This has been something you see both on the local and national level, TV news Journalists hawking goods or services. CNN has decided to crack down on it.

The network is reportedly tightening its internal regulations regarding on-air self-promotion following internal friction caused by Jake Tapper’s aggressive marketing of his recent book. The book explored the Joe Biden’s mental capacity leading up to his withdrawal from the 2024 election—a narrative pivotal to the June 2024 debate Tapper himself moderated.

However, Tapper's promotion of the work reportedly alienated some colleagues, who felt his efforts transformed into a "rolling infomercial." Concerns centered on instances such as a five-minute segment on CNN’s State of the Union, where Tapper read excerpts and interviewed politicians regarding the book's content just days before its release, teasing viewers with, "You will not believe what we found out."

Brian Stelter often uses his newsletter to hawk the books of CNN colleagues and himself.

In response to these events, CNN updated its standards guide on February 4. The revised policy emphasizes that "CNN’s editorial platforms are meant to distribute and showcase CNN’s journalism that our audience comes to CNN for." The new rules explicitly forbid hosts from using the network to sell their books beyond a single, initial appearance that must be negotiated with leadership in advance. Additionally, on-air talent is now prohibited from sharing QR codes or websites designed to drive sales and must disclose if they are utilizing external publicists.

"We should not mix news and advertising," the updated policy states, "even when what is being advertised is work by a leading CNN journalist."