Paper Runs Front Page Liquor Ad Against News Of Ft. Hood Shooting

by Robert Quigley | 5:48 pm, November 13th, 2009

As front-page newspaper advertisements have gained popularity among cash-strapped papers, they’ve brought in a lot of money, but they pose the question of whether light-hearted ads belong next to hard news. Case-in-point: one daily advertised wine and spirits with a rabbit surrounded by balloons the day after the Fort Hood shootings.The front page of the November 6, 2009 San Antonio Express-News, courtesy of the always-astute Fitz & Jen:

As a handful of commenters on the site point out, websites run ads against tragic or otherwise negative news stories all the time; should they stop? Where’s the cutoff?

Fair questions to ask, but the front page of a newspaper is still a privileged space, which is why papers took to selling front-page ads in the first place. Regardless of the broader question, it’s safe to say that balloons and rabbits will probably not sell much in the way of wine, spirits, and finer foods next to news of a national tragedy.

(via Fitz & Jen)

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Advertising Fail, Fitz & Jen, Fort Hood, Fort Hood Advertising, Fort Hood Tragedy, Front Page Advertising, San Antonio Express-News, Today In Contextual Advertising

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A Collection of Sports Illustrated March Madness Covers

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