Bush Uses Fake Reporters - Democratic Underground

Goldom

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Mon Mar-15-04 01:27 PM
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Bush Uses Fake Reporters

(Sorry, don't have link.. got this in e-mail...)

Videos, for TV News, Come Under Scrutiny
By ROBERT PEAR

ASHINGTON, March 14 - Federal investigators are scrutinizing television
segments in which the Bush administration paid people to pose as journalists
praising the benefits of the new Medicare law, which would be offered to
help elderly Americans with the costs of their prescription medicines.

The videos are intended for use in local television news programs. Several
include pictures of President Bush receiving a standing ovation from a crowd
cheering as he signed the Medicare law on Dec. 8.

The materials were produced by the Department of Health and Human Services,
which called them video news releases, but the source is not identified. Two
videos end with the voice of a woman who says, "In Washington, I'm Karen
Ryan reporting."

But the production company, Home Front Communications, said it had hired her
to read a script prepared by the government.

Another video, intended for Hispanic audiences, shows a Bush administration
official being interviewed in Spanish by a man who identifies himself as a
reporter named Alberto Garcia.

Another segment shows a pharmacist talking to an elderly customer. The
pharmacist says the new law "helps you better afford your medications," and
the customer says, "It sounds like a good idea." Indeed, the pharmacist
says, "A very good idea."

The government also prepared scripts that can be used by news anchors
introducing what the administration describes as a made-for-television
"story package."

In one script, the administration suggests that anchors use this language:
"In December, President Bush signed into law the first-ever prescription
drug benefit for people with Medicare. Since then, there have been a lot of
questions about how the law will help older Americans and people with
disabilities. Reporter Karen Ryan helps sort through the details."

The "reporter" then explains the benefits of the new law.

-snip-

In the videos and advertisements, the government urges beneficiaries to call
a toll-free telephone number, 1-800-MEDICARE. People who call that number
can obtain recorded information about prescription drug benefits if they
recite the words "Medicare improvement."

-snip-

As such, the videos have drawn criticism from some news media ethicists, who
consider them to be at odds with journalism's mission to verify
independently the claims of corporations and governments.

Government agencies have also produced such videos for years, often on
subjects like teenage smoking and the dangers of using steroids. But the
Medicare materials wander into more controversial territory.

Bill Kovach, chairman of the Committee of Concerned Journalists, expressed
disbelief that any television stations would present the Medicare videos as
real news segments, considering the current debate about the merits of the
new law.

"Those to me are just the next thing to fraud," Mr. Kovach said. "It's
running a paid advertisement in the heart of a news program
---------

They have to recite the words "Medicare improvement" to get information? Good lord, could you get any closer to direct brainwashing? improvement.. improvement.. improvement...