Missoulian blurs line between advertisement and news, again

The Thomas Meagher Bar, formerly Sean Kelly's, in Missoula

The Thomas Meagher Bar, formerly Sean Kelly’s, in Missoula

The Thomas Meaghar Bar is as lively as its namesake, says the headline of this news item in the Missoulian about a new bar downtown. Its namesake died 150 years ago, but whatever. The important thing is that it’s lively—or it will be, once people start coming. “I don’t think everybody knows that we’re completely open,” manager Cory Champney says. He is the only source in this 800-word article about a local business, which makes it less a news story and more an advertorial.

Continue reading