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Beware of viagra alternative snake oil ads that are disguised as real news!

The Times-Union of Jacksonville, Florida, is taking the moral high ground by warning readers of the dangers of a certain Viagra alternative with a front page news story. However, hidden inside the newspaper is an quarter page ad for that same exact product.

An article by Wayne Ezell in the Opinion section of the same newspaper entitled “Beware of snake oil ads that are disguised as real news” brings the irony to light.

A front-page story on Nov. 13 revealed that some pills marketed as safe herbal alternatives to Viagra and other prescription sex medications can pose hidden dangers. Inside the paper that day was an advertisement for Vytalin, an herbal alternative to Viagra that apparently contains an ingredient that can lead to fatal outcomes for people with high blood pressure and heart problems. - Wayne Ezell, Times-Union Reader Advocate

Hmm, well we want unbiased news, right? So the journalists and the advertising departments should be allowed to operate separately, right?

Wait one second!

The newspaper, The Times-Union, has an obligation to not run advertising for products that are known to be dangerous to their readers.

Especially advertising of “natural cures” of medical diseases that do not state ingredients in the ad.

Especially advertising for “natural cures” that do not state the price in the ad.

Especially advertising that is designed to look like a news story.

The journalist, and/or his editor, should have checked with their own advertising department. Probably could have done that with a few clicks on their computer.

That’s my opinion.

Happy New Year!