As anyone who reads, listens to radio, or watches television knows, the dividing line between news, entertainment, and outright propaganda is blurred more and more daily.

The newest offender in the media arena is the Video News Release, which is described as a short video segment filmed and produced to look like a news item. The origin of the breed was when the style was used to promote government policy. Now it seems that the government is saying that it can be the only one to use ‘thinly veiled propaganda as news item’ format.

The push to action was brought by a letter from two consumer groups, the Center for Media and Democracy and Free Press. The letter cited the airing of the ‘infoganda’ by almost 100 stations. The FCC decision concerns only one station, known as Comcast CN8, and the levied fine upon this station. The amount was small, only $4000, but the message sent was clear.

The CMD has posted the VNR so that anyone may judge for himself. The advertainment is for an alternative medicine of questionable efficacy, with experts unidentified in their areas of expertise.

It will be interesting to see if the message sent by the FCC will be properly received and the admonition taken. Nonetheless, it is a case where the usually lackluster performance of the FCC is put aside, and positive action in the public interest taken.

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[tags] FCC, infomercial, advertainment, VNR, Comcast, Center for Media & Democracy, Free Press, fines levied, media responsibility, propaganda [/tags]