An ad is an ad --- and news is news --- and never the twain should meet

For those who get Kamloops This Week, you may have been wondering about what you saw at the bottom right of page A12 (Thursday February 23, 2012).

Well it's actually an ad for the BC government "BC Jobs Plan", which was confirmed by KTW's News Editor, Christopher Foulds.

One would have been right in wondering however, as this has the layout of a news story ... complete with headline, picture and two column of what appears to be the text of a news story.

Much of what this BC Liberal government has been advertising is blatant promo for the BC Liberals -- this falls into that category.

It is a blatant attempt to make some, giving it a quick glance, think it is a 'good news' story, written by the news department, on what the government is doing.

It is an ad however --- it should be noted as such --- and by not doing so this Liberal government has again shows disrespect to the people of BC.

An ad is an ad --- and news is news --- and never the twain should meet.

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative.

 

FOLLOW UP @ 11:23am

And here’s more on this governments arrogance and deceit.  A news headline in the Vancouver Sun today stated “BC Taxpayers are shelling out $15 million dollars to promote BC Liberal Party Jobs Plan election platform.”

The story said that Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell ... ‘did not shy away from the fact the ads will likely cast the government in a positive light.’

"I think the message is pretty clear: We've got a jobs strategy; that's what we're hanging our hats on. We believe strongly that is the position that our party has going forward and we're pre-pared to run on that."

I have to ask … wasn’t the Job’s Plan a program alleged to help the people of BC?  How has it become a taxpayer funded advertising program to promote the re-election of the BC Liberal Party?