RTNDA urges FCC to halt VNR inquiry
Cory Bergman October 6th, 2006
Calling it an “unprecedented intrusion into newsroom operations,” the RTNDA is asking the FCC to stop its investigation into the use of VNRs in local television newscasts. “Determining the content of a newscast, including when and how to identify sources, is at the very heart of the responsibilities of electronic journalists, and these decisions must remain far removed from government involvement or supervision. The government would not dream of inserting itself into a print newsroom to dictate or otherwise oversee how newspaper editors utilize press releases,” said the letter to the FCC.
5 Comments Add your own
1. Safran | October 6th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
Maybe the FCC could better spend its time getting the government to stop wasting our money putting out its own VNRs.
2. Frank Catalano | October 6th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
If stations actually were being responsible about identifying the source of VNR content (including Satellite Media Tours) rather than sucking at the teat of “free live shots,” perhaps this would be a non issue.
But I can think of several morning shows that would be very sad to see the free time-filling SMTs go away — and all an SMT is, is a live VNR.
3. Safran | October 7th, 2006 at 10:09 am
OK, Frank - let me throw this back at you: If an SMT is a live VNR, then what about a guest who is brought in to plug a book in person?
Same person. Same motive. Same line of questions. Same ethics? Shouldn’t we identify the source of that content, too? “This person is here because their public relations agency is paid to huckster them about. They want to sell their book and are not terribly interested in giving actual newsworthy answers.”
Come to think of it, it’s not a bad idea.
4. Frank Catalano | October 7th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Steve - Here’s the difference: On many SMTs from trade shows, there is someone showing new products. It is rarely, if ever, disclosed that person is paid by a commercial company (not the station) which is sponsored by the companies whose products are presented.
To the viewer, the trade show talent is a reporter. Authors are pretty clearly identifed with their own books.
In any case where the talent is not clearly identified as being paid by someone with a commercial interest in what is being shown and may reasonably be perceived, incorrectly, as being independent of the event or products they are showing, there is a problem.
5. lucy | January 19th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Wow, thanks for the excellent information!
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