Not in US news? What a surprise....

[sophiaserpentia]

from Bush Administration Accused of Manufacturing the News (thank you, contentlove)

The Bush Administration is being investigated for producing "ready made" television news packages in which actors were paid to pose as journalists, it emerged today. "TV news releases" were sent to local stations to be run as part of main news programmes.

... The "news" packages praised a new law, signed by the president in December, which the White House has said will make it easier for elderly American’s to obtain prescribed medicines. In some of the features, there are pictures of Mr Bush receiving a standing ovation from a crowd as he signed the "Medicare" law. The packages were produced by the Department of Health and Human Services, but news viewers would have no way of knowing they were watching a Government-produced story, rather than an independent news report.

They have been screened in several states, including Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Two of the videos end with the voice of a woman who says: "In Washington, I’m Karen Ryan reporting." The production company, Home Front Communications, said "Karen Ryan" was hired to read a script prepared by the Government.

Scripts were pre-written for news anchors. In one script the news reader is prompted to say: "In December, President Bush signed into law the first-ever prescription drug benefit for people with Medicare. Since then, there have been a lot of questions about how the law will help older Americans and people with disabilities. Reporter Karen Ryan helps sort through the details." "Karen Ryan" then explains the benefits of the new law.

... The made-for-TV-news packages are now being investigated by the General Accounting Office -- an arm of Congress. Under law federal money cannot be used for "publicity or propaganda purposes", unless authorised by Congress.

Comments

[gentlemaitresse.livejournal.com]

I didn't know about the federal law, but I will say this: Never, ever expect news to be unbiased. There is no such thing, and private businesses and charities have been doing this kind of thing for DECADES.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

There's no incentive for mass media to overlook the income potential for news. And if "news" comes in pre-made packages, it's easier for them to just roll the clip then to have to produce their own material.

I think, though, that if newspapers run an ad that's dressed up to look like a "news story," that there have to be indications that it's an advertisement.

[gentlemaitresse.livejournal.com]

Newspapers do the same thing. It's called a "press release", and it can, and usually is, written just like a news story. I know. I've written them and had them published.

[karpocrates.livejournal.com]

Bah... This is nothing new. You hear this sort of thing all the time on world radio (shortwave). If you want to hear some interesting stuff being broadcast, a decent world band reciever can be bought from Radioshack for about $50 - $75. It is interesting to listen to the differences sometimes broadcast even between allied nations (BBC [Uk], and VoA [USA] for instance), not to mention soviet and chinese media. The various points of view on both gulf wars were very interesting, as there were large discrepancies on everything from casualty counts and damage reports to political views, etc.

[karpocrates.livejournal.com]

There was the whole O.J. thing, too... That was a good cover-up for the whole Clinton/Lewenski (sp?) thing. That's why I avoid watching the news at all. *@#! the government and media pisses me off.

[karpocrates.livejournal.com]

I agree, and most SW guides will recommend them for that reason, as well. I also like the RFC (Radio Free China).

[azaz-al.livejournal.com]

Ug.
Kill your television.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I don't own one, I'd have to buy one to kill it.

Um... I'll not, and say I did. How about that?

[azaz-al.livejournal.com]

Okay :)

[karpocrates.livejournal.com]

*Shrugs* That was a good song though.