F**k the Activists

What do you think about the FCC's proposed fine against Comcast?

It's the latest notch in the Center for Media and Democracy's belt, now the FCC has stepped up their "fake news" witchhunt and they're trying to levy a fine against Comcast for airing "fake news" (a VNR) on their CN8 cable program.

The FCC doesn't even regulate cable... dont even get me started... so what the shizat is happening here?

Showboating? Window dressing? Political theater?

All of the above (and publicity for the FCC.)

The bottom line is this people, us "fake news" guys have not been pulling the wool over TV stations' eyes.

Personally, I've been disclosing our sources (who paid for a story to be produced) since getting into the biz in 1997. I learned to do it by copying my competition.

Every time we promote something for a client, their name is on the fax, the email and the video slates, plain as day for TV newsrooms to credit on the air.

But TV Newsrooms don't credit these videos. And they won't. No matter how much noise these "activists" make.

Why?

Because TV news lives and dies on the basis of its authority, usually gained through hard nosed reporting, serious anchors and well written content.

When the consumer sees a story on TV news, they believe it more readily because they trust their local news.

If TV News operations were to do what the CMD is asking and begin telling their audiences that this story came from this PR source here and this story came from that PR source there, the consumer would consider the news less valuable, less credible and less interesting.

And what would that do to ratings? The horror!

But even with all the hubbub and bruhaha, we released a story last Monday that's been on the air everywhere... on networks and over 300 local stations, reaching tens of millions of viewers... Suck it Center for Media and Democracy!

The true sign that democracy is alive and well is that an organization can pay to have a story videotaped and make that story available via satellite to TV Newsrooms across the country.

"Real" TV News outlets don't have to air the story... but if it's compelling and the visuals are good, "fake news" is a free way to fill up airtime on an otherwise slow news day. (And on occassion, it might be better news than what the locals have gathered.)

If viewers don't like the story, they can vote with their remote control.

I got your democracy right here baby... CLICK!