Jump to content


Photo

Passing off paid adverts as genuine articles


  • Please log in to reply
25 replies to this topic

#1 Burai

Burai
  • Member

  • 1,895 posts
  • Joined: February 07

Posted 24 September 2020 - 11:07

https://www.autospor...-team-1000th-gp

 

https://www.autospor...4-allwomen-team

 

Just a couple of examples of adverts for cigarettes and tyres masquerading as genuine news features but with absolutely no mention that they are "advertising features". I'm pretty sure it's against ASA regulations to be doing this and even if it wasn't, it doesn't make me feel particularly inclined to keep paying to access the content on this site if it can't be trusted.



Advertisement

#2 Sterzo

Sterzo
  • Member

  • 4,975 posts
  • Joined: September 11

Posted 25 September 2020 - 12:24

https://www.autospor...-team-1000th-gp

 

https://www.autospor...4-allwomen-team

 

Just a couple of examples of adverts for cigarettes and tyres masquerading as genuine news features but with absolutely no mention that they are "advertising features". I'm pretty sure it's against ASA regulations to be doing this and even if it wasn't, it doesn't make me feel particularly inclined to keep paying to access the content on this site if it can't be trusted.

Seconded. I would have put it less politely.



#3 404KF2

404KF2
  • Member

  • 18,975 posts
  • Joined: October 99

Posted 26 September 2020 - 06:20

Shabby, very shabby.



#4 Anders Torp

Anders Torp
  • Member

  • 591 posts
  • Joined: April 04

Posted 09 October 2020 - 07:14

And another one:

https://www.autospor...?promobar_title

Embarrassingly poor standards at Autosport.

#5 proviz

proviz
  • Member

  • 723 posts
  • Joined: October 06

Posted 09 October 2020 - 07:27

This is probably what they must do because there's no way the ever diminishing circulation could otherwise be financially sustained.



#6 Anders Torp

Anders Torp
  • Member

  • 591 posts
  • Joined: April 04

Posted 09 October 2020 - 08:30

This is probably what they must do because there's no way the ever diminishing circulation could otherwise be financially sustained.


Having ads masquerading as real content is an effective way of diminishing paid circulation even further. You’d think that they would want to avoid that.

#7 proviz

proviz
  • Member

  • 723 posts
  • Joined: October 06

Posted 09 October 2020 - 10:39

Having ads masquerading as real content is an effective way of diminishing paid circulation even further. You’d think that they would want to avoid that.

 

 

Sure, but the publisher likely accepts that diminishing circulation - at least for the print magazine - is inevitable, and therefore all kinds of partnerships are sought to keep the brand afloat. Just look at the content of Autosport's regular supplements.



#8 dau

dau
  • Member

  • 5,373 posts
  • Joined: March 09

Posted 11 December 2020 - 16:20

Haven't been on the site for quite a while, but this is the new standard of motorsport journalism?

 

https://www.autospor...ilable-in-shops

 

Why stop there? There's place for an Amazon affiliate link below that ad.



#9 Myrvold

Myrvold
  • Member

  • 15,887 posts
  • Joined: December 10

Posted 11 December 2020 - 22:48

Well, if nothing else these are not Autosport Plus articles... I cannot remember when, might even be that I made thread in this very forum about it. When I was a plus-member, I remember seeing and "article", clearly a sponsored marketing piece - labeled as "Autosport Plus".

Not only was it an adticle, I bloody paid for it as well.

 

The "positive" here is that it's not a plus article, and I guess they don't count towards the random number of free articles a month either.

I say random number, because it seems to fluctuate between 1 and 3 free articles a month based on... whatever random algorithm. 



#10 Burai

Burai
  • Member

  • 1,895 posts
  • Joined: February 07

Posted 15 December 2020 - 16:04

FWIW I let my subscription lapse on Black Friday and I'm glad to see I wasn't being too hasty.



#11 Anders Torp

Anders Torp
  • Member

  • 591 posts
  • Joined: April 04

Posted 21 December 2020 - 16:41

Wow, Autosport got their "hands on Logitech's latest racing wheel, which has the potential to be perfect for both first-time sim racers and experienced drivers looking for an affordable but quality upgrade."

