Why advertisers want the web to look like newspapers

I studied a bit of English in college, but I never really understood the meaning of the word irony (I'm thick like that) -- so I apologize in advance if this ad (to the left) which is being displayed on the web in a way to look like a newspaper clipping is not truly ironic. I think it is, and I actually think it works well.

For me, this display ad had more credibility and is more eye catching than other web display ads and should give newspaper guys something to think about. Why? Because the ad looks like a clipping from a medium I have learned to trust: newspapers. Sure, we could debate the demise of journalism and newspapers, but that wouldn't change the fact that I had an instinctual "oh, I wonder who wrote that" reaction when I saw this ad. Yes, I'm sure the younger generation doesn't feel this way, but the ad is targeted at us older folk...so it works.