Video News Releases

NEWS RELEASE: FCC INVESTIGATES "FAKE TV NEWS" COMPLAINT

by John Stauber — May 26, 2006 - 10:10am
  • Topics: Video News Releases

    • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact:
    Diane Farsetta, Center for Media and Democracy, 608-260-9713
    Craig Aaron, Free Press, 202-265-1490

    FCC Investigates TV Stations for Airing Fake News

    Investigation into Video News Releases and Activist Pressure May Lead to Fines, Better Disclosure

    WASHINGTON -- The Federal Communic

    CMD Report "Fake TV News" Triggers FCC Investigation

    by John Stauber — May 25, 2006 - 10:26am

    Bloomberg reports that, in direct response to CMD's groundbreaking exposé 'Fake TV News,' the "Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin ordered a probe of dozens of television stations. ...

    Main Source: 
    Bloomberg, May 25, 2006

    New Homes for Corporate Video, Robin Raskin

    by Diane Farsetta — May 4, 2006 - 12:06pm

    Robin Raskin

    "Putting VNRs, b-roll, and SMTs on the Web is quickly becoming a corporate necessity," claims PR Week, referring

    Main Source: 
    PR Week (sub req'd), May 1, 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.

    Join the Fight to Stop Fake News!

    by Diane Farsetta — April 12, 2006 - 10:22am

    Do you like being propagandized? If not, join the fight to stop fake news! As the Center for Media and Democracy reported last week, TV stations' use of corporate-funded video news releases is widespread and undisclosed. Our colleagues at Free Press have made it easy for you to contact the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on this important issue.

    Main Source: 
    Free Press and Center for Media and Democracy, April 12, 2006

    B-Roll Bypasses Policies Against Fake News

    by Bob Burton — March 29, 2006 - 5:28am

    Former producer of BBC World's World Business Report and a former editor at CNBC, Jules Heynes, told PR Week UK that corporate supplied video footage - referred to as B-roll - is commonly broadcast even when stations have a policy against its use.

    Main Source: 
    PR Week, March 23, 2006 (Sub req'd.)

    Local TV News May Be Hazardous to Your Health

    by Diane Farsetta — March 14, 2006 - 3:50pm

    After studying health segments on 122 local television stations, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Michigan concluded, "Few newscasts provide useful information, and some stories with factually incorrect information and potentially dangerous advice were aired." Yet, "Americans rate television as their primary source of health information." The researchers noted "pervasive health stories" that aired in "more than 10 media markets" sometimes included "identical video," suggesting the use of

    Main Source: 
    The American Journal of Managed Care, March 2006
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