Agencies Warned to Halt Fake News Videos

[sarahlee]

Agencies Warned to Halt Fake News Videos
By Staff and Wire Reports
Feb 19, 2005, 03:53

Congressional investigators warned federal agencies this week that the promotion of government policies through video news releases meant to look like TV news stories may violate federal rules against propaganda.

In a letter sent Thursday to heads of government departments and agencies, the Government Accountability Office noted that "prepackaged news stories have become common tools of the public relations industry."

The presentations "are intended to be indistinguishable from news segments broadcast to the public by independent television news organizations," the letter said.

Comptroller General David M. Walker warned that such productions may violate a government prohibition, enacted in 1951, against the use of appropriated funds for propaganda.

More...
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_6267.shtml

[GreenPoet64]

1. Maybe our efforts . . .

to expose the * propaganda abuses are making this administration re-think some of its tactics.

[sarahlee]

2. Maybe...

On top of it being illegal.