Friday, April 11, 2014

Why a New Industry-Sponsored Fake News Section in the Denver Post Threatens the Newspaper’s Reputation

By Erin Moriarty

Even the most seasoned Denver Post readers can be fooled by a new advertising ploy from oil and gas front group Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (CRED), in which fake, industry-sponsored news stories are being published as part of a special “Energy and Environment” section on the newspaper’s website.

Each CRED-authored story uses the same font and layout as real Denver Post articles from real Denver Post reporters, undoubtedly attempting to pass CRED’s message off as real news. But, it’s not. It’s yet another paid effort that CRED is using to validate its now-dwindling credibility. CRED is no stranger to promoting its message through paid advertising, as can be seen by the television, radio, online, and bus advertisements that the group has been running since its inception in September 2013.

This time, the ad on Denver Post’s website boasts “news” about oil and gas development in the state, when really, the group is just peddling its own version of facts. In the “Energy and Environment” section on the Denver Post’s website, CRED’s advertorial features several stories on natural gas exports, local control amendments, and other energy issues Coloradans have been following for months.


Read more...

Should the Federal trade Commission intervene and stop CRED's (Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development) deceptive ads?

 Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development | CRED.org

P.S. Energy development? According to the first Law of Thermodynamics; energy can neither be created nor destroyed, so CRED's acronym is COMPLETELY INCORRECT AND DECEPTIVE.



- Shane




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