Product placement in America has just leapt into new territory: news, says Atticus. In a deal with media corporations, cups of McDonalds iced coffee now adorn the desks of morning current affairs shows. Is this harmless, or an erosion of journalistic independence?

Ever since product placement was first invented by Freud's nephew, Edward Bernays (who also invented public relations) it's been a staple of American advertising. In a country in which consumerism and products are so tied up with the national psyche, it's difficult to unpick this issue.

Does it represent a further unacceptable intrusion of the market into people's lives and likely to undermine news reporting, or is it just a well taken opportunity for companies to make use of an untapped advertising slot?