurfShark VPN: https://get.surfshark.net/aff_c?offer_id=50&aff_id=1511&source=zdnet&aff_sub=z d-3a43bbe8abec4ee288576f395335d1fa-dtp&aff_sub2=bestandriodvpn22

Which means this is not so much an article as a large advertisement and click factory to drive traffic either towards current (or potential) advertisers or affiliate programs that pay per sign up (or click).

But thats just one article, Lunduke! Surely thats not representative of all of ZDNets articles!

Ok. How about the second article on ZDNet at this exact moment?

Entitled: Run, don't walk: These PC deals include a $500 savings on an HP Omen rig

Here are the 5 computer deals that ZDNet wants you to know about in this article:

The links for every single one are affiliate links.

Not one computer is listed that doesnt contain an affiliate link that
provides benefit / profit for ZDNet. Not one . And its not just ZDNet

I could pick on ZDNet all day long. Because, quite frankly, their articles appear to predominantly either consist of Hey buy this using our affiliate link pieces or obvious attempts at promoting or pleasing current (or potential) advertisers.

One article after another. All significantly more advertisement than
article.

But, heres the thing ZDNet is not the only publication that has taken this approach.

CNet tells you AirTags In Checked Bags? Why I'll Never Travel Without Them Again while trying to sell you the AirTags with affiliate links and large, overbearing advertisements with partners of Apple (who makes the AirTags).

The Verge well I think The Verge just wants me to buy this car: Seriously. Is there anything else even on The Verge? Just a car ad, right?

While these examples are obvious and a bit overwhelmingly ridiculous smaller, less obvious examples fill the entire Tech Journalism space.

From magazines to podcasts big and small advertising is significantly impacting the tech and computer news that you read. Publishers, writers, YouTubers, and podcasters are more often than not deeply impacted by the companies that give them money, equipment, and other goodies.

Even those using ad networks like Google AdWords (and YouTube) are often carefully choosing their content based on how given key words will perform
for them in terms of not just total views (often via search or recommendation algorithms) but the amount they are paid per view. So what do we do about it?

Obviously this is a problem. There are very, very few Tech Publications that do not derive the majority of their revenue through advertising for the very companies that they are supposed to be covering.

Can you trust a phone review site that advertises for Apple, Samsung, or any other smartphone maker?

No. Of course not.

And, even if that publication does not currently advertise for one of those companies theres always the possibility they might in the future. Which
means they are going to always have a thought in the back of their mind, at the very least about keeping that company happy with that. Making it possible to run their ads in the future.

Take it from someone whos been in this business (on both the publishing side magazines, podcasts, and shows as well as the corporate advertising side)

Anyone telling you that this isnt impacting nearly every major publication
in a big way is lying to you.

There is only one possible way to solve the problem.

One way to make a publication trustworthy to make the quality (and honesty)
of the content improve.

A publication must drop advertising entirely and move to another model for generating operating revenue.

Theres no choice in the matter. Thats the only way.

Subscriptions. Physical or digital media sales. Selling shirts. Whatever the mechanism to generate the revenue, the key is that advertising for companies that you might possibly cover must be off the table.

Now, if a Tech Publication wants to advertise for, say, donuts or breakfast sausages? You could make an argument that the potential impact on the publication, from such a deal, would be low.

But a publisher of computer-related content advertising for computer companies? Its going to have an impact. And, as you can see from the examples above, its not a positive one. Share The Lunduke Journal is 100% supported by subscriptions. We never take a dime from corporate advertisers. Subscribe now





======================================================================
Link to news story: https://lunduke.substack.com/p/advertising-is-killing-tech-journalism


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)