Does the "Chinese Wall" really exist?

Road and Track, February 2012

Road & Track spread on the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Daytona Prototype

In periodical publishing there is supposed to a separation between the editorial and sales departments. But does the separation, also called a "Chinese Wall" due to it's supposed impenetrability, really exist. Can editorial coverage be bought?

This story, and the advertisement on the opposite page, feature the same vehicle. I wonder which came first, the tyre advertisement, or the story on the vehicle? Or perhaps I am just being far too cynical about the whole issue.

Perhaps the Corvette is worthy of a full page and after the editorial decision was made the sales department went after Continental to sell they the facing page.