[Mb-civic] You stopped fake news! FCC heard your voice

[ean at sbcglobal.net]

On March 13, we launched the Stop Fake News  campaign. Since 
then, over 26,933 of you sent a message directly to the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Department of 
Justice.

Today, we can declare a major victory! The FCC has heard your voice 
and declared that TV broadcasters must disclose the source of video 
news releases (VNRs) produced by the government.

This is what today's Washington Post article, "Broadcasters Must 
Reveal Video Clips' Sources, FCC Says," said:

Television broadcasters must disclose to viewers the origin of video 
news releases produced by the government or corporations when the 
material runs on the public airwaves, the Federal Communications 
Commission said yesterday.
The FCC's ruling comes as video news releases produced by the Bush 
administration and aired as part of local television news reports have 
come under attack from critics who call them unlabeled Republican 
propaganda.
-- Read the full Washington Post Article

FCC commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein said that 
public comments such as the 26,933 comments from our community 
were critical in provoking this announcement.

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps:
"Everyone understands that a story cannot be judged without knowing 
its source, but increasingly the source goes unreported. Recently tens 
of thousands of citizens contacted the FCC demanding an 
investigation into the failure of broadcasters to disclose their use of 
government-generated "news" stories. They were right to do so. This 
Commission should investigate each such case. And it should 
strenuously enforce the rules against inadequate sponsorship 
identification." (emphasis added)
-- Read Commissioner Copps' Full Statement. (PDF)

FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein:
"We have recently received a large number of complaints from the 
public about VNRs that were created by or for the federal government, 
and which were broadcast on television stations without identifying the 
government's role in developing the VNR." (emphasis added)
-- Read Commissioner Adelstein's Full Statement. (PDF)

You can read the full FCC Public Notice on VNRs by clicking here. 
(PDF)

As in our StopSinclair campaign, you have shown that when we speak 
together, with one voice, we can Start Change. This is just the 
beginning. We will continue to keep our eyes on government-produced 
newscasts and other fake news that this administration produces, but 
today is a major victory. Enjoy it!

Thank you for making this possible,

Arkadi, Marc, Tim and the entire StartChange Team
www.StartChange.org

Excited about this successful campaign? Help us do more. 
Contribute to StartChange today.

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"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
   ---   George Orwell


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