For readers who follow The Beacon’s opinion page, items on ads presented as stories are now a familiar occurance. In fact, this is my third editorial on the subject as it pertains to this newspaper since the new year.
The Business and Services page, located in the classifieds at the end of the paper, has been particularly problematic, as it contains paid-for content labeled “syndicated news” in an effort to pass as legitimate stories.
This time around I am happy to announce that the aforementioned page has been labeled as an advertising section.
Thank you to the readers who wrote in to express their disappointment in these advertisements. It is my strong opinion that such content compromises our integrity as a publication, and I’m glad that enough people have agreed in order to effect a change.
Blake Jones, Editor, The Peninsula Beacon