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NewsCut
Bob Collins

Ads that trump news stories

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Many years ago -- 14 to be exact -- when the idea of news organizations having websites on which to display stories was a toddler, many newspeople were horribly aghast at the notion that there would be advertising on the same page on which their stories would appear. They feared that people would not be able to figure out what part of a page is editorial, and what part is commercial.

People, of course, were much smarter than they were given credit for and have been able to figure out the difference.

But, occasionally, there is still the page layout that stops you in your tracks. Like this one in the Washington Post this afternoon, spotted by MPR editor Hart VanDenburg.