Corporate propaganda invading the local news
A recent Los Angeles Times exposé revealed that paid spokespeople are hawking their wares on local news. The stations are misleading viewers by presenting them as experts and are getting away with it.
Media consolidation has gutted newsrooms; broadcasters have laid off local reporters and are left looking for cheap ways to fill the news hole. Instead of real news that matters to your community they serve up paid propaganda.
The FCC has pledged to protect consumers by making stations disclose this kind of pay-to-play system. Under the agency's rules, a TV station can be fined up to $37,500 every time it fails to disclose these agreements. In 2007, the last time we pushed the FCC to stop this practice; it started an investigation and even fined Comcast for airing fake news.
But since then, the FCC has hardly lifted a finger — and fake news is spreading. The Times has exposed more cases of fake news. One station was caught airing a "Health Watch" segment from a local hospital that touted news of new cancer treatments to lure people in the door. The FCC needs to stop this practice once and for all. This practice is illegal, and the FCC needs to do something about it.
Free Press has filed a letter at the FCC urging the agency to protect consumers from this deceitful practice. Take action now to protect consumers from fake news:
http://act2.freepress.net/sign/fakenews/
Full text of the Los Angeles Times Article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-onthemedia-20100915,0,370372.column
More information on this subject can be found at:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-onthemedia-20100918,0,566983.column
To become more involved with media literacy in the Northwest please visit:
www.nwresponsiblemedia.org