77 TV stations aired 'fake news reports'

[dogday]

A study by a group that monitors the media reveals that, over a ten month span, 77 television stations from all across the nation aired video news releases without informing their viewers even once that the reports were actually sponsored content, RAW STORY has found.

One "news report" that aired on three stations relied on a video news release (VNR) produced by a PR firm on behalf of General Motors which was even apparently based on a "false claim."

Center for Media and Democracy's Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed is "a multimedia report on television newsrooms' use of material provided by PR firms on behalf of paying clients," containing video footage of the 36 video news releases (VNRs) cited in the report, plus a map and spreadsheet of the stations cited.

General Motors, Intel, Pfizer and Capital One are among the companies who produced VNRs with the help of three PR firms, and "ore than one-third of the time, stations aired the pre-packaged VNR in its entirety."

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/77_TV_stations_aired_fake_news_0405.html

[AndyA]

1. Wag the Dog

The corporations make the news they want us to hear, and the corporate-owned media broadcasts it. This puts Americans and freedom of information in jeopardy.

Anything prepared as a news release or for public relations benefit should be labeled as such by law. To do otherwise is to open it up for corruption and abuse, which is apparently already happening.

Edit: Spelling.

[dogday]

2. Bet you won't see this on the Cable news networks......

They would not dare bring this story to light...........

[htuttle]

3. Toxic Sludge is Good for You!

Read all about it:
http://www.prwatch.org/books/tsigfy.html

These 'video news releases' have been masquerading as real news for a long time.

A must read book if the topic is new to you.

[quispquake]

4. Democracy Now did a full segment today on this...

Harrowing...none of the news shows told viewers that these were produced by the corporations...must see TV or audio if you can check out Democracy now today...

[neoblues]

5. So, the television news we've all come to trust, respect and...

rely upon for their steadfast efforts to properly inform and educate all U.S. citizens in order for them to be able to make intelligent decisions about their lives and government... :sarcasm:

...is actually even more untrustworthy than most have imagined! Welcome to Real Fake News! Real News (Not) You Can (Can't) Trust! Said the Spider (to the Fly).