Press Release
Free Press files complaint asking FCC to expand probe on ‘payola pundits’
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- Free Press, the national, nonpartisan media reform group, today filed formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, seeking an expanded investigation "into the ongoing crisis of our broadcast news media provoked by so-called payola punditry."
"Hardly a week goes by without a new revelation that another so-called journalist or expert is surreptitiously taking money from the government or a corporation to promote a policy or product," said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press. "The FCC needs to intervene to stop the current violations and prevent future abuses."
In January, USA Today first reported that television commentator Armstrong Williams had been paid $240,000 by the Bush administration to promote the No Child Left Behind Act -- an arrangement he never disclosed during his numerous television appearances touting the bill. Following complaints by thousands of Free Press activists, then-FCC Chairman Michael Powell announced the launch of an official investigation. The results of that investigation have not been released.
Several other "journalists" subsequently have admitted being on the government payroll. In March, the New York Times reported that 20 federal agencies had used taxpayer funds to produce television news segments promoting Bush administration policies. These "video news releases" (VNRs) were broadcast on hundreds of local news programs without disclosing their source. After more than 45,000 activists signed a petition circulated by Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy, the FCC issued a Public Notice warning television newscasters to make clear the origin of VNRs.
The complaint filed today asks the FCC to extend the scope of an investigation in light of recent revelations that on-air personalities are being paid to promote products on local and national television news programs. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that "consumer experts" lauded products on show such as "Today" and "Good Morning America" without disclosing payments received from the manufacturers. Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein has called on his colleagues at the FCC to scrutinize such undisclosed promotions and product placements.
A copy of the Free Press complaint and a new report, titled "Fake News, Payola Pundits and the Public Trust," are available at www.freepress.net/propaganda.
"The preponderance of pay-to-sway pundits on television further erodes the public trust in the news media," said Free Press campaign director Timothy Karr, author of the report. "The spurious activities by these so-called experts should be treated as illegal payola. The FCC should investigate immediately and enforce the law to end this practice once and for all."
"Hardly a week goes by without a new revelation that another so-called journalist or expert is surreptitiously taking money from the government or a corporation to promote a policy or product," said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press. "The FCC needs to intervene to stop the current violations and prevent future abuses."
In January, USA Today first reported that television commentator Armstrong Williams had been paid $240,000 by the Bush administration to promote the No Child Left Behind Act -- an arrangement he never disclosed during his numerous television appearances touting the bill. Following complaints by thousands of Free Press activists, then-FCC Chairman Michael Powell announced the launch of an official investigation. The results of that investigation have not been released.
Several other "journalists" subsequently have admitted being on the government payroll. In March, the New York Times reported that 20 federal agencies had used taxpayer funds to produce television news segments promoting Bush administration policies. These "video news releases" (VNRs) were broadcast on hundreds of local news programs without disclosing their source. After more than 45,000 activists signed a petition circulated by Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy, the FCC issued a Public Notice warning television newscasters to make clear the origin of VNRs.
The complaint filed today asks the FCC to extend the scope of an investigation in light of recent revelations that on-air personalities are being paid to promote products on local and national television news programs. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that "consumer experts" lauded products on show such as "Today" and "Good Morning America" without disclosing payments received from the manufacturers. Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein has called on his colleagues at the FCC to scrutinize such undisclosed promotions and product placements.
A copy of the Free Press complaint and a new report, titled "Fake News, Payola Pundits and the Public Trust," are available at www.freepress.net/propaganda.
"The preponderance of pay-to-sway pundits on television further erodes the public trust in the news media," said Free Press campaign director Timothy Karr, author of the report. "The spurious activities by these so-called experts should be treated as illegal payola. The FCC should investigate immediately and enforce the law to end this practice once and for all."
