Wednesday’s issue of Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper contained a promotional insert for General Motors, showcasing the company’s latest cars. These days, it’s not uncommon for newspapers to include promotional sections disguised as editorial content — especially from the automotive sector. But this one was different. Unlike most of the so-called inserts, this one was not marked as an “advertising special.” Instead, it was simply described as a “special insert.” Nowhere in the entire eight-page section does the Globe or GM say that the insert is advertising. To make matters worse, a brief disclosure in the bottom left hand corner says the special insert says it was “prepared and produced by the editors of Carguide magazine. An advertisement could be written by the Pope and it wouldn’t change the fact that it’s still an ad. To further give the impression of a real newspaper section, the insert has standard full-page ads interspersed throughout. See some images of the section after the jump…
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