If Then

Amazon Prime Day’s Weird Symbiosis With Journalism

News outlets—including Slate—get extra revenue by including Amazon links in their articles. Should they?

Listen to If Then by clicking the arrow on the audio player below, or get the show via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play.

In this episode, Shannon Palus talks about the journalistic ethics of Amazon affiliate links with Jacqui Cheng, former editor in chief of Wirecutter and current editor in chief of music at WQXR in New York. As Cheng explains, it’s possible for news organizations to make money from Amazon links without turning into shills for a giant company.

After the interview, Shannon talks to Aaron Mak for this week’s edition of Don’t Close My tabs.

Stories discussed on the show:

The Best Prime Day Deals for 2019

Want to Get the Most out of Amazon Prime Day?

Don’t Close My Tabs:

Shannon: Fleishman Is in Trouble

Aaron: Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

You can follow Shannon @shanpalus. If you have a question or comment, you can email us at ifthen@slate.com.

If Then is presented by Slate and Future Tense, a collaboration among Arizona State University, New America, and Slate. Future Tense explores the ways emerging technologies affect society, policy, and culture. To read more, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our weekly newsletter.