News that isn't news!

[fuelair]

Many news stations in the U.S. are still using fake news produced by corporations to promote the corporation and/or something of importance to the corporation - against FCC proposals and statements. Curious? Mad? Check out www.stopfakenews.org. for a full report!:mad:

[Beerina]

Corporations are creations of people, and are how many people earn their living. It is in the interest of the corporation, which is to say, those people, to try to affect laws that...affect them, surprise surprise.

[fuelair]

Corporations are creations of people, and are how many people earn their living. It is in the interest of the corporation, which is to say, those people, to try to affect laws that...affect them, surprise surprise.
No offense, but it is no surprise - that is why agencies need to exist to counter the efforts of the corporations to lie and misinform. Just so you know my thoughts on the overall topic - if a corporation exists/makes profit only because of lies (i.e. product serves no necessary function/purpose, I do not care if the people lose their living - in fact, I would prefer that. Corporations that serve a purpose (provide a necessary/useful product/service) I have no problem with as long as they are truthful.:)

[hgc]

The canned, pre-produced "news" pieces are only the tip of the iceberg. Just watch any regular offering from your "news" provider. They regularly produce their own stories that focus with excitement on new consumer offerings. They function as a big cog in the product PR machinery, and willingly. Now that it's Christmas time, it's very stark -- witness the constant "news" stories about Playstation III, new iPod's (and the like), and other things.

But it's not just the news. Have you ever noticed that most guests on talk shows are selling a book or a movie? Just think about it, in between the commercials, you get to enjoy an infomercial!

[Cello Man]

The recurring trend for network news here in the Dallas / Fort Worth area is the miraculous "anti-aging, weight loss, stress relief" cure of the week. The last pile of woo they "reported" on is this magical new therapy in which you put your feet into some chemical solution that "detoxes" your body by pulling toxins out of your body through your feet. No, I'm not making this up. You stick your feet in a bucket, the water turns black after a few minutes, and you're magically cured.

I'm looking at you, NBC-5.

[Loss Leader]

Newspapers and television are absolutely desparate for content. At the same time, tatal profits in the news are decreasing. The only way to keep profitability up is to bring the costs of producting the news down.

Corporations and the US government (sadly) have taken advantage of this by releasing free news-like reports and press releases. They go in virtually word-for-word.

Open any local newspaper on any day and I bet you find five articles that are nothing other than press releases.