Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C36857
Notes:
Agricultural Publishers Association Records, Series No. 8/3/80, Box 13, Page 1 of Special Bulletin No. 9., Advertiser's letter to a member publication criticizes advertising that lowers confidence in farm magazines and urges them to clean up their advertising.
Cites journalism educator Don Ranley who urges maintaining the wall between editorial and advertising, in the interest of reader credibility. "I am not a businessman, but it has to be good business to be trusted."
Reports that focus group research among farm readers shows they want information that is not a commercial on the editorial pages they read. "Isn't it strange? The very credibility these folks crave is the first thing to disappear when publishers agree to relax their standards."