CMD Report "Fake TV News" Triggers FCC Investigation - Center for Media and Democracy: "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 Communications Commission has launched an investigation of dozens of television stations, for airing corporate-sponsored and -scripted segments on news programs, without disclosing their sources.
The investigation comes in response to an investigative report by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) and an online activist campaign spearheaded by Free Press. The official probe by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin was reported today by Bloomberg News.
The report, titled 'Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed,' identified 77 television stations across the country that aired corporate PR as news over a 10-month period. Not one station disclosed the clients behind these segments to its viewers.
'We commend the FCC for taking the issue of fake news seriously,' said Diane Farsetta, the Center for Media and Democracy's senior researcher and the co-author of the report. 'With the FCC's enforcement bureau getting involved, hopefully TV stations will finally practice full disclosure.'
Although CMD tracked just 36 of the thousands of video news releases, or VNRs, distributed each year, it identified 69 TV stations that aired at least one VNR. Eight other stations aired satellite media tours, which are live but highly scripted interviews often scheduled and aired in conjunction with VNRs. The list of TV stations, along with footage of the VNRs and the newscasts that showed them, can be found at www.prwatch.org/fakenews/execsummary. . ."
About time.
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