![](https://staging.digiday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/05/New-york-times-headquarters.png?w=1030&h=444&crop=1)
When The New York Times’ Innovation Report called for the paper to find new uses for its expensive editorial content, this probably wasn’t what its authors had in mind.
An animated ad for the Broadway hit “Book of Mormon” on the paper’s homepage Nov. 30 featured an October article from the paper’s arts section.
Although the ad was labeled “advertisement,” it’s designed to look like a bona fide editorial article, with Times-style font and design. Until, that is, characters from the show jump out of the photo and strip away the article to reveal a banner ad for the show.
The Times has featured its articles in ads before, including a recent campaign for Google that contained repurposed travel articles. But this is believed to be a Times first: an ad that includes a screenshot of an actual news article, according to a Times spokeswoman.
“We have featured portions of Times articles in print ads before and we have featured links to Times articles in digital ads before,” she said. “However, we believe that this is the first digital ad that features a screenshot of a portion of a Times article.”
Ad position: web_incontent_pos1
![nyt ad mormon](https://staging.digiday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/12/nyt-ad-mormon.jpg)
![nyt mormon 2](https://staging.digiday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/12/nyt-mormon-2.jpg)
Advertisers and publishers have been working more closely together on so-called native ads that are designed and written in the style of the host publication. But the editorial side is usually kept out of the process so as to preserve its independence.
Ad position: web_incontent_pos2
But native ads are very often obviously ads, and as such are ignored by readers. The appeal of having real articles in ads is that it can lend credibility to the advertiser. The Times permits articles to appear in ads as long as it’s labeled “advertisement,” there are no contractual limitations with individual reporters and the article is at least a week old, the Times rep said. The “Mormon” ad was approved by the ad acceptability department and the newsroom’s standards editor.
The risk is in putting off readers if they think the article was written for the benefit of the advertiser. The possibility of the “Mormon” ad causing confusion would seem limited, though, as the original article ran almost two months ago and it’s not a review for the show but a story about arts fundraising. As with other cases where Times articles are used in ads, the arts article serves more as a backdrop or prop and isn’t meant to be read in its entirety. The ad ends with a typical banner image containing a quote from the Times’ Ben Brantley praising the show.
The practice of using editorial articles in ads raises several questions, said Kelly McBride, who teaches ethics at the Poynter Institute. On the one hand, publishers should permit the practice because it contributes to an open marketplace of idea. The risk is that the edit will be distorted, though, and that when consumers see this, they question the publisher’s independence, she said.
Twitter had mixed reactions to the ad:
Not a big ad fan, but front pager on NYT for “Book of Mormon” is amazing … https://t.co/L0T1bYiT27 …
— Capitol Weekly (@Capitol_Weekly) November 30, 2015
https://t.co/mAdiQmx6s2 Loved the Book of Mormon Banner… great creative!
— Nicolas Visiers (@visiers) November 30, 2015
Super weird ad on https://t.co/RzRXhXQh6i front right now. Overlaid on an actual NYT story is a Book of Mormon ad. Clicks on story redirect
— Matt Clarida (@MattClarida) November 30, 2015
More in Media
![](https://staging.digiday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/tv-media-measurement-digiday.jpeg?w=439&h=277&crop=1)
NewFronts Briefing: Samsung, Condé Nast, Roku focus presentations on new ad formats and category-specific inventory
Day two of IAB’s NewFronts featured presentations from Samsung, Condé Nast and Roku, highlighting new partnerships, ad formats and inventory, as well as new AI capabilities.
![](https://staging.digiday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/fall-sports-inventory-digiday.jpg?w=439&h=277&crop=1)
The Athletic to raise ad prices as it paces to hit 3 million newsletter subscribers
The New York Times’ sports site The Athletic is about to hit 3 million total newsletter subscribers. It plans to raise ad prices as as a result of this nearly 20% year over year increase.
![](https://staging.digiday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/tv-viewing-digiday.jpg?w=439&h=277&crop=1)
NewFronts Briefing: Google, Vizio and news publishers pitch marketers with new ad offerings and range of content categories
Day one of the 2024 IAB NewFronts featured presentations from Google and Vizio, as well as a spotlight on news publishers.
Ad position: web_bfu