Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
Senators John Kerry and Frank Lautenberg introduced the Truth in Broadcasting Act; a Senate Commerce committee hearing is expected in early May. The bill would require "all pre-packaged news stories produced by Executive Branch agencies to contain a continuously visible disclaimer stating 'Produced By the U.S. Government'," when aired on U.S. television stations. The bill does not require disclaimers from broadcasters. The disclaimer would not be required for reports from government-supported news agencies like PBS and NPR, or for international broadcasts, "since the U.S. government has no prohibition on exporting propaganda." Broadcasting & Cable suggests the bill "has a good chance of becoming law," given the overwhelming support for a similar measure authored by Senator Robert Byrd.
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