TV presenters are accused of ‘conflicts of interest’ as they promote beauty brands and giveaways on Instagram
A growing number of TV presenters and reporters are earning extra income by promoting products and services on Instagram.
This has raised questions of potential conflicts of interest, with The Australian reporting there are concerns about how they can remain impartial in their day jobs if they are called to report on the same companies they are paid to advertise.
The brands and services promoted by some of Australia’s top TV journalists include alcoholic beverages, skin and haircare products, technology, makeup, stationery and fashion. Some of these promotions take the form of giveaways.
Paid promotion: A growing number of TV presenters and reporters are earning extra income by promoting products and services on Instagram, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Pictured: Seven News reporter Georgia Love, who is also an Instagram influencer
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), which is the union that covers media, entertainment, the arts and sport in Australia, has a code of ethics that professionals in the media industry are required to abide by.
In the alliance’s code of ethics, journalists must ‘disclose conflicts of interest that affect, or could be seen to affect, the accuracy, fairness or independence of your journalism’.
The code also says those in the industry should ‘not improperly use a journalistic position for personal gain’.
Endorsement: The brands and services promoted by some of Australia’s top journalists include alcoholic beverages, skin and haircare products, technology, makeup, stationery and fashion. Some of these promotions also take the form of giveaways. Pictured: Sunrise host Natalie Barr
Brand deals with media professionals can be worth up to six figures depending on the popularity and credibility of the presenter spruiking the product or service.
Some of the notable figures who have endorsed brands or engaged in paid partnerships on Instagram include Sunrise co-anchor Natalie Barr, The Morning Show host Kylie Gillies, Seven News presenter Georgia Love, Weekend Today host Rebecca Maddern and Today’s entertainment reporter Brooke Boney.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting these presenters and journalists have breached the MEAA code or have acted in an unethical manner, only that they have shared sponsored content on Instagram.
The reward: Brand deals with media professionals can be worth up to six figures depending on the popularity and credibility of the presenter spruiking the product or service. Pictured: news reporter Georgia Love with her husband Lee Elliott, who does not work in the media
A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday: ‘Nine journalists as a general rule are not permitted to do sponsored posts and advertisements.
‘There are limited exemptions for some on-air TV/radio presenters, within their contracts, but obviously any such post should be made in adherence with the AANA’s [Australian Association of National Advertisers] standards on disclosure.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel 10 and the Seven Network for comment.
From the network: A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia its ‘journalists as a general rule are not permitted to do sponsored posts and advertisements’ but ‘there are limited exemptions for some on-air TV/radio presenters.’ Pictured: Today reporter Brooke Boney