'Advice' blurs lines between PR and journalism

Some public relations agencies are reported to be paying journalists for their opinions on the agency’s content and/or strategies

Choosing between journalistic ethics and paying the bills? Pic: iStock

A blurring of the lines between public relations and journalism has become more common in recent years. Newsrooms faced with tighter budgets have seen experienced journalists leave for jobs in other more secure industries. This loss of experience, plus the increasing pressure to publish first in a digital environment, means that the quality of journalism is being adversely affected. This manifests itself in many ways, but one of them is the increasing impact ...