ThePanelist.com - McDonald's Product Placement Ruins Journalism

McDonald's Product Placement Ruins Journalism

Written by David Neubert

Thursday, 24 July 2008

I have to respect any consumer products company that is innovative in its marketing. First McDonald's knocks over Starbucks (SBUX - $14.54) with competing coffee. Now they trick the Meredith corporation into accepting innovative product placement no self respecting journalist would take. According to the New York Times, KVVU News in Las Vegas is accepting product placement during newscasts. While I can't blame McDonald's (MCD - $58.37) in this case for working hard and clever, I have to shed a tear for American journalism.

KVVU is owned by the Meredith Corporation (MDP - $27.51). I do not own it and am not very interested in buying it. Bad judgment may have something to do with why MDP trades at a low P/E of 8, and McDonald's, with its clever marketing ploys, has a higher P/E of nearly 16. Of Starbucks, McDonald's and Meredith, I'd rather buy McDonald's.

Disclosure: I own Starbucks. I do not own Meredith Corporation or McDonald's.

Hat tip to Ryan Tate at Gawker for bringing this to my attention.