 

https://www.autospor...?promobar_title

 

Sounds pretty good! Except that the "review" is not a review, it's an ad: "This article is bought to you by Logitech", it says discreetly below the text. Well, thanks Logitech. 



#12 Anders Torp

Anders Torp
  • Member

  • 591 posts
  • Joined: April 04

Posted 09 March 2021 - 20:10

This brilliant piece of "FORMULA 1 / NEWS" is missing a byline: 

 

https://www.autospor...llenge/5634515/



#13 tomjol

tomjol
  • Member

  • 883 posts
  • Joined: October 11

Posted 10 March 2021 - 13:06

WTAF guys, that's outrageous



#14 jcbc3

jcbc3
  • RC Forum Host

  • 12,877 posts
  • Joined: November 04

Posted 11 March 2021 - 21:02

No Autosport. This is not a special feature. It's an advertising feature: https://www.autospor...88-gte/5686071/

Vf5waipl.jpg



#15 Chubby_Deuce

Chubby_Deuce
  • Member

  • 6,870 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 01 June 2021 - 15:32

I pay for Autosport, why am I getting ads like this?

 

https://www.autospor...future/6522458/



#16 Ross Stonefeld

Ross Stonefeld
  • Member

  • 70,106 posts
  • Joined: August 99

Posted 01 June 2021 - 15:51

I love the balls of charging the reader for a sponsored post  :lol:


Edited by Ross Stonefeld, 01 June 2021 - 15:51.


#17 Chubby_Deuce

Chubby_Deuce
  • Member

  • 6,870 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 01 June 2021 - 16:06

It's working on dupes like me I guess. For now.



#18 Myrvold

Myrvold
  • Member

  • 15,887 posts
  • Joined: December 10

Posted 03 June 2021 - 15:33

I love the balls of charging the reader for a sponsored post  :lol:

 

Well, it's one of the few "analysis" I can read as a freebie...

 

Not that it makes it any better tbh.



#19 Sterzo

Sterzo
  • Member

  • 4,975 posts
  • Joined: September 11

Posted 03 June 2021 - 19:16

This is what we should all do:

 

1. Go to the bottom of the Autosport web page.

2. Under Contact Us click on Contact the Team.

3. Select the link to Feedback Form.

4. Express your opinion on this subject.



Advertisement

#20 Chubby_Deuce

Chubby_Deuce
  • Member

  • 6,870 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 14 June 2021 - 21:16

It may surprise you to know that I have not received a response after doing the above.



#21 Muppetmad

Muppetmad
  • Member

  • 11,138 posts
  • Joined: September 09

Posted 03 September 2021 - 12:14

https://www.autospor...ordvpn/6659053/

 

Another one, right here!



#22 Risil

Risil
  • Administrator

  • 61,497 posts
  • Joined: February 07

Posted 03 September 2021 - 16:35

https://www.autospor...ordvpn/6659053/
 
Another one, right here!

 

Or if your favourite driver has just moved to some obscure racing series on the other side of the planet and you want to see their races

 

They mean Scott McLaughlin, right?



#23 Myrvold

Myrvold
  • Member

  • 15,887 posts
  • Joined: December 10

Posted 04 September 2021 - 12:39

https://www.autospor...ordvpn/6659053/

 

Another one, right here!

 

Also, isn't this Autosport running an ad for how to circumvent F1's (and other series') TV-Deals etc.?



#24 Anders Torp

Anders Torp
  • Member

  • 591 posts
  • Joined: April 04

Posted 10 April 2022 - 12:28

And again:

https://www.autospor...c-mind/9741483/

#25 KWSN - DSM

KWSN - DSM
  • Member

  • 36,081 posts
  • Joined: January 03

Posted 10 April 2022 - 16:47

Way of the world we live in, nothing to be surprised over, and disappointed indignation will lead nowhere, we are all shills for The Man.



#26 milestone 11

milestone 11
  • Member

  • 17,340 posts
  • Joined: April 09

Posted 15 March 2023 - 11:17

Puma ad. https://www.autospor...ssion/10443657/