A 'Tempting' Press Release for Cash-Strapped Newspapers?

Image via WikipediaThis blog often chronicles print journalism's grappling with shrinking circulation and plunging ad revenues, but leave it to Poynter.org's Romanesko media gossip blog to uncover a drug company's offer of an "Eden apple" to the newspaper industry "Eve."

In a letter addressed to editors and health editors, the American Institute of Advanced Medicine touts its press release announcing its acquisition of the patents and licensing rights of Medisys Research Group, which battles skin diseases with an array of medications and treatments.  The puffery soon takes a running leap over the journalistic conflict-of-interest line by offering newspapers $100 whenever someone spots the skin care company's press release within the pages of the publication and signs up for treatment.

Regulatory restrictions on bloggers and journalists accepting compensation and gifts for products they endorse aside, the mildly tempted devoted staff of "TUOL" hopes the skin medications in question are less oily than the company officials and editors who join hands in this unholy marriage.