...Literally, "in" the news.Meet Kate Brooks: she appears to be a news reporter for ABC, CBS and FOX, but she's actually an actor working for Siemens, General Motors and many other corporations. You see, Kate works for a company called MediaLink that creates newscasts for corporations to send to local news stations and be aired as real news. Maybe you guys can help me understand how they get away with that?
A FCC spokesman declined to comment on the investigation. It's not illegal to run a corporate-sponsored news report. However, the FCC says viewers or listeners must be told who sponsored it. A fine of $32,500 per violation could be assessed on any station found to have broken the rules
The VNR Investigation by CMD.
Over a ten-month period, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) documented television newsrooms' use of 36 video news releases (VNRs)-a small sample of the thousands produced each year. CMD identified 77 television stations, from those in the largest to the smallest markets, that aired these VNRs or related satellite media tours (SMTs) in 98 separate instances, without disclosure to viewers. Collectively, these 77 stations reach more than half of the U.S. population. The VNRs and SMTs whose broadcast CMD documented were produced by three broadcast PR firms for 49 different clients, including General Motors, Intel, Pfizer and Capital One. In each case, these 77 television stations actively disguised the sponsored content to make it appear to be their own reporting. In almost all cases, stations failed to balance the clients' messages with independently-gathered footage or basic journalistic research. More than one-third of the time, stations aired the pre-packaged VNR in its entirety.Below is an incredible example of a Cadillac VNR. CMD describes it.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. The Center for Media and Democracy claimed to be 'non-partisan' on their web site but ALL of their publications are left of center. Something smells fishy and it isn’t my Salmon sandwich.
Ed at 8:51AM on Oct 12th 2007
2. Hey Ed, does this mean that the FACTS of the story don't bother you? Forget the messenger, look at the message! And oh yeah, who says YOU get to define where the center is?
Tim Brown at 9:21AM on Oct 12th 2007
3. This is OLD news anyway . . . I remember hearing about these little tidbits of corporate propaganda years ago . . . BUt guess who owns the TV stations? Giant multinationals, of course!
Tim Brown at 9:24AM on Oct 12th 2007
4. In My Opinion -- Knowing your constitution is good, knowing how it works is better. Knowing how to successfully use it is the path to ENLIGHTENMENT.
NOTE -- Cartier and Bulgari jewelers are Boycotting the Burmese jewel industry.
Italian jeweller Bulgari boycotts Myanmar gems 11 Oct 2007 16:57 GMT
Cartier, U.S. jewelers start boycotting Myanmar gems 10 Oct 2007 21:57.
NOTE -- Myanmar is reacting with a Gem sale;
Myanmar to hold new gems sale despite boycott call 12 Oct 2007 07:55
NOTE -- possibly some, like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Brangelina, other celebrities will buy from Cartier, Bulgari, or others who support the BOYCOTT in helping to bring awareness to the gem situation in Burma......
Then announcing it (even custom jewelry) BURMA -- FREE BURMA...ARTICLE 155 (existing constitutional citizens right to vote)...or something unique may also add to the quest for freedom......
SUPPORTING THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE GEM BOYCOTT, will bring an advertising advantage to them...... I believe it is worth it!
TONY BAJA at 10:14AM on Oct 12th 2007
5. To the Generals.... if the International community can beat you with a gem boycott, then in my opinion, the international community can beat the Burmese Government at just about any boycott.......... I don't believe the good people want to starve out the Burmese government with a full slate of boycotts..... BUT, it is an option...
Hopefully, the Gem Boycott will show the unity and results of how boycotts can effect the government of Burma.... and Hopefully the gem boycott will be the only boycott needed to persuade the Burmese government (possibly the council of State), to ORDER the military to turn it priorities inwards, and defend the good constitution of the citizens of Burma...... Chapter XI, article 155
And if the government does Not, then maybe the Good Soliders WILL..... for their own future!
Hopefully the international community will squeeze your gems, until you say "Preserve, Protect, And Defend The Constitution"
TONY BAJA at 10:15AM on Oct 12th 2007
6. CONSTITUTION OF MYANMAR
CHAPTER XI
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AN DUTIES OF CITIZENS
Article 155
Every citizen shall have the right-
(a) subject to the provisions of this Constitution, to elect and be elected to the Pyithu Hluttaw and the People's Councils at different levels;
(b) to submit in accordance with law a list of candidates for election as people's representatives to the Pyithu Hluttaw and the People's Councils at different levels;
(c) to recall in accordance with law people's representatives elected to the Pyithu Hluttaw and the People's Councils at different levels.
TONY BAJA at 10:16AM on Oct 12th 2007
7. CONSTITUTION OF MYANMAR
CHAPTER XI
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AN DUTIES OF CITIZENS
Article 157
Every citizen shall have freedom of speech, expression and publication to the extent that the enjoyment of such freedom is not contrary to the interests of the working people and of socialism.
NOTE - I'm not a supporter of socialism, but in this case, the gems, the oil and the natural resources are owned by the state, in order to provide for the people, and the people are NOT even getting a vote, or much of any Constitutional protection...... hmmmmm, let's hope VNR doesn't do a news story supporting the government of Burma/Myanmar.
TONY BAJA at 10:16AM on Oct 12th 2007
8. CONSTITUTION OF MYANMAR
CHAPTER XI
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AN DUTIES OF CITIZENS
Article 158
Every citizen shall have the right freely to take part in political, social, class and mass organizations permitted by law and to enjoy freedom of association, assembly and procession. The State shall provide necessary assistance to the people to enable them to enjoy fully these rights and freedoms.
TONY BAJA at 10:17AM on Oct 12th 2007
9. CONSTITUTION OF MYANMAR
CHAPTER XI
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AN DUTIES OF CITIZENS
Article 163
(a) Every citizen shall fully e enjoy the rights provided by this Constitution.
(b) Laws shall be enacted to ensure the most expeditious and effective protection of the rights of citizens and prevent their violation.
NOTE - could a situation whereas a company like VNR be reporting the news in Burma/Myanmar, and just possibly no one knows about the existing constitution already in place? Hmmmmmm.
TONY BAJA at 10:17AM on Oct 12th 2007
10. CONSTITUTION OF MYANMAR
CHAPTER XI
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AN DUTIES OF CITIZENS
Article 164
(a) Every citizen shall have the right to lodge complaints concerning their grievances to the competent organ of State power.
(b) The organ of State power shall investigate the complaints expeditiously and take such action as in be necessary.
NOTE -- again, it looks like alot of constitutional powers granted by Fundamental rights, that actually protects the good people of Burma......... hmmmmm, I see very few rteports about this constitution, and just where it went wrong...... VNR?
TONY BAJA at 10:18AM on Oct 12th 2007
11. aaah,
the corporate media.
something i have been railing against for years.
propaganda you say?
nooooo,say it aint so joe!
lets consider that with all the media outlets,
be they broadcast,televised or print,numbering in the thousands...
how many owners would you think there would be?
hundreds?
less than a hundred?
try FIVE!
five owners for the thousands of media outlets,
and what if those owners had an agenda?
no names! *cough* rupert murdoch*cough*
would it be safe to assume that they wish to have a message to propagate?
maybe manipulate the context of what people watched?
maybe had certain on-air personalities to fit that agenda?
memo's indicating a direction of a story,and choosing which story and what context that story will be shown?
profit will always be the great motivator,but when you have that kind of influential power,its going to be used.
and it has been for years.
the manipulation of facts,to skew the public's perception,has been going on for years.
its polarized the argument,and takes away the context we all need to make a well-balanced decision.
it dumbs us down,and we are all the poorer for it.
knowledge is the weapon,reason tempered with wisdom is our shield.
this kind of media takes that away from all of us.
the internet is the last great,free debate,and a great equalizer against this kind of influence.
with net neutrality being threatened,this great information exchange may soon go the way of the do-do.
that will be a sad day for all of us.
till next time..peace.
Enoch D.D.S
enoch at 10:19AM on Oct 12th 2007
12. good points Enoch, but I tend to disagree only in part...... Maybe 5 networks in the USA, or maybe the APP, and other news sources like that...... the new York times was once a mammonth of the media leadership, based in part, on their location, being the east coast........ so on the east coast, thay had a 3 hour jump on the west coast, and hours on other time zones....... So, other media sources were just lazy, they would wake up, read what the NY Times had printed, and just reprint it..... and then the NY times would have to hold the responsibility for having the accuracy, the confirmations in place....
the editors desk is also a Very Powerful decision maker on what type of spin, and what type of info is deleted from many articles...
I do agree, corporate america does have some influence, but mainly just from buying off their opposition....... as is probably so in Burma with relations to the oil companies.....
I do agree, that the internet has opened the EYES of America to something other then the edited, cut and dried form of totaliatrian news programing and social conditioning....... Thanks in part to JEFF HOARD, and others like Him.....
Without the INTERNET and people like JEFF HOARD, well, this story would NEVER make it to print... covered up, and cut left to sit on some editors floor - Deemed - UNACCEPTLE.
Thanks To Jeff Hoard and others like him.... this nation owes you a gesture of gratitude!
TONY BAJA at 10:40AM on Oct 12th 2007
13. Unbelievable!
Lisa at 10:45AM on Oct 12th 2007
14. Daily I am amazed at the stupidity of the Liberal mindset. If corporations do not sell products then they go out of business. Then where are people supposed to get jobs? This is just fine with Liberalism so as to create massive soup lines of dependency.
The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism, but under the name of Liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program until one day America will be a Socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened.
Paul Sparcello at 12:01PM on Oct 12th 2007
15. Another informative blog Jeff. Keep up the good work. To the person who wrote number 14, you should consider getting more informed while thinking of people as people, not things. We're far from socialism in this country. In fact, 12 million real children feel hunger right here in the US on a daily basis. Meanwhile, corporate welfare benefits outdo social welfare benefits by at least 4:1. This blog reminds of my seeing a slanted segment on one of the major networks about cannabis only to find out at the end it was brought to us by a pharmaceutical company. If anyone walked away from their set for even a couple of seconds they would've missed that part. - Dr. Kenneth J. Hildebrandt - http://majormediabypass.com
Dr. Ken Hildebrandt at 1:07PM on Oct 12th 2007