FCC probes 'fake news' at U.S. TV stations

[tuvor]

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has begun an investigation of the use of video news releases, sometimes called "fake news," at U.S. television stations.

Video news releases are packaged stories paid for by businesses or interest groups. They use actors to portray reporters and use the same format as television news stories.

The FCC has mailed letters to at least 42 stations asking station managers about agreements between the station and the creators of the video news releases.

The action follows an April report on fake TV news by two media watchdog groups, the Center for Media Democracy in Wisconsin and Free Press in Northampton, Maryland. They recorded incidents where video news releases had been used at 77 stations in a study titled Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/08/16/fake-news-probe.html

[bullimiami]

1. how about the governments fake news. is that being probed too?

[Missy M]

2. How about the fake news that occurred today regarding...

a woman with vaseline, etc. on an airplane.

[underpants]

3. Huh?

:shrug:

[sgxnk]

5. does SLJ know about this?

motherf#$($##$(#g VASELINE!!!

on a plane!!

[cspanlovr]

4. They're a little slow on the uptake, aren't they? I'm glad to see

something finally happening, but we've known about this for years! The wheels turn so slowly!

[underpants]

6. Wow they really are on top of this three year old story

Way to go FCC :thumbsup: too bad you couldn't have done something about this before the Drug bill went through or the election of 2004 but other than that way to go!

[Initech]

7. Why dont they include Fox News in the inquiry?

A bunch of idiotic talking heads that spew more bile and garbage than the nation's largest landfill combined do not maketh a news station.

[havocmom]

8. Attack on The Daily Show and Colbert Report?

Neocons can't stand the fact that they don't control ALL the media just yet. Somebody in their camp had an epiphany and noticed they were being exposed regularly on Comedy Central

[onehandle]

9. "Bush was elected President in 2000"

How about starting with the biggest whopper of all?

[zbdent]

10. Along with Faux News, maybe that

John Stossel idiot, too ... he said (in his book) he got tired of doing news stories about the price of a can of beans ... now he's a corporate Repuke shill ... who took the money and ran from his "rasslin lawsuit" ...

[Supersedeas]

12. another example of the most pathetic brand of fake journalism

[ima_sinnic]

11. this in itself is "fake news." we're sposed to believe any * admin

agency does anything credible/serious?