Shame on Metro

oneweb

Today's Metro paper features a 4-page advertorial for FF. Also inside there's a full-page FG ad. Firstly I thought it was illegal to feature propoganda 24 hours before an election (or is this just tv/radio media?). Secondly whether it was a money decision, an endorsement or whatever, to sell-out like this certainly undermines any fair and unbiased reporting which I'd imagine are requirements for any publication the day before an election.

Zubeneschamali

What's "Metro"?

Mr. Presentable

The moratorium is 14:00 today.

Who'd turn down paid advertising?

Mr Benevolent

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

What's "Metro"?

A free tabloid rag.

Killgore Trout

it says "Advertising Feature"

Riskymove

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

The moratorium is 14:00 today.

and does not apply to print media

Who'd turn down paid advertising?

well indeed.

OP is this just cause its FF?

hotmail.com

The Metro can't refuse business! People have already their minds up anyway.

It did take me a few seconds to realise it was a paid advertisement though.

amiable

I suggest the thread title be changed:D

oneweb

Online Metro Herald

"The two titles merged to become Metro Herald in December 2009 and now distribute over 65,000 copies daily in the Greater Dublin area. Metro Herald is a joint-venture between Associated Newspapers, Independent News & Media and The Irish Times. These three partners bring unrivalled newspaper publishing expertise."

godtabh

oneweb wrote: »

Today's Metro paper features a 4-page advertorial for FF. Also inside there's a full-page FG ad. Firstly I thought it was illegal to feature propoganda 24 hours before an election (or is this just tv/radio media?). Secondly whether it was a money decision, an endorsement or whatever, to sell-out like this certainly undermines any fair and unbiased reporting which I'd imagine are requirements for any publication the day before an election.

whait bias? FF paid more than FG but at the end of the day each (would appear) was given the opportunity to advertise

paul71

Riskymove wrote: »

and does not apply to print media





well indeed.

OP is this just cause its FF?

I assume because it comes into effect at 14.00 that a print media distributed in the morning beats the deadline.

GSF

paul71 wrote: »

I assume because it comes into effect at 14.00 that a print media distributed in the morning beats the deadline.

Its does NOT apply to print media at any time.

Dj Stiggie

oneweb wrote: »

Today's Metro paper features a 4-page advertorial for FF. Also inside there's a full-page FG ad. Firstly I thought it was illegal to feature propoganda 24 hours before an election (or is this just tv/radio media?). Secondly whether it was a money decision, an endorsement or whatever, to sell-out like this certainly undermines any fair and unbiased reporting which I'd imagine are requirements for any publication the day before an election.

Wasn't the Guardian the only main newspaper that remained neutral during the last Westminster election? All the News Corporation papers backed Cameron, with a few of the rest backing Labour. (Am open to correction on this, the point is, having an ad in a paper does not make them biased, at any time)

Hrududu

It was the style of the ad that annoyed me. FFs ad was on the front page and was mocked up to look like the front page of the paper. The headline was something like "Martin promises jobs". All the side articles were variations of "Fine Gael to cut benefits" "Labour shagged yore ma", well maybe I have the wording wrong.

paul71

GSF wrote: »

Its does NOT apply to print media at any time.

Ok, so discussion over.

Killer Pigeon

In fairness FF have every right to put paid advertisements in newspapers - every though the advert was elaborately structured to look like the frontpage of a newspaper.

Nonetheless, I thought it was a disgusting act of desperation.

I look forward to burning it at home. :mad:

GSF

I've seen a copy now and the advertising disclaimer is pretty small. That plus the normal masthead makes it look like a normal front page until you see that puff piece for Martin and the headlines bashing the other parties policies (nothing much about actual FF policies as usual).

meglome

FF are toxic and only the die-hards(idiots) will still vote for them. No amount of advertising will fix that either way. Might sound like a terrible thing to say but my Bertie loving mother is at least disabled through illness and won't be actually voting.

Shorty11857

Saw this this morning and it actually annoyed me so much, really cheap ploy by FF. Metro have done this before though, I remember they did a similar thing for Imagine once

Liam Byrne

If it's "Advertising", does anyone want to read through it in detail so that we can check if there's a case for reporting them to the Advertising Standards Authority for false claims ?

nicowa

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

In fairness FF have every right to put paid advertisements in newspapers - every though the advert was elaborately structured to look like the frontpage of a newspaper.

It's getting to be a big thing. I've seen it in the galway advertiser for labour (I think), but that was weeks ago. And I saw it all the time in the metro in london when I was there.

It does fool you for a second but I think it's actually a worse way to advertise - espicially for something like a political party - it makes it look very foolish.

StrawberryJazz

It was an absolutely disgusting low brow desperate swipe for power.
If anything it should lose them votes.

GSF

Liam Byrne wrote: »

If it's "Advertising", does anyone want to read through it in detail so that we can check if there's a case for reporting them to the Advertising Standards Authority for false claims ?

It was really unprovable scare stuff like FG are more right wing than Thatcher, FG policies will make the health service worse, etc and the............

"Michael Martin: my top priority is jobs" - which could actually be jobs for the boys of course . I didnt have the stomach to read it while trying to eat my lunch. :mad:

darragh16

Threads like this would actually make me want to vote for FF. For God knows how long, every thread in this place has been Anti-FF. Not that I am pro-FF or anything, but it looks like people are looking for reasons to vote for them, such as this thread.

They paid for an advertisement on a free newspaper, in an area where they are expected to get annihilated. Problem? Labour paid for an advertisement in a national paper basically slating their soon to be coalition partners. Fine Gael have been advertising everywhere, look anywhere in the papers or the internet, its full of FG. We don't make complaints about them because they weren't in power. Every party should be free to advertise how and where they like.

No other party gave good reasons to vote for them in previous elections or to stop the rot that was in Irish society and culture. All of them promised the world and look where it got us. Politics as a whole failed us.

*Kinda got off topic, sorry*

GSF

darragh16 wrote: »

They paid for an advertisement on a free newspaper, in an area where they are expected to get annihilated. Problem? Labour paid for an advertisement in a national paper basically slating their soon to be coalition partners. Fine Gael have been advertising everywhere, look anywhere in the papers or the internet, its full of FG. We don't make complaints about them because they weren't in power. Every party should be free to advertise how and where they like.

I'm more annoyed at the Metro than FF on this.

rodento

Liam Byrne wrote: »

If it's "Advertising", does anyone want to read through it in detail so that we can check if there's a case for reporting them to the Advertising Standards Authority for false claims ?

That would be more applicable for FG's lets get Ireland working and their 5 pointless paln

Liam Byrne

rodento wrote: »

That would be more applicable for FG's lets get Ireland working and their 5 pointless paln

"I don't accept that"

gj777

darragh16 wrote: »

Threads like this would actually make me want to vote for FF. For God knows how long, every thread in this place has been Anti-FF. Not that I am pro-FF or anything, but it looks like people are looking for reasons to vote for them, such as this thread.

They paid for an advertisement on a free newspaper, in an area where they are expected to get annihilated. Problem? Labour paid for an advertisement in a national paper basically slating their soon to be coalition partners. Fine Gael have been advertising everywhere, look anywhere in the papers or the internet, its full of FG. We don't make complaints about them because they weren't in power. Every party should be free to advertise how and where they like.

Yes but this ad was specifically designed to trick people into thinking that it was a genuine newspaper and so giving the 'articles' credibility. Anyone with an ounce of sense would see through it, giving it an even cheaper feel which says a lot about them as a whole I think.

I agree with GSF's sentiment that Metro are more at fault here. Although they're mostly a sad rag they could have tried to save their own credibility a bit by asking them to redesign it. FF however are a bunch of low lifes anyway so it's the kind of thing I would have expected.

However I can see why you would be more likely to vote FF because of the flaming they're getting: I hate it when something becomes fashonable to love/loath but in FF's case they deserve it, even for this cheap metro trick alone as it gives you an insight into their mentality.