Press Release
Congress eliminates government funding for fake news following public outcry
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy today applauded Congress for barring federal agencies from producing video news releases (VNRs) that do not clearly disclose the government as their source. But the groups called on lawmakers to make the one-year ban permanent and pass stronger measures against the broadcast of government and corporate propaganda.
Congressional negotiators agreed to include the prohibition on federally funded VNRs, introduced by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), as part of an $82 billion emergency appropriations bill. The action follows a forceful public outcry over the use of taxpayer funds to produce fake news segments promoting Bush administration policies. At least 20 federal agencies have produced VNRs to be aired on hundreds of local stations.
Last month, more than 40,000 citizens signed a petition from Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy, urging Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ban the covert distribution of fake news reports via local news outlets. The FCC responded to the petition by issuing a notice requiring all television newscasters to clearly disclose the origin of VNRs used on their programs.
"Broadcasters, corporations and the government betray the public trust when they manipulate our news system to spread covert propaganda," said Timothy Karr, campaign director of Free Press. "The quick response from Congress and the FCC demonstrates that organized citizens can have a direct impact on government policies. But the one-year ban needs to be made permanent and enforceable."
Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) recently introduced the "Truth in Broadcasting Act," which would permanently require all government VNRs to contain a clear disclaimer. Senate hearings on the legislation are expected to be held later this month.
Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy are working with grassroots activists nationwide to monitor local broadcasts of VNRs and forge "citizen agreements" with local stations that require broadcasters to clearly identify and label pre-packaged reports produced by the government or corporations. The groups will meet with activists from across the country at next week's National Conference for Media Reform in St. Louis on May 13-15.
"We must combat the spread of covert propaganda, whether it's produced by the government or corporations," said John Stauber, executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy. "Through national and local monitoring and citizen pressure, we can end this practice and restore honesty, accuracy and credibility to our news media."
Congressional negotiators agreed to include the prohibition on federally funded VNRs, introduced by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), as part of an $82 billion emergency appropriations bill. The action follows a forceful public outcry over the use of taxpayer funds to produce fake news segments promoting Bush administration policies. At least 20 federal agencies have produced VNRs to be aired on hundreds of local stations.
Last month, more than 40,000 citizens signed a petition from Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy, urging Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ban the covert distribution of fake news reports via local news outlets. The FCC responded to the petition by issuing a notice requiring all television newscasters to clearly disclose the origin of VNRs used on their programs.
"Broadcasters, corporations and the government betray the public trust when they manipulate our news system to spread covert propaganda," said Timothy Karr, campaign director of Free Press. "The quick response from Congress and the FCC demonstrates that organized citizens can have a direct impact on government policies. But the one-year ban needs to be made permanent and enforceable."
Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) recently introduced the "Truth in Broadcasting Act," which would permanently require all government VNRs to contain a clear disclaimer. Senate hearings on the legislation are expected to be held later this month.
Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy are working with grassroots activists nationwide to monitor local broadcasts of VNRs and forge "citizen agreements" with local stations that require broadcasters to clearly identify and label pre-packaged reports produced by the government or corporations. The groups will meet with activists from across the country at next week's National Conference for Media Reform in St. Louis on May 13-15.
"We must combat the spread of covert propaganda, whether it's produced by the government or corporations," said John Stauber, executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy. "Through national and local monitoring and citizen pressure, we can end this practice and restore honesty, accuracy and credibility to our news media."
