Change the Channels

Living with AT&T: Wisconsin Fox Station Repackages AT&T Infomercial as a Feature Story

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:32:42 -0500

Full article: Stop the Cap!
Phillip Dampier
A Fox affiliate in Green Bay, Wis., has some trouble drawing distinctions between informational programming and infomercials: It repackaged a four-minute ad for AT&T U-verse into a feature story on <em>Living With Amy</em>, its morning show targeting women viewers. The affiliate failed to disclose to viewers the four-minute segment was actually a paid commercial; AT&T doesn't appear anywhere on the show's sponsor page.

The Great Local News Heist

Stevie Converse — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:37:16 -0400

Full article: SavetheNews.org
Libby Reinish
The Fox station in Charleston, S.C. is airing one set of news at 10 p.m., and then the CBS affiliate across town is broadcasting the same news — same anchors, same scripts, same everything — an hour later. Covert media consolidation is happening in 50 percent of American TV markets, and the FCC has so far failed to so much as study the matter.

Malay Payola?

Stevie Converse — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:49:14 -0400

Full article: Politico
Ben Smith
A firm called FBC — short for FactBased Communications — simultaneously took government contracts for public relations work and produced content for the BBC, CNBC and CNN. That content included softball interviews with clients like the leaders of Malaysia, whose records might have drawn harder coverage.

FTC Asks Court to Shut Down Fake News Sites

Stevie Converse — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:04:44 -0400

Full article: The Hill
Gautham Nagesh
The Federal Trade Commission is asking federal courts to stop 10 firms from using fake websites to make misleading claims regarding acai berry weight-loss products. The complaints allege the sites are typically titled something like "News 6 News Alerts," "Health News Health Alerts," or "Health 5 Beat Health News." The FTC said the sites frequently display the logos of major media outlets -- such as ABC, CBS, CNN and Consumer Reports — and claim their reports have been on the networks.

Churnalism.com Reveals Press Release Copy in News Stories

Stevie Converse — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:48:24 -0500

Full article: PBS.org
Martin Moore
A new website helps the public distinguish journalism from "churnalism," a news article that is published as journalism, but is essentially a press release without much added. The site is gaining traction since its launch two weeks ago.

On the Media: A Plea for Honesty in Paid TV Pitches

Stevie Converse — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:18:46 -0500

Full article: Los Angeles Times
James Rainey
TV "magazine" and news programs putting these so-called experts on the air typically provide little, if any, disclosure to viewers about their commercial raison d'air-time. The federal agencies that monitor this sort of activity require clear notification of commercial pitches, but the disclaimers are as rare as liberal yakkers on AM radio. My small holiday wish: that the people routinely selling to us on TV tell us who is paying their way.

Leaked Memos Reveal How Fox News Spun Health Care Debate

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:02:43 -0500

Full article: Yahoo! News
Michael Calderone
Fox News has been accused before of promoting Republican talking points. Now, new reports reveal internal memos from Fox News executives that "echoed a key GOP talking point" during year's health care debate.

Is That a Morning Show or an Infomercial?

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:35:00 -0400

Full article: Los Angeles Times
James Rainey
'The Balancing Act' on Lifetime and another program from O2 Media feature products whose makers pay for segments. But this isn't disclosed to viewers.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Entry into the News Biz

Stevie Converse — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:40:40 -0400

Full article: Nieman Journalism Lab
Laura McGann
For the past several years, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has invested in its own publishing platform, running a network of local online and print publications that focus on legal issues in areas where business interests have been critical of the decisions of local courts. These are not independent trade publications, but nowhere on the main pages of these sites is the Chamber mentioned.

Media Minutes: October 8, 2010

Stevie Converse — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:00:39 -0400

Public media is the most trusted source of news in both the United States and in Great Britain. Any yet, public media institutions are fighting to keep public spaces alive for encountering culture, debate issues and share experiences. And the FCC is being urged to investigate local news stations that are airing paid advertising disguised as fake news segments.