News ads

My wife and I usually watch the evening news at dinnertime to stay updated on the day’s events. I prefer ABC News since it airs without commercials. However, it’s on after dinner, so we watch Channel 9 News. While the ad interruptions are frustrating, what annoys me more is when a news story turns into an advertisement. During tonight’s segment, several stories were featured—the first focused on delayed flights and how airlines address the issue ahead of the Christmas season. The second story highlighted how technology is used to deliver holiday packages. Finally, a segment discussed how supermarkets compete for customers’ holiday spending. Company representatives were given time to promote their products or services in all these reports.

There is no formal code of conduct to curb the blatant advertising that intrudes on my dinner during news broadcasts. As the Christmas season approaches, news channels seem to recycle the same tired stories about the holiday, which has become increasingly tiresome to watch. I’ve reached my saturation point and have decided to switch off the news during dinner time. Instead, I’ll invite the warmth of conversation with my family, cherishing the moments spent together rather than being bombarded by repetitive ads.