Media

AANRs: Australian Audio News Releases

by Diane Farsetta — May 15, 2006 - 11:50am

The Australian TV show Mediawatch notes our study on video news releases and goes on to report, "We haven't found any examples as bad as that on Australian TV, but the radio equivalent -- the audio news release -- has definitely arrived." Mediawatch tracked one ANR, paid for by

Main Source: 
Mediawatch, ABC Television (Australia), May 15, 2006

Covert Recruiting Video in Schools, on Planes and TV

by Diane Farsetta — May 8, 2006 - 11:16am

United Airlines' new in-flight video "was produced and funded by the Department of Defense -- a fact passengers do not learn from watchi

Main Source: 
Chicago Tribune, May 6, 2006

Television Stations Respond... And It's Worse Than You Think

by Diane Farsetta — May 1, 2006 - 5:08pm
  • Topics: Activism, Video News Releases, Media, U.S. Government

    • One news director says, "I have been instructed by corporate not to talk to you."

    Hours after the Center for Media and Democracy released our study on television stations' widespread and undisclosed use of corporate video news releases (VNRs), a major organization of broadcast news executives issued its response.

    "The Radio-Television News Directors Association strongly urges station management to review and strengthen their policies requiring complete disclosure of any outside material used in news programming," read the statement. RTNDA went on to caution that decisions involving "when and how to identify sources ... must remain far removed from government involvement or supervision."

    Unfortunately, RTNDA's statement conflates "sources" with broadcast material funded by and produced for outside parties. It also conveniently ignores that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, under its authority to regulate broadcasters' use of the public airwaves, already has disclosure requirements (PDF) on the books. But RTNDA's stance does point to an important, underlying issue: how to ensure both news audiences' right to know "who seeks to influence them," and the editorial freedom of newsrooms.

    Women, Media, and...

    by Diane Farsetta — April 25, 2006 - 4:14pm

    The New York-based media analysis, education and advocacy organization Women in Media & News (WIMN) recently launched "WIMN's Voices," which it calls "the only women's media monitoring group blog." More than 50 women reporters, academics and activists are contributing to the blog, including Carolyn Byerly on media policy, Jean Kilbourne on advertising, Makani Themba Nixon on race, Laura Flanders on current events and the Center for Media a

    Main Source: 
    Women in Media & News, April 13, 2006

    PR and Marketing, Sin Fronteras

    by Diane Farsetta — April 24, 2006 - 4:58pm

    In its "PR Toolbox" section, PR Week addresses how to market "to the growing Hispanic population." The answer: radio. "There are now approximately 700 Spanish-language radio stations in the U.S." And, according to Rise Birnbaum of the broadcast PR firm Zcomm, "Spanish-language stations are even more receptive than general-market ones" to audio news releases and radio media tours.

    Main Source: 
    PR Week (sub req'd), April 17, 2006

    White House Will Be Scott-Free

    by Diane Farsetta — April 19, 2006 - 12:11pm

    "White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said Wednesday he is stepping down, while President Bush's top presidential adviser Karl Rove is giving up his policy portfolio," reports FOX News and Associated Press. McClellan will leave the White House in two to three weeks.

    Main Source: 
    FOX News, April 19, 2006

    'Ad/PR Man' Wants to Buy Newspaper

    by Laura Miller — March 28, 2006 - 7:14pm

    There are many bright ideas out there for the future of the 12 Knight-Ridder newspapers on the auction block, ideas that have generated discussion about the news media's responsibility to the public and democracy.

    Main Source: 
    O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), March 28, 2006
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