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When a "Sponsored Post" for 461 Dean ends up in a Google News result

Google News results; click to enlarge
I know lots of news/content organizations use "Sponsored Posts" to raise revenue in an era of lowered advertising rates. And that there are different levels of disclosure, from a discreet line to a more clear border, depending on the news organization (and, maybe, depending on changes there).

So I can't understand why Brownstoner might publish the advertorial "Panoramic Views at Brooklyn's Crossroads in the World's Modular Tower." Then again, it does require them to regurgitate "alternative facts" in saying that 461 Dean "sits at the nexus of Fort Greene, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Boerum Hill and Clinton Hill."

(That would be news for anyone at the corner of Flatbush and Dean, in Prospect Heights, which is indeed across the street from Park Slope, but a distinct if not long walk from Fort Greene and Boerum Hill, and and a longer walk to Clinton Hill.)

And calling the apartments "well-designed" does require ignoring a murky history of mold and delays.

But the real question, as shown in the screenshot at right, is for Google: how does this qualify as News? (Google does include clearly labeled press releases in the News feed, but seems confused by Sponsored Posts, at least in this case.)




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