Friday, June 15, 2018
George Takei saga sheds light on the murky world of pay-to-promote news
This was reported by Joanna Walters on the U.K. Guardian website:
"News that several online media companies including Mic, Slate and Refinery29 have severed commercial ties with Star Trek actor George Takei following allegations of sexual assault has shone a light on the little-understood practice of online news sites paying celebrities to post links to their content.
Millennial-focused website Mic reported that it and five other media sites had 'ended paid promotion partnerships that once had their articles and videos shared on Takei’s social media platforms' in the wake of an accusation that Takei sexually assaulted a young actor in 1981. Takei denies the claim.
Slate, Refinery29, viral site Upworthy, media brand Good and Futurism all confirmed to Mic that they had cut Takei out of their 'social media influencer' networks of paid celebrities and other high-profile social media users who often have millions of followers."
