Newspaper Advertising

The Los Angeles Times came under criticism Thursday after it ran a front-page advertisement that resembled a news story. The ad for the NBC drama "Southland" appeared in the left column, starting below the fold and above and beside a banner ad for the television show. The ad, which was labeled "advertisement" and carried the NBC peacock logo, was written from the perspective of a reporter on a ride-along with the show's main character, a Los Angeles police officer.