http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/05/02/16855?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=paul-conley-is-mad-as-hell-at-ziff-davis-for-embeddng-text-ads-in-news-articles Rex Hammock's Blog Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/05/02/16855/comment-page-1#comment-20452 Face2Face Meetingsnet » Blog Archive » Where sponsors should not go Mon, 07 May 2007 20:18:37 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/05/02/16855/#comment-20452 [...] We often say that you can sell a sponsorship to just about anything, from lanyards to seatbacks in the session rooms. But, when it comes to your event Web site, think carefully before wading into the muck that some magazines have been foundering in lately: Selling links within editorial content on a Web site. (For more reading on how this is playing out in the publication world, see these posts.) Here’s what the hoo-ha is about, according to Folio magazine: [Journalism guru Paul] Conley’s wrath is directed at Ziff’s decision to use an advertising feature called IntelliTXT developed by Vibrant Media that hyperlinks keywords within an article to a pop-up text ad. When the cursor is moved over the hyperlinked word or phrase in an article, such as “software” or “server technology,” a pop-up text ad appears that links to a sponsor’s Web site. To Conley, and others, the practice skirts the issue of advertising transparency, even though the pop-up window is labeled as an advertisement and the hyperlinks are uniquely formatted, in this case, in green with a double underline. The service can also be used as pop-ups to alert readers to related articles. [...] [...] We often say that you can sell a sponsorship to just about anything, from lanyards to seatbacks in the session rooms. But, when it comes to your event Web site, think carefully before wading into the muck that some magazines have been foundering in lately: Selling links within editorial content on a Web site. (For more reading on how this is playing out in the publication world, see these posts.) Here’s what the hoo-ha is about, according to Folio magazine: [Journalism guru Paul] Conley’s wrath is directed at Ziff’s decision to use an advertising feature called IntelliTXT developed by Vibrant Media that hyperlinks keywords within an article to a pop-up text ad. When the cursor is moved over the hyperlinked word or phrase in an article, such as “software” or “server technology,” a pop-up text ad appears that links to a sponsor’s Web site. To Conley, and others, the practice skirts the issue of advertising transparency, even though the pop-up window is labeled as an advertisement and the hyperlinks are uniquely formatted, in this case, in green with a double underline. The service can also be used as pop-ups to alert readers to related articles. [...]

]]> http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/05/02/16855/comment-page-1#comment-20406 Rex Hammock Mon, 07 May 2007 13:26:46 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/05/02/16855/#comment-20406 Robin, as I say in a later post, I have not problem with sponsorships or advertising that is clearly marked. Sponsoring search and e-mail tools is not the same issue as making text in the edit well link directly to an ad. Robin, as I say in a later post, I have not problem with sponsorships or advertising that is clearly marked. Sponsoring search and e-mail tools is not the same issue as making text in the edit well link directly to an ad.

]]> http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/05/02/16855/comment-page-1#comment-20402 Robin Sherman Mon, 07 May 2007 12:42:11 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/05/02/16855/#comment-20402 You mention the NY Times. Talk about a slippery slope, did you know that they sell sponsorships for some of their editorial navigation and tools, e.g. send this email to a friend? You mention the NY Times. Talk about a slippery slope, did you know that they sell sponsorships for some of their editorial navigation and tools, e.g. send this email to a friend?

]]> http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/05/02/16855/comment-page-1#comment-19887 Matt McAlister » Ziff Davis sells its mission statement Thu, 03 May 2007 17:19:45 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/05/02/16855/#comment-19887 [...] Rex Hammock agrees and clarifies his distaste for the intelliTXT model: “I’m not even opposed to having clearly marked advertising or sponsored content that is interspersed with editorial content. The practice that Paul (and I) oppose is the hidden nature of hyperlinked-text advertising…This is a slippery slope.” [...] [...] Rex Hammock agrees and clarifies his distaste for the intelliTXT model: “I’m not even opposed to having clearly marked advertising or sponsored content that is interspersed with editorial content. The practice that Paul (and I) oppose is the hidden nature of hyperlinked-text advertising…This is a slippery slope.” [...]

]]> http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/05/02/16855/comment-page-1#comment-19811 Nashville is Talking » Fooling People Usually Fails Wed, 02 May 2007 20:44:55 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/05/02/16855/#comment-19811 [...] Rex Hammock expresses his displeasure at advertisements masquerading as regular ol’ hyperlinks: If I’m reading a story and I see a word linked, then my expectation as a reader is that the link goes to something editorial directly related to the word or term highlighted. Likewise, if I see something that is marked “adv.,” then I think it goes to something that is advertising. I am not against advertising (obviously) or advertising online. I’m not even opposed to having clearly marked advertising or sponsored content that is interspersed with editorial content. The practice that Paul (and I) oppose is the hidden nature of hyperlinked-text advertising. [...] [...] Rex Hammock expresses his displeasure at advertisements masquerading as regular ol’ hyperlinks: If I’m reading a story and I see a word linked, then my expectation as a reader is that the link goes to something editorial directly related to the word or term highlighted. Likewise, if I see something that is marked “adv.,” then I think it goes to something that is advertising. I am not against advertising (obviously) or advertising online. I’m not even opposed to having clearly marked advertising or sponsored content that is interspersed with editorial content. The practice that Paul (and I) oppose is the hidden nature of hyperlinked-text advertising. [...]

]]> http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/05/02/16855/comment-page-1#comment-19810 scott Wed, 02 May 2007 20:44:18 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/05/02/16855/#comment-19810 Since I didn't mention it earlier, Firefox users should pick up the adblock plugin and safari users should use safariblock. In the preferences, i believe you just have to add "http://*.intellitxt.com*" to the list of blocked sites. Since I didn’t mention it earlier, Firefox users should pick up the adblock plugin and safari users should use safariblock. In the preferences, i believe you just have to add “http://*.intellitxt.com*” to the list of blocked sites.

]]> http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/05/02/16855/comment-page-1#comment-19799 Paul Conley Wed, 02 May 2007 18:37:39 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/05/02/16855/#comment-19799 Hi Rex, Thanks for your support on this issue. And thanks, as always, for being one of the forces in our industry for ethical behavior. Hi Rex,
Thanks for your support on this issue.
And thanks, as always, for being one of the forces in our industry for ethical behavior.

]]> http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/05/02/16855/comment-page-1#comment-19798 scott Wed, 02 May 2007 18:21:01 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/05/02/16855/#comment-19798 While annoying, those ads are blockable. It may not be the perfect solution to those complaining about the ethics of such advertisements, but it is definitely a welcome fix to those who are just generally annoyed by pop-ups. While annoying, those ads are blockable. It may not be the perfect solution to those complaining about the ethics of such advertisements, but it is definitely a welcome fix to those who are just generally annoyed by pop-ups.

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