DC Examiner "One Word" for the LA Times - "Propped-Up Agenda" .pdf file, page 18
American articles in Iraqi newspapers
The L.A. Times Wednesday reported that the U.S. government has been paying Iraqi newspapers to run articles written by American servicemen in order to more positively portray the American presence in the country. Many in the journalism industry have lamented the practice, saying it undermines journalistic integrity. How many would know it, if it came up and bit them? The L.A. Times might want to be careful who it lectures on journalistic integrity, however: In 1999, the paper made an agreement with the Staples Center — L.A.’s sports arena — to give the facility special coverage (disguised as a pure editorial) in exchange for advertising assistance and profit sharing.
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