Video news release
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A video news release (VNR) is a video segment created by a PR firm, advertising agency, marketing firm, corporation, or government agency and provided to television news stations for the purpose of informing, shaping public opinion, or to promote and publicize individuals, commercial products and services, or other interests.
VNRs are frequently intentionally produced to appear as a legitimate news segment, but the creators are paid actors rather than journalists, and the production is unbounded by recognized standards of journalistic ethics. News programs may then incorporate the VNR into their broadcast for economic reasons. The VNR is often edited to appear to be a normal part of the broadcast. An investigation by the New York Times into VNRs has revealed that their use is widespread.
Critics of VNRs have called the practice deceptive or a propaganda technique, particularly in cases in which the segment is not explicitly identified to the viewers as a VNR. Firms producing VNRs disagree and equate their use to a press release in video form. The United States Federal Communications Commission is currently investigating the practice of VNRs.
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[edit] Details
The typical "news report" style VNR will feature a paid actor playing the role of news correspondent; interviews with experts (who often have legitimate, if biased, expertise); so called "man on the street" interviews with "average" people; and pictures of celebrities, products, service demonstrations, corporate logos and the like, where applicable. In some cases the "man on the street" segments feature persons randomly selected and interviewed spontaneously, and in other cases actors are hired and directed by VNR producers to deliver carefully scripted comments. In addition, regardless of whether real people or professional actors appear, VNR producers and directors, unlike journalists, have complete discretion to excerpt and edit these "interviews" into short, self-serving 'sound bites' which best fit the particular aim or point of view the VNR makers seek to advocate.
[edit] Media broadcasting of VNRs
Commercial television stations and other media outlets often broadcast only portions of a VNR. Frequently the actor playing the part of news correspondent in the original VNR is removed, or "bumped" as it is known in VNR industry trade slang, and one of the media outlet's regular journalists, known to its audience, is substituted. For example, an interview with a leading executive or scientist from a pharmaceutical corporation -- an industry which was one of the early adopters of the VNR technique -- might be inter-cut with on-camera or spoken commentary from the media outlet's usual journalist.
In a report released on April 6, 2006, the Center for Media and Democracy listed detailed information on 77 television stations that it said had broadcast VNRs in the prior 10 months, and which VNRs had been broadcast. CMD said that in each case the television station actively disguised the VNR content to make it appear to be its own reporting, and that more than one-third of the time, stations aired the pre-packaged VNR in its entirety. [1]
[edit] Business production of VNRs
VNRs have been used extensively in business since at least the early 1980s. Corporations such as Microsoft and Phillip Morris, and the pharmaceutical industry generally, have all made use of the technique.
According to the trade-group Public Relations Society of America, a VNR is the video equivalent of a press release.[1] and presents a client's case in an attractive, informative format. The VNR placement agency seeks to garner media attention for the client's products, services, brands or other marketing goals. The VNR affords local TV stations free broadcast quality materials for use in reports offered by such stations.
Public Relations agencies have their video tapes encoded allowing very accuate tracking of where such video is used. (see: SIGMA (verification service) for additional information).
One critic of the VNR technique, John Stauber, an observer and critic of the Public Relations business says, "These fellows are whistling past the graveyard, assuring themselves that this all is no big deal. There was no hint of shame, certainly no apologizing, just apparent disdain for having their business practices dissected on the front page of the New York Times. They are proud of their work."[2]
- The New York Times reported in March 2005 that "In all, at least 20 federal agencies, including the Defense Department and the Census Bureau, have made and distributed hundreds of television news segments in the past four years, records and interviews show. Many were subsequently broadcast on local stations across the country without any acknowledgement of the government's role in their production."[3]
- A VNR financed by the Department of Health and Human Services was aired on a number of local news programs around the country, as conventional journalism when in fact, it was produced to promote the new Medicare plan. The creation of the Karen Ryan video, named so because of the on-screen "reporter," was ruled in May 2004 to be in violation of federal law by the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. government.[4]
- In September, 2005, the GAO concluded that the Department of Education had violated the law when it distributed a similar video news release using Karen Ryan as a "reporter" touting the No Child Left Behind program of the Bush administration. In May 2003 the Department had hired the Ketchum public relations firm; the contract specified, among other things, that the firm create "audio products, videos and some print materials that present clear, coherent, targeted messages regarding ED’s programs and that relate to the Department’s legislative initiatives". [5]
- A website of the Census Bureau informs visitors: "U.S. Census Bureau Video News Feeds are available for creation of state-specific news reports. Targeted comments are provided by Census Bureau Redistricting Data Office Chief, Marshall Turner. Companion notification material includes references to websites for the newly released information. Please contact...Homefront Communications for hardcopies on Betacam SP and faxed/email notification copy."[6]
[edit] VNRs and U.S. law
- In January 1948, the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, also known as the Smith-Mundt Act, was passed by Congress and signed into law by U.S. President Harry Truman, placing international overseas information activities, including VOA, under an Office of International Information at the Department of State.[7]
- In February 2005, the "Stop Government Propaganda Act" was introduced in the U.S. Senate. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee and no further action occurred. [2]
- In April 2005, the Federal Communications Commission warned television stations that they could be fined for airing news stories provided by the government and by companies without disclosing who made them.[citation needed]
- In May 2006, FCC chairman Kevin Martin ordered a review of airing of VNRs by television stations, following the April 2006 report by the Center for Media and Democracy.[8]
- In August 2006, the FCC mailed letters to the owners of 77 television stations, asking for information regarding agreements between the stations and the creators of VNRs. The letters also asked whether there was any "consideration" given to the stations in return for airing the material. Stations have been given 60 days to respond.[9]
[edit] US commercial producers of VNRs
A number of public relations firms employ the VNR technique on behalf of their clients; there are a number of commercial production companies who specialize VNR production.
- APTN Corporate Services
- DWJ Television, which claims to have aired the first VNR in the US in the early 1970s
- Running Pony Productions
- Medialink
- MultiVu a service of PR Newswire
- Homefront Communications
- Karen Ryan
- Ketchum Public Relations
- DS Simon Productions
- Hausman & Schott
- News Broadcast Network
- VNR-1 Communications
- Dogmatic, Inc
[edit] References
- ^ Statement of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) on Video News Releases (VNRs). Public Relations Society of America. Retrieved on August 17, 2006.
- ^ Stauber, John. "PR Execs Undeterred by Fake News "Flap"", Center for Media and Democracy, 2005-03-16. Retrieved on August 17, 2006.
- ^ Barstow, David and Stein, Robin. "THE MESSAGE MACHINE: How the Government Makes News; Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged News", New York Times, 2005-03-13. Retrieved on August 17, 2006. (subscription required)
- ^ GAO decision - Matter of: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services—Video News Releases (pdf) File: B-302710, May 19, 2004
- ^ GAO decision B-304228, "Department of Education--No Child Left Behind Act Video News Release and Media Analysis", September 30, 2005
- ^ Video News Feed Information for Redistricting (P.L. 94-171). United States Census Bureau (2001-05-30). Retrieved on August 17, 2006.
- ^ Historical Highlights. Voice of America. Retrieved on August 17, 2006.
- ^ Roland, Neil. "FCC's Martin Orders Probe of TV Stations That Air Ads as News", Bloomberg L.P., 2006-05-26. Retrieved on August 17, 2006.
- ^ "TV Stations' 'Fake News' Scrutinized", Associated Press, 2006-08-16. Retrieved on August 17, 2006.
[edit] External links
- "Office of National Drug Control Policy--Video News Release, B-303495, January 4, 2005"}
- New York Times "Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged TV News" (subscription req.)
- Sourcewatch, PR industry watch-dog group article on VNRs
- U.S. Census Bureau offers what it calls "newsfeeds"
- Profile of Karen Ryan
- Karen Ryan Group
- American Marketing Association's definition of VNR
- Corporate Propaganda and Media Manipulation, January 26, 2003, By Royce Carlson}
- Brand Propaganda, March 20, 2005, by Andy Lark
[edit] Video and audio links
- A New Age of "Fake News", WBUR 17 March 2005
- Audio and video coverage of the issue from Democracy Now!
- PBS report on U.S. Government using VNRs as covert propaganda
