Submitted by Bob Burton on
After Hill & Knowlton contacted community newspaper editors on behalf of Wal-Mart Stores informing them "Wal-Mart representatives were available for interviews," Mike Buffington, the president of the National Newspaper Association (NMA), let fly. "So why is it that community newspapers in America are good enough to help you fend off critics with free PR, but we're not good enough for your paid advertising?
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
"If viewers were confused before, they'll certainly have a hard time discerning news updates from mini-informercials now," writes Joe Mandese, on how Medialink Worldwide is "morphing" news and public relations. Medialink "says 'branded journalism' is the best way to advertise in a splintered market.
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
Florida freelance television reporter Mike Vasilinda's public relations firm "has earned more than $100,000 over the past four years through contracts with Gov. Jeb Bush's office, the Secretary of State, the Department of Education and other government entities that are routinely part of Vasilinda's stories," while those stories aired on CNN and Florida NBC affiliates.
Recent reports about the Bush administration's use of fake video news releases (VNRs) have helped highlight a problem that John Stauber and I have been talking about for more than a decade.
Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on
Why do local TV news stations use fake video news releases? Political science professor Marion Just and Tom Rosenstiel of the Project for Excellence in Journalism surveyed stations and found that the audience for TV news is shrinking, while "the companies that own these stations have generally continued to expect high earnings, usually profit margins in excess of 40 percent.
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
The Government Accountability Office "said yesterday that they will investigate whether the Department of Health and Human Services violated that law by awarding a $21,500 contract to commentator and marriage advocate Maggie Gallagher." The GAO is currently looking into the legality of similar payments from the Dep
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
"The Meat Promotion Coalition has been formed in the office of Washington's top agriculture (public affairs) / lobby firm, Lesher & Russell," reports O'Dwyer's. Coalition members include Tyson Foods, Hormel Foods, Cargill, the National Catttlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Producers, American Meat Institute, National Meat Association, and American Farm Bureau Federation.
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
At a conference on the future of nuclear power, International Atomic Energy Agency director Mohamed ElBaradei "pointed to nuclear energy policy plans in China, Finland, the United States and possibly Poland as proof that nuclear power may be returning to vogue." U.S.
The Center for Media and Democracy and Free Press have filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission urging an investigation of the extensive airing of "fake news" by TV broadcasters who take government and corporate Video News Release (VNR) stories and run them unlabeled as real journalism. In just one week nearly 40,000 citizens have signed our petition calling on the FCC, Congress and local broadcasters to stop fake news.
Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on
Former Enron CEO Ken Lay, "the poster boy for how big guys can rip off suckers in the stock market," is back in the news as his trial date nears. According to Frank Rich, "The enduring legacy of Enron can be summed up in one word: propaganda.
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