...I sure as hell wouldn't be voting for Bush.

'Eighteen Journalism Groups Decry
HHS’s Use of Fake News Reports

March 18, 2004 — Seventeen journalism organizations — representing more than 25,000 journalists — today joined the Association of Health Care Journalists in asking the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to stop using video news releases that have the appearance of authentic news reports. AHCJ President Andrew Holtz made the request in a telephone call to HHS spokesman William Pierce on Tuesday.

On Monday the New York Times reported that the Bush administration paid people to pose as journalists praising the benefits of the new Medicare law, including expanded coverage of prescription medicines.

In a joint statement, the groups said:

We ask that public agencies stop producing videos that imitate television news stories or use announcers who identify themselves as reporters. Viewers expect a reporter to be a journalist employed by a news organization. In this case, the so-called reporter was working for a public relations firm hired by a government agency. We find that misidentification unacceptable.

The groups called on all news organizations to preserve their journalistic independence by avoiding the use of such video news releases and warned the public to question the integrity of any such message.

HHS spokesman Pierce told the Association of Health Care Journalists that the agency sees no distinction between a video news release and a printed news release. Even though the videos about changes to Medicare were edited and produced to look like news reports, he said the videos were meant to simply suggest how television stations might report the Medicare story and that the agency had "no expectation" the video news releases would air in full.

AHCJ president Andrew Holtz, an independent journalist in Portland, Oregon, said: “I called HHS spokesman Bill Pierce Tuesday and asked him to help put an end to video news releases that may mislead viewers. This administration may not be the first to use them, but it should be the last. Government officials have a duty to communicate to the public, but they should speak for themselves and not hide behind a paid announcer who is falsely identified as a ‘reporter.’ ”

Leaders of other journalism organizations voiced similar sentiments. Deborah Blum, president of the National Association of Science Writers, said: “The National Association of Science Writers objects to the use of fake reporters and fake interviews in video news releases by the federal government or any other agency. We have 3,000 members who believe in honest communication of science and medicine and all of us believe that such deceptive practices cheat the very people who most need information provided with integrity.”

Dan Fagin, president of the Society of Environmental Journalists, noted: “We’ve seen a disturbing trend recently of public agencies closing off access to documents and other important information. Now that the government is disguising public-relations messages as phony news reports, the public will be even more in the dark. A healthy democracy needs open government and credible information.”

And, Ernest R. Sotomayor, president of UNITY, an alliance of the four major organizations of journalists of color, said: “It is a dishonest practice that erodes already-waning public trust of our government and damages our ability to operate effectively.”

The groups that joined in this statement are:

Association of Health Care Journalists
Association of Hispanic Journalists
Society of Environmental Journalists
National Association of Science Writers
Society of Professional Journalists
Religion Newswriters Association
National Conference of Editorial Writers
National Society of Newspaper Columnists
Native American Journalists Association
Criminal Justice Journalists
Online News Association
American Society of Journalists and Authors
Society of American Business Editors and Writers
American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors
American Society of Business Publication Editors
National Press Foundation
Journalism and Women Symposium
UNITY, an alliance of the four major organizations of journalists of color
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Andrew S. Holtz, AHCJ President
HoltzReport
Portland, OR
Phone: (50 292-1699
Fax: (561) 828-7938
holtzreport@juno.com
www.holtzreport.com

or

Melinda Voss, MPH
AHCJ Executive Director
206 Church St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0418
Phone: (612) 624-8877
Fax: (612) 626-8251
ahcj@umn.edu
www.ahcj.umn.edu'

http://www.asbpe.org/about/news_2004...18fake_ads.htm

This creeps me out. It's worthy of Hitler or Stalin.

As an admitted Socialist, you would be voting for the Communist Party candidate, wouldn't you?

Not if Bush and/or his administration was running the party.

Bush is pro-freedom, so would not be running as a Socialist or Communist, so don't worry.

He's obviously pro-freedom; he believes he has the freedom to lie to his own people.

I thought we were talking about Bush, not Kerry.

You thought right.

So stick to Bush.

Misinformation is the guiding light of authoritarianism----- which is what Bush would like the US to be... as he has proven by trampling upon the Constitution and the Rights of all the people of the United States and the rest of the world....

I was and I am.

Conservatism is the opposite of Authoritarianism.

Liberalsim is the subjection of the individual's rights to those of the state.

Bush is not a conservative.... he has you fooled.... but do not feel bad.. he has a bunch of republicans fooled... so you are not alone....

He's far more Conservative than Kerry, who is the most liberal member of Congress, thus the most against freedom.

He has you fooled though.

really.... I think you are wrong.. and me being me.. I find my opinion alot more valid than yours.... especially seeing as how I could care less what party a man belongs too... all i care about is that he gives at least