The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) published a new report, "Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed."
It's the result of a ten month investigation by CMD into the use of corporate-funded video news releases or VNRs - or fake TV news -- on TV stations without disclosure. Viewers could believe that these fake reports are the result of independent news reporting by station reporters.
CMD filed a formal complaint with the FCC, calling for the 77 stations they caught airing fake TV news to be held accountable.
Health news is a lucrative market for those who package and peddle these fake news VNRs. Examples in this study included VNRs touting a newly-approved prescription skin cream and one heralding a "major health breakthrough" for arthritis sufferers—a supplement that a widely-reported government study had found to be little better than a placebo.
Posted by schwitz at April 7, 2006 07:28 AM | TrackBack