AdTechGod Pod Ep. 68 News Bias & Free Speech in Ad Tech with Vanessa Otero from Ad Fontes Media
Mar 4, 2025
Vanessa Otero, CEO of Ad Fontes Media, shares her fascinating journey from patent attorney to media bias expert. She discusses the rise of partisan media and its impact on journalism. Otero highlights how advertisers often block valuable news content due to keyword filtering, advocating for a more nuanced approach. She also challenges the notion that negativity in news should be avoided, suggesting it can enhance audience engagement and ad performance. This thoughtful conversation navigates the intertwining of free speech, advertising, and reliable journalism.
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Lawyer to Ad Tech Founder
- Vanessa Otero started as a patent lawyer and created a media bias chart as a hobby before founding Ad Fontes Media.
- Her chart went viral, leading to a company that rates news sources by reliability and bias, eventually entering ad tech.
Free Speech vs. Private Moderation
- Private companies can moderate content without violating the First Amendment, which restricts government censorship.
- Section 230 protects platforms from liability and allows content moderation, explaining the complexity of free speech online.
The Evolving Definition of Press
- The Constitution protects freedom of the press as the right for journalists to investigate and publish truthful information.
- The definition of "press" is broad and evolving with modern media, including influencers and non-traditional journalists.