The FCC stepped up a video news release (VNR) probe, issuing lett...
The FCC stepped up a video news release (VNR) probe, issuing letters of inquiry to 77 TV stations fingered by a media advocacy group as airing promotional tapes without disclosing their origins. Broadcasters risk $32,500 in fines for each…
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violation, said Comr. Adelstein in a statement. The inquiries, sent to 42 firms that own the stations, address Center for Media & Democracy allegations (CD April 7 p5), a person familiar with the probe said. An author of the April VNR report, Diane Farsetta, told us she also understood that all the stations singled out by the Center for Media & Democracy had received FCC letters. An FCC spokesman declined comment, referring to previous FCC statements that “the Commission will investigate and take appropriate enforcement action against entities found to be in violation of its rules.” Stations in the inquiry are owned by CBS, Clear Channel, News Corp., Tribune and others, said a source. An NAB official declined comment. The Center for Media & Democracy will publicize further use of VNRs, said Farsetta, declining to be more specific. “The current evidence we have is that [VNR rules] are not taken seriously,” she said.