Journalistic Advertising

With the major shift in news consumption, we are beginning to see an increased importance of advertising for news organizations like the Oscars ad created by The New York Times.https://youtu.be/G1imfEXKaeM The obvious pro for the increase in advertising is that it allows more people to grasp what that organization is writing about and it helps the group become more a part of today’s mainstream. One con to advertising like this is it could be seen as desperation and turn away readers altogether. The success of the ads is dependent on the demographic it is trying to reach which in my opinion the Oscars is the wrong place to advertise. The Oscars are watched by millions of people that are older and probably already reading the site/paper, unlike the younger generation that isn’t watching. Using celebrities like the New York Times did is a way to add credibility and can be helpful if it is presented in a non-desperate manner. Making shirts and extra items with the name of a news organization, in my opinion, contradict the purpose of journalism because these organizations should be focused on the story not profiting from the merchandise. The New York Times partnered with Urban Outfitters to create a selection that sold for $35-$50 an item which is far more expensive than I would have expected. The shirts have mixed reviews with complaints about sizes and material and all items are now listed as sold-out. Overall this is most likely going to become the new normal as companies try to match what each other have done.