Read this article, and quite liked it. Mark Haskell Smith is writing a serial novel which places an emphasis on the Lexus GS Hybrid. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/19/AR2007021901100.html Much like the review me blog, but without the hyperlinks. This idea will soon spread to the blogosphere, or heh it already has?
Good article. I could see this trend getting much bigger. I've seen a few concepts like this so far like http://www.specializedmovies.com (bike industry.)
Quite right Jennifer... Only not in such a big way.. Will it be the end of quality editorial, that is my concern. And what if advertisers start influencing what NOT to write in Editorials, which is already hapenning in some fashion mags... so I read..
They've been influencing what people write about, and don't write about, for a long time in both print and online publications (not to mention broadcast media). Personally, that drives me nuts, and I'd never let the advertiser control the other site content. They'll know what they're getting into when they purchase the ad space, and if someone upsets them and they want to leave, there are plenty of advertising fishies in the sea. Of course if they're paying millions, I can understand being motivated by them a bit more... just couldn't see myself working that way personally.
Yep, you just don't hear about it too much. One of the rare times I saw it was a couple years ago I think in Mountain Bike magazine. They gave a poor rating to a new bike component (whose manufacturer is a big money advertiser) and the manufacturer threatened to quit advertising if they didn't re-write the review - well, the review stood and apparently the advertiser left. Maybe they're back now, I can't remember though. But it was a big deal in the 'letter from the editor' section.