Administration Is Warned About Its 'News' Videos

[LiviaOlivia]

The New York Times
February 19, 2005
Administration Is Warned About Its 'News' Videos
By ANNE E. KORNBLUT

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 - The comptroller general has issued a blanket warning that reminds federal agencies they may not produce newscasts promoting administration policies without clearly stating that the government itself is the source.

Twice in the last two years, agencies of the federal government have been caught distributing prepackaged television programs that used paid spokesmen acting as newscasters and, in violation of federal law, failed to disclose the administration's role in developing and financing them.

~snip~

In fact, it has become increasingly common for federal agencies to adopt the public relations tactic of producing "video news releases" that look indistinguishable from authentic newscasts and, as ready-made and cost-free reports, are sometimes picked up by local news programs. It is illegal for the government to produce or distribute such publicity material domestically without disclosing its own role.

Mr. Walker, who as comptroller general is chief of the Government Accountability Office, Congress's investigative arm, said in his letter: "While agencies generally have the right to disseminate information about their policies and activities, agencies may not use appropriated funds to produce or distribute prepackaged news stories intended to be viewed by television audiences that conceal or do not clearly identify for the television viewing audience that the agency was the source of those materials."

~snip~

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/19/politics/19gao.html?ex=1109480400&en=9686cc137fcaf872&ei=5070

[Patchuli]

1. Thank you!! Yesssssssssss!!

It's a start to accountability for this administration! wwwwooooHOOOOO!

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[rodeodance]

3. I really do not see anything in this art. that would say they are scared

as the title claims.

.......The G.A.O. letter did not caution agencies to curtail their publicity practices, telling them simply to adhere to disclosure requirements.

"Prepackaged news stories," Mr. Walker wrote, "can be utilized without violating the law, so long as there is clear disclosure to the television viewing audience that this material was prepared by or in cooperation with the government department or agency."

But Democrats said they hoped the letter would lead to tougher scrutiny of what they describe as an aggressive publicity machine within the administration.

"The G.A.O. is sending a clear message to the Bush administration: shut down the propaganda mill," Senator Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey said in a statement on Friday. "The G.A.O. is simply telling the White House to stop manipulating media, stop paying journalists and be straight with the American people."

[stepnw1f]

4. Art? Please Explain What You Mean by "ART" (nt)

[havocmom]

5. As it had a period (.) after it, perhaps an abbreviation for 'article'?

space on the subject line being limited and all, sometimes shortcuts are used.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. "Prepackaged news stories," Mr. Walker wrote,

Perhaps they could put a little logo down in the corner of these "news stories" that might say.... Prepared by Fox News, so that we would know it is fiction.... it's only fair.

www.outfoxed.org

[moggie12]

2. excellent -- hope this gets media attention n/t

[Supersedeas]

7. when is someone going to connect the dots

[OzarkDem]

8. If this doesn't stop Bush

then Dems need to adopt similarly aggressive media strategies. Bushco is already working his propaganda magic with the sheeple on SS. The latest polls now show SS is now considered the most important issue.

[DemoTex]

9. On to the next Rovian trick.

Nothing will change. They will just find another way to distribute the same propaganda. Mark my word.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. How long before Walker's out of a job?

[liveoaktx]

11. Even beyond this, would be nice for ALL pre-packaged news

regardless of its source, to list its origins, ala which PR company sent such and such news on behalf of what client?