We were reading yesterday about Lara Bingle's new gig at Channel Nine, which comes as a surprise of sorts after more or less being dropped from the payroll after a nothing-much year at the network and we're sure has nothing to do with her fairly high-profile engagement to Michael Clarke.

In any case, when we went back to post on the topic, we couldn't help but notice how a few bits of data had been "massaged" in the transition from news.com.au 'news' to Sunday Mail 'entertainment' stories over the course of the day.

Here's how the Mail breathlessly described Bingle's new role:

Bingle, 20, filmed her first episode of Channel 9's new travel series, Holidays For Sale, on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays last week.

The model has been hired as a travel reporter to co-star with veterans Shelley Craft and Laura Csortan as well as Underbelly actor Frankie J. Holden and swimmer Sam Riley.

"Travel series"! A "travel reporter"! That sounds awfully professional and exciting! And what a great cast, too!

However, travel (ho ho!) back in time eleven hours or so and News.com.au tells a noticeably different tale:

 

Bingle was dumped by Channel 9 last August after an average 12 months on the payroll in which her personal life made more headlines than her on-air performances.

Insiders said she was less-than dazzling when required to speak on camera and remember lines.

But now, newly engaged to Australian cricket vice-captain Michael Clarke, she is back and keen to be a TV star.

Bingle, 20, was on Hamilton Island this week filming her first episode for the Saturday afternoon advertorial series, Holidays For Sale.

Does the word "advertorial" mean anything to the Sunday Mail?

A "travel reporter", even though it's a tenuous difference, is the sort of title you'd give, perhaps, the Getaway crew, or at the more rarified end of the scale, Michael Palin.

"Advertorial" however suggests that Lara's - and, indeed, her co-stars' - new gig is less that of "travel reporter" and more "corporate whores lured with freebies to make with the glowing praise about Nine-affiliated advertisers".

But that doesn't have quite the same ring, does it?

Tags: advertorial | au | channel nine | lara bingle | traveling