Product Placement Scandal

Product placement is just an unpleasant fact for most media consumers and a profitable one for media purveyors. In fact, Journalism 110 students study this subject in depth. We learn that TV shows and movies are paid big money by companies to have their products featured in their shows and movies.

Since last spring when I completed Journalism 110, I have been suffering from Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon when it comes to product placement: meaning, now that I have learned of it, I see it everywhere. I see it daily on TV morning shows when they are featuring products on feature pieces about “gift ideas” and “new gadgets for the techno-junkie in your family” segments.

Then why is it that now the media is claiming to be shocked by the “revelation” that certain people that come on their shows that feature products—actually are in the pocket of the companies’ products they are hawking?

This seems like a no-brainer to me. Are there people out there that did not actually notice this phenomenon before?

The controversy stems from the multiple appearances of Alison Rhodes on NBC’s Today show. She appears under the title of “Safety Mom”, a parenting safety expert that shows parents products that can aid in the safety and wellbeing of their children. However, it has been discovered that Rhodes is actually on the payroll for many of the companies whose products she promotes.

The Huffington Post’s Katherine Fung reported the following:

“NBC said it was unaware that Rhodes was affiliated with the companies she was hawking for. Indeed, the deceptive arrangement generally flies under the radar. It is illegal under federal law, but the Post reports that it rarely attracts the attention of the FCC.”

I for one do not find this newsworthy…I find it sad.

Watch the video below and see if you would have been fooled.