Good to see Jeffrey Goldberg biting the hand that feeds him: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/01/a-wonder...
The Atlantic posts sponsored Scientology story, moderates comments
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Re: The Atlantic posts sponsored Scientology story, moderates comments
#72So they're essentially letting Scientology use The Atlantic's "brand" to trick people into reading this? (Yes, I know it says Sponsored Post) This, on top of http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4108929 and http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2012/06/13/reddit-... makes me pretty weary of trusting anything I read on TheAtlantic ever again
Yep, will never read anything from the atlantic again, just added it to my host file.
Isn't that a bit much?
Re: The Atlantic posts sponsored Scientology story, moderates comments
#73There is going to be a lesson here over the next few days about how some advertising decisions can ruin a brand.
This is TERRIBLE. I really like The Atlantic, but this is one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen. An ExxonMobile/BP ad or something would draw ire, but this feels like a wholesale sellout of their credibility, not to mention sanity.
Maybe this is just a brilliant move by someone at The Atlantic who wanted to demonstrate how bad of an idea sponsored content can be?
Re: The Atlantic posts sponsored Scientology story, moderates comments
#74Yeah, but read the content of what is actually up on the site. It's patently transparent bullshit. "All we do is open buildings! Everything is wonderful in out world! Banner year!" It makes the church look even MORE cultish. The motives are obvious: they're getting hit thanks to the new Lawrence Wright book, so they respond with this utterly idiotic pap.
It's amazing that to me that they think ANYONE would actually buy this as a real article. I imagine the Atlantic thought the same. They're providing the noose for Scientology to hang itself. It's not journalism, per say, but there is a truth revealed by this article that is WAY beyond what the church wanted and The Atlantic provided the forum.
Re: The Atlantic posts sponsored Scientology story, moderates comments
#75It looks like a Disney religion, really. Look at the balloons at the Tel Aviv opening. Look at the cute bow they have on each of the churches! I wonder if they have rides...
Re: The Atlantic posts sponsored Scientology story, moderates comments
#76There is going to be a lesson here over the next few days about how some advertising decisions can ruin a brand.
This is TERRIBLE. I really like The Atlantic, but this is one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen. An ExxonMobile/BP ad or something would draw ire, but this feels like a wholesale sellout of their credibility, not to mention sanity.
[deleted]
Re: The Atlantic posts sponsored Scientology story, moderates comments
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
His comment is now gone ... it was by far the most up-voted and I'm a bit shocked that Disqus is in collusion with The Atlantic.
This sly comment remains though. :) "Such beautiful buildings! It's a shame that Shelley Miscavige couldn't join her husband at the gala openings!"
Yes ... I appreciated that one too. I'm sure they're monitoring HN since this place is such a bastion of scientists, so it might be disappearing shortly.
Re: The Atlantic posts sponsored Scientology story, moderates comments
#78Oh the irony.
In July 2012, "CNN's Effusive Coverage of Kazakhstan Is Quietly Sponsored by Its Subject" - http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/07/cnn...
Edit: looks like their Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/TheAtlantic/) is attempting some damage control by tweeting about a "the truth about Scientology" book. Heh.
Re: The Atlantic posts sponsored Scientology story, moderates comments
#79>Sponsor Content is created by The Atlantic’s Promotions Department in partnership with our advertisers. The Atlantic editorial team is not involved in the creation of this content. Email advertising@theatlantic.com to learn more. So if the Taliban wanted to pay for content they would be fine with that too.
The Taliban doesn't have the resources. Qatar did have the resources to build al Jazeera, which is much in demand. I suppose the problem is that the Atlantic has rented itself out rather than being owned lock, stock and barrel.
> The Taliban doesn't have the resources. Qatar did have the resources to build al Jazeera, which is much in demand.
Are you really likening the owners of Al Jazeera and the state of Qatar with the Taliban? Please tell me I've missed something.
Re: The Atlantic posts sponsored Scientology story, moderates comments
#80Here is a similar piece of content, from GE, makers of nuclear weapons and microwave ovens and former owners of NBC (now Kabletown) http://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/ideas-roundtable-workin...
Yeah, but here's literally what you see as soon as you open that story (with adblock off): http://cl.ly/image/0W1d2f3P0L25 That's pretty darn clear that it's a sponsored piece of content.
Large parts of it even use GE's font, making it even more clear.