Media

Newspaper Used as Slush Fund for Pentagon PR?

by Diane Farsetta — October 22, 2007 - 1:11pm

The U.S. Defense Department Inspector General's review of the "America Supports You" (ASY) program has widened to include the U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes.

Main Source: 
Stars and Stripes, October 20, 2007

Time To Pay for Payola Pundit Armstrong Williams

by Diane Farsetta — October 19, 2007 - 7:40pm
  • Topics: Pundits, Video News Releases, Fake TV News, Media, Propaganda, Public Relations, U.S. Government

    • Perhaps, in the case of Armstrong Williams, the third time will be the charm.

    The first two official investigations failed to hold anyone accountable for what can only be described as a textbook case of government propaganda. The results of the third investigation, by the Federal Communications Commission, were announced recently (PDF file). The FCC found Williams and two media companies to be at fault, issuing a citation against Williams and proposing fines of $40,000 against Sonshine Family Television and $36,000 against Sinclair Broadcast Group.

    Fake Interviews for Everything?

    by Diane Farsetta — October 18, 2007 - 2:47pm

    "There's sensitivity to sponsored news right now," admits KEF Media Associates' Yvonne Goforth, adding that her firm is doing more to target satellite media tours (SMTs) -- sponsored and often scripted television "interviews" -- to local TV stations.

    Main Source: 
    PR Week, October 8, 2007

    Keeping Investigative Journalism Alive

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — October 17, 2007 - 10:20am

    A new non-profit group called Pro Publica wants to counter the decrease in real investigative journalism. "The plan is to do long-term projects, uncovering misdeeds in government, business and organizations." Pro Publica will be led by Paul E. Steiger, who served as the top editor of The Wall Street Journal for 16 years. It is the creation of Californians Herbert M.

    Main Source: 
    The New York Times, October 15, 2007

    TV "Expert" Doesn't Disclose His Fellow Travelers

    by Diane Farsetta — October 8, 2007 - 12:48pm

    Florida's Broward County paid a travel writer $10,000 to mention Fort Lauderdale, "during a summer media tour that took him to 16 news stations in 37 days," reports the Miami Herald. Joel Widzer "seemed to have little trouble finding stations willing to interview him and air the footage of Fort Lauderdale's coral reefs and spas that the public relations firm, Plus Media, provided producers. A follow-up report ...

    Main Source: 
    Miami Herald, October 7, 2007

    Four More Fines for Fake News: FCC Says VNRs Are "Valuable Consideration"

    by Diane Farsetta — October 1, 2007 - 7:53pm
  • Topics: Video News Releases, Corporations, Fake TV News, Marketing, Media, Public Relations, U.S. Government

    • The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced four more fines against Comcast, for its cable channel CN8 having aired multiple video news releases (VNRs) without disclosure. But the bigger story is the FCC's reasoning behind the fines.

    Burmese Citizen Journalists Defy Military Junta to Tell Story of Protests

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — October 1, 2007 - 10:37am

    Despite the danger of defying a military junta that is determined to quash the current wave of protests, and Internet penetration of only 1%, Burmese citizen journalists, activists, and former professional journalists have shared news and images with the res

    Main Source: 
    Wall Street Journal, September 28, 2007

    Czech President the Anti-Gore, Says U.S. Think Tank

    by Diane Farsetta — September 26, 2007 - 10:00am

    "President Vaclav Klaus is getting help from a right-wing U.S. think tank ... to spread a message many see as anti-environmentalist and some Czechs say reflects badly on their country," reports the Prague Post.

    Main Source: 
    The Prague Post (Czech Republic), September 19, 2007
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