Media

It Was a Very False Year: The 2005 Falsies Awards

by Diane Farsetta — January 3, 2006 - 2:46pm
  • Topics: Activism, Democracy, Media, Public Relations

    • As Father Time faded into history with the end of 2005, he was spinning out of control.

    Over the past twelve months, the ideal of accurate, accountable, civic-minded news media faced nearly constant attack. Fake news abounded, from Pentagon-planted stories in Iraqi newspapers to corporate- and government-funded video news releases aired by U.S. newsrooms. Enough payola pundits surfaced to constitute their own basketball team -- Doug Bandow, Peter Ferrara, Maggie Gallagher, Michael McManus and Armstrong Williams. (They could call themselves the "Syndicated Shills.")

    Taking Researcher-Industry Conflicts To Heart

    by Diane Farsetta — December 28, 2005 - 1:05pm

     

    "After learning that researchers for two studies it published this year didn't reveal financial ties to the maker of heart-surgery equipment that they evaluated favorably," the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery decided to go beyond publishing corrections that "reveal the

    Main Source: 
    Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), December 28, 2005

    Where's the Fire?

    by Diane Farsetta — December 16, 2005 - 3:23pm

    Durham, North Carolina's local ABC television affiliate "has been staging fire, foul weather and other news events across Durham this week, shooting advertisements for its news operations that not only put its Eyewitness News team at contrived scenes but also have taxpayers footing the bill for on-duty firefighters and other emergency workers to give the ads a realistic flair." The city fire chief said the ads weren't "a waste of taxpayers' money," becaus

    Main Source: 
    The News & Observer (North Carolina), December 16, 2005

    Baghdad Press Club Membership Has Its Privileges

    by Diane Farsetta — December 9, 2005 - 3:25pm

    "A U.S. investigation into allegations that the American military is buying positive coverage in the Iraqi media has expanded to examine a press club founded and financed by the U.S. Army," reports USA Today. The Baghdad Press Club was created in 2004, "to promote progress amid the violence and chaos of Iraq." A military spokesperson said "members are not required nor asked to write favorably" about the United States.

    Main Source: 
    USA Today, December 9, 2005

    The Olsen Twins They Ain't

    by Diane Farsetta — December 9, 2005 - 12:37pm

    "Nazi worship is very problematic but the public relations dilemma can be solved very simply," Margaret Kimberley writes. "Leave out any mention of hate, racism, Hitler and holocaust denial." Kimberley points to Prussian Blue, 13 year-old blonde twin sisters who sing songs celebrating Adolf Hitler and Rudolph Hess.

    Main Source: 
    The Black Commentator, December 8, 2005

    Reporters Without Respect for their Borders

    by Diane Farsetta — December 7, 2005 - 11:23am

    The head of Germany's federal intelligence agency (Bundesnachrichtendienst or BND), August Hanning, "admitted that several journalists, scientists and public figures had been spied on by the German secret services between 1993 and 1998. ...

    Main Source: 
    Tiscali (Europe), November 15, 2005

    Secretary of the Fourth Estate

    by Diane Farsetta — December 7, 2005 - 11:11am

    "Despite the time-worn diplomatic formula of quiet airport greetings by often-dour foreign ministers," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been welcomed by a falconer (with bird) in Kyrgyzstan, a sumo wrestling champion in Japan, and athlete Nadia Comaneci in Romania. Rice's "rock star status ... has been one result of a deliberate strategy," writes the New York Times.

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, December 5, 2005

    That's Advertainment

    by Sheldon Rampton — November 24, 2005 - 1:52am

    In Denver, Sacramento, Atlanta and Cleveland, radio stations owned by the Gannett media conglomerate have adopted "advertainment" - a new programming format that consists of "hybrid shows, which mix entertainment with commercial content (in addition to regular commercial breaks)." In Minneapolis, Gannett affiliate KARE plans this spring to "revamp its chatty mid-morning talk show 'Today,' and put much of that happy talk up for sale," writes Deborah Caulfield Rybak.

    Main Source: 
    Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 23, 2005

    Fake News for a Good Cause?

    by Diane Farsetta — November 18, 2005 - 4:30pm

    "CBS affiliate WUSA-TV was charging the [Washington] DC government as much as $100,000 annually to promote breast cancer awareness during newscasts." From 2002 to 2004, anchors at the Gannett-owned station were required to encourage viewers to go to the station's website for information about breast cancer - next to a banner ad for the city's Human Services Department. Through their "Buddy Check 9" program, the TV station also encouraged viewers to remind women friends or family members to perform self-exams for breast cancer.

    Main Source: 
    PR Week (sub req'd), November 17, 2005
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