Will a Full Page Ad Guarantee a Review?

One of the basic truths in advertising is that ads are more credible when the brand or product is supported by public relations - especially in the form of third party endorsements (real or implied) such as a review.

Meaning that manufacturers know that running an ad in an issue that carries a review provides a measurable way to leverage their investment.

At the same time, as Pableson pointed out, publishers know that people read magazines to find out about the latest and greatest - this is especially true in the world of buff books (specialty or enthusiast mags)

So a model has evolved based on this "synergy" - the third leg of which are the tradeshows where each year the hot new things are discovered and the review calendar is planned for the year.

Along with hifi, I am into photography, sailing, gardening, cooking and wine and I assure you this same model is at work in all of them.

I never understand the point of threads like this...

There is no point. Just an opportunity for the conspiracy theorists to get together and vent. :-)

as someone with a strong economic background, it seems obvious to me that an ad reinforces a positive review and a positive review reinforces an ad as far the probability of increasing sales of the product reviewed.

thus, a manufacturer would be smart to place an ad in a publication which has presented a positive review of one of its products.

it also makes sense that a publication with a large enough readership with appropriate demographics would be an ideal venue for an ad, even in absence of a review.

the question asked is there a quid pro quo, before an action is taken, namely if there is coercion to obtain an ad with the inducement of a positive review ?

to the extent that such an event happens, it nullifies the validity of a review.

when you consider what a review is, it is a very subjective and hence highly opinion-based undertaking.

as has been said before, reading them for entertainment purposes probably is the best approach for dealing with issues of ethical lapses.