China Watch advertising spread is a sellout

While I understand that the new reality of media economics has resulted in more sponsored content in outlets like the Toronto Star, I believe it is worth asking the question: “Where does one draw the line?”

On Nov. 20, the Star included a two-page spread called “China Watch,” an “advertisement” formatted to look like typical newspaper content, featuring “stories” about China as a positive global player. “China Watch” is known to be a part of the Chinese government’s propaganda machine, posting similar whitewashing content in newspapers around the world.

I can’t tell you how disappointed I was to see this appear in the Star, a newspaper which, laudably, expends a great deal of capital in exposing injustice, repression, corruption and aggression around the world.

China’s record on these fronts is abysmal.

“Profits over people” is a phrase we hear a lot about these days, but for the Star to engage in it is shameful. Richard Harstone, Caledon, Ont.