Word of the day: Propaganda

Propaganda: 1. The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.

The Bush Administration has been using taxpayer funds to produce videos that are largely self-aggrandizing. These videos are then broadcast over public airwaves on corporate network stations as "news". They do not have any sort of disclaimer as to who the producers are.

According to the General Accounting Office (GAO), the Office of National Drug Control Policy(ONDCP) violated propaganda laws because it didn't identify itself as the author of the videos.

The videos are designed to look like regular news items, produced by independent news outlets.

In July of 2004, House Representatives Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) and John W. Olver(D-MA) sent 7 of these tapes to the GAO for review.

The GAO reviewed them, and then verified them with the ONDCP. Here's the money-shot quote:

The VNR*s which included those prepackaged news stories and suggested anchor remarks were clearly labeled, both externally on the videocassettes and in the included slates, as ONDCP products. As ONDCP observes, "It would be virtually impossible for a reasonable broadcaster to mistake the VNRs for . . . independent news report[s]." ... However, none of the prepackaged news stories and suggested anchor remarks contained in ONDCP's VNRs disclosed the agency's role (as producer and distributor of those materials) to television viewing audiences.

(*VNR=Video News Release, and emphasis mine)

I find it interesting that the ONDCP tried to wriggle out of any responsibility by implying that only broadcasters need to be made aware that these VNRs are "fake news".

What about the viewers? Don't they have a right to know the source of "news" is not independent?

If you'd like to read the GAO's response to Waxman and Olver, you can find it here.

You can send a letter to the Department of Justice through http://www.stopfakenews.org/.

If you're really interested, Google "ONDCP". Lots of fun stuff comes up.

Update: Aviation Safety Video News Release