Monday, June 05, 2006

Editorial denounces use of video news releases

The problem with so-called VNRs (video news releases) being aired as news is addressed in an editorial in today's Houston Chronicle.
As noted in the May 26 Turner Report, the FCC is investigating allegations that 77 stations aired these VNRs (which are provided by businesses or the government and are not identified as such), including KFJX, Fox 14 in Joplin.
The editorial ends by saying:

What's so troubling about the VNR plague, though, is the TV industry's indifference to stopping it. The industry itself, not a media watchdog group, should have been the first to report the widespread corruption of the news. It should have already examined, even isolated, stations that were infected.

Since that hasn't happened, it is for the FCC to enforce regulations it has too long overlooked. There's nothing wrong with advertising, but viewers need to show they won't put up with false pretenses.

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