Sex, Blood and Advertising

While clearly labeled advertising, the section crossed the line between the business side of newspapering and journalism. What is good for General Motors is not necessarily good for the integrity of Post journalism.

Science editor Nils Bruzelius, who supervises several reporters whose stories were used, said he was "very troubled. It looked to me like GM is trying to use our recycled material to give themselves political cover as we go in to congressional debates over climate change this fall."

The second section wasn't as bad, but it was still bothersome. Bylines were removed and the tagline, in bigger type, read: "This special advertising section was prepared by The Washington Post advertising department. The section includes some content that originally appeared in The Post. The Post news and editorial departments did not prepare this section." But you couldn't tell it was a GM section unless you saw the Chevrolet symbol. Reader John Vialet of Chevy Chase noted that "today's Post has a paid advertising section on the environment which never reveals that its sponsor is GM. There's a disclaimer by The Post, but it's not sufficient." Downie said that he agreed to the use of the stories in the sections as an experiment and that there will be an evaluation before anything like that is done again.

The problem with ads near KidsPost should be resolved with close monitoring and guidelines in the advertising department; the newsroom should check and signal early if there is a problem ad nearby. The sex ads are rather yucky and barely okay. The massage parlor ads offend me more.

Regarding the GM sections: No Post story should ever appear in an advertising section. Period.

Deborah Howell can be reached at 202-334-7582 or atombudsman@washpost.com.