FCC examining TV networks, military analysts

[unhappycamper]

FCC examining TV networks, military analysts
By Joelle Tessler - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Oct 8, 2008 6:34:13 EDT

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday said it is investigating whether five television networks and 19 former military officers violated government disclosure rules in providing on-air analysis of the war in Iraq and other issues.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau is focusing on whether the networks and military veterans violated federal “sponsorship identification” rules by failing to disclose the connections and potential conflicts of interest of the analysts being interviewed.

Federal law prohibits anyone involved with preparing broadcast or cable programming from accepting anything of value without disclosing it to the public. It also requires broadcast and cable stations to determine when a disclosure is warranted.

The FCC did not name the media companies, but representatives from CBS News and ABC News said they have received the government inquiries.

The federal probe follows a New York Times investigation published in April that detailed a secretive Defense Department public relations campaign to recruit former military officers to serve as TV analysts who would support the administration’s views on the war in Iraq, conditions at Guantanamo Bay and other efforts to combat terrorism.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/ap_militaryanalysts_100709/%2e