spin the spin
disconcerting, to say the least, thought not at all unexpected from an administration who only looks favorably on the free press if it agrees to act as their propoganda tool (see: jeff gannon):
The White House, intent on continuing to crank out "video news releases" that look like television news stories, has told government agency heads to ignore a Government Accountability Office memo criticizing the practice as illegal propaganda.In a memo on Friday, Joshua Bolten, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said the lawyers the White House depends on disagree with the GAO's conclusions.
Accompanying Bolten's memo was a letter from Steven Bradbury, principal deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, who said video news releases "are the television equivalent of the printed press release."
...Comptroller General David Walker of the GAO said Monday that his agency is "disappointed by the administration's actions" in telling agency heads to ignore the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress.
"This is not just a legal issue, it's also an ethical matter," Walker said. "The taxpayers have a right to know when the government is trying to influence them with their own money."
Comments
I've produced, directed & even shot some of my own footage for video news releases. It's a common practice. The media is supposed to be smart enough to use the b-roll and create their own story, but sometimes they just run the whole damn package 'cause they're lazy.
The best solution would be to self regulate the news releases with disclaimers of some sort. "U.S. Government Footage" or some such nonsense. You can't outlaw government PR.
i know this is common practice for corporations, but i don't think it's appropriate for the government to do it, esp with taxpayer dollars. and what about the fact that they continue to do it despite explicit statements not to from the GAO?
What'd be the harm in doing away with the "reporters" and instead providing quotes from clearly identified agency spokespeople? I don't see the point to putting bookends on the piece with actors playing correspondents from fake news agencies unless the point is to deceive, and get the whole piece incorporated into a broadcast. This is bad, bad stuff.
The point is to get your message across. Catherine, it is no more unethical to use video than print media or hell, have you seen the 1-800-Medicare blimp?
Catherine says: "i know this is common practice for corporations, but i don't think it's appropriate for the government to do it, esp with taxpayer dollars."
Actually Catherine, in addition to past administrations, most large local government agencies also use video news releases. But even worse, some stage interview shows ( a host and a hotseat ) with a regular timeslot on cable and spew their vile local propaganda about the latest park projects, etc.. AT TAXPAYER'S EXPENSE!
Tom's suggestions would go a long way in preventing abuse. I would eliminate the "host" but then you'll just have your local guy or gal standing on the street corner "reporting" and cutting to the government material.
And the administration isn't bound by the GAO's recommendation.
--s
if you want to get your message across, why not stage press conferences, give speeches, have figures do interviews, whatever. or regular video releases that don't look like local news pieces. why do you have to make up fake news that tries to trick people into thinking it's an actual reported story? there is a huge difference between "video news releases" that you mention and "fake news pieces sent to local stations."
and i know past administrations have done this. i didn't say i wish the bush admin would stop doing this - i think it's gross that any administration uses this tactic.
also, if i'm correct, i don't believe the government disclosed that they were the ones making these videos when they sent them out to the outlets.
"i don't believe the government disclosed that they were the ones making these videos when they sent them out to the outlets."
If true, idiotic. Just as bad as the payola to talk show hosts they've been accused of. What are these people thinking?
i just read a few articles today - they do not disclose that the government is the one making the videos.
Tax Dollars Paid for Misleading Government News Releases - Friends of the Earth finds the Interior Department has been producing misleading video news releases packaged as news reports.
The GAO has already said that the government should not be producing this kind of propaganda. It’s time for the Bush administration to put a stop to it, in every department of government.
Check out the video at http://www.foe.org/new/releases/0305doipr.html
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