Recently, John Oliver did a funny bit on native advertising.  If you are not familiar with the term, native advertising is when companies and organizations make their ads look like editorial content in print publications.  

As a writer, I know that the sale of ad space pays for the production of the magazine, and that the editorial and advertising departments each have their own separate, important job to do.  As a reader, I've noticed ads that look like articles, but since I'm an adult, and an avid reader I can distinguish between ads and articles.  But after John Oliver's bit, I put on my teacher hat and deliberately scoured magazines and newspapers for native advertising.  When I was consciously looking for it, I noticed that it was so prevalent, that I must address it with my students.  This year when we are reading informational text, I must plan lessons using native advertising from current issues of magazines and newspapers that my students are exposed to every day.  

Take a look at the two examples below from the current issues of two popular consumer magazines available in any bookstore or at the check-out of any grocery store.

Happy reading,

Christine

bookgirlblogger.blogspot.com