[Mb-civic] CBC Arts - FCC ISSUES WARNING ABOUT FAKE NEWS

[CBC Arts]

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FCC ISSUES WARNING ABOUT FAKE NEWS
WebPosted Thu Apr 14 17:24:17 2005

WASHINGTON---The U.S. Federal Communications Commission warned
broadcasters on Wednesday not to ignore the rules that govern video
news releases.

The FCC, the federal agency that regulates the airwaves in the U.S., has
received complaints about media outlets that air government-made video
reports without identifying their source.

In a public notice to broadcast licensees and cable operators, the FCC
said its rules "are grounded in the principle that listeners and viewers
are entitled to know who seeks to persuade them" with television
programming.

The FCC has been asked by tens of thousands of people to investigate the
use of the reports.

Although previous administrations pioneered such methods, they have been
especially prevalent with George W. Bush in the White House.

The reports look and sound like real news stories. A narrator sometimes
identified as "Karen Ryan," for example, narrated a story on U.S. drug
policy – without identifying that the report originated from the
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The same voice has
also reported on health-care policy.

Tapes of the reports were supplied to local stations, some of which aired
them on news programs as if they were real journalism.

In its notice, the FCC said broadcasters "generally must clearly
disclose" to the audience at home the "nature, source, and sponsorship of
the material."

Violating the rules is punishable with a $10,000 US fine and a prison
term of one year.

The Bush administration came under fire earlier this year for paying
columnists, like conservative pundit Armstrong Williams, to promote
its agenda.

FROM JAN. 17, 2005: FCC investigates pundit's deal with Bush
administration

It is against U.S. law to pay for propaganda with taxpayer money.

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