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Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Let The Sun Shine On Truth

Sometimes it is hard to tell from the language in an article whether it is genuinely designed to inform readers about an important public policy issue or instead to influence readers and sway public opinion.
Sun Shine On Sham Issue Ads:
In Wisconsin, sham issue ads have been exploding for a decade. Local advocates who monitor media buying and news reporting in Wisconsin estimate that, in 2006, contributions from special interests or advocacy groups allied with both major political parties financed approximately $15 million worth of sham issue ads.
Why just target ads allied with major political parties? In the mainstream media, both in newsprint and on newscasts we are bombarded with pro-source issue ads masquerading as public service information and news reports every single day with barely a hint of disclosure.

Did you ever turn on a half-hour local newscast, say Channel 3, and somewhere in the middle of the program they have a 7 or 8 minute consumer bit on Weber outdoor grills or the latest prescription drug? Its not a commercial, it doesn’t mention the competition, it is acted out by the news anchor with possibly a guest, nowhere is there a disclaimer, BUT IT IS presented as the news and within the news.

The same thing happens flipping the pages of your favorite newspaper. Some articles, primarily with a business focus, are a patchwork of existing information readily found on the subjects Webpage only to be repeated over and over again like a commercial. And without any investigative reporting or opposing viewpoint that’s just how it appears – like a sham ad masquerading as a news article.

Our local newscast and newspapers are not alone, nearly everybody is doing this. But if that’s the way it’s going to be, paying subscribers are at least owed a simple disclosure or disclaimer with each sham ad. Political and commercial news reports particularly but, single issue pro-source articles as well.

1 comment:

Bob Keith said...

With out going into a diatribe on how media is wasting its free speech, I think I can capsulate it in one succinct sentence. They are just plain lazy!

Bob Keith
cooldadiomedia.com

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