Adelstein seeks Probe of Video News Releases

ADELSTEIN SEEKS PROBE OF VIDEO NEWS RELEASES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein on Thursday called for an investigation into new accusations that television news broadcasts are not disclosing the source of video news releases they use. Two consumer advocacy groups released a study that found 77 television stations over a 10-month period ending in March failed to clearly tell viewers when they were using video news releases and said that violated FCC rules that require such disclosure. "We should immediately open investigations into these possible violations of our rules and prosecute them to the full extent of the law," Commissioner Adelstein said at a news conference sponsored by the groups, Free Press and the Center for Media Democracy. The FCC a year ago reminded television broadcasters and cable operators to properly identify the source of video news releases after incidents in which prepackaged news from government agencies was used by stations without proper sponsorship identification. Congressional investigators also concluded last year that prepackaged news stories created by the Office of National Drug Control Policy constituted covert propaganda.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID...

* Text of Commissioner Adelstein's statement:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264822A1.doc

* RTNDA Tells Stations To ID All VNRs
The Radio-Television News Directors Association wants stations to toughen up their VNR policies, including clearly identifying all outside material used in news programming.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6322868?display=Breaking+News