Media warned about dangers of pre-roll ads on live streams

March 24, 2017 4:11

The increasing reliance of editors and journalists on live streams for footage of unfolding incidents such as terror attacks and police shootings has opened up major questions about the use of pre-roll advertising and the ability to control comments and emojis, First Draft News’s Claire Wardle has warned.

Speaking at a workshop on media ethics and Facebook Live, Wardle said media outlets have to look more closely at the ethics around having ads in front of distressing footage and also recognise how the practice detracts from the user experience.

“The issue of pre-roll ads as a means for revenue to support news, particularly in the States, there is a recognition now that that’s not from a user experience the best thing to do,” Wardle told Mumbrella.

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Simon Canning

Simon Canning was Mumbrella's marketing and advertising editor from 2015-2017. In a career spanning journalism and communications over more than 30 years Simon has become one of Australia’s most respected analysts and commentators on the advertising, marketing and media industries. A regular commentator on radio and TV, Simon has also worked in media in the US and UK .

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