Fake TV News Widespread and Undisclosed A multimedia report on television newsrooms’ use of material provided by PR firms on behalf of paying clients Diane Farsetta and Daniel Price Center for Media and Democracy April 6, 2006 Center for Media and Democracy 520 University Ave., Suite 227 Madison, WI 53703 Phone: 608-260-9713 Fax: 608-260-9714
[email protected] Multimedia Report Fake TV News Widespread and Undisclosed Contents News Release . .3 Executive Summary . .5 Introduction . .9 Findings—Video News Releases . .14 Findings—TV Stations . .59 Findings—Corporations . .62 Recommendations . .65 FAQ . .69 More on Fake News . .74 Contact Us . .76 Multimedia Report Fake TV News Widespread and Undisclosed News Release Press Advisory — April 6, 2006 Contact: Diane Farsetta or John Stauber, CMD, (608) 260-9713 Craig Aaron, Free Press, (202) 265-1490 x 25 New Report: Fake TV News Widespread and Undisclosed Investigation catches 77 local TV stations presenting corporate PR as real news Groups file complaint urging FCC to take action against deceptive broadcasters WASHINGTON — The Center for Media Democracy and Free Press today exposed an epidemic of fake news infiltrating local television broadcasts across country. At a press conference in Washington with FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein, the groups called for a crackdown on stations that present corporate-sponsored videos as genuine news to an unsuspecting audience. CMD, which unveiled the results of a 10-month investigation, found scores of local stations slipping commercial “video news releases,” or VNRs, into their regular news programming. The new multimedia report released today includes footage of 36 separate VNRs and their broadcast as “news” by TV stations and networks nationwide, including those in the nation’s biggest markets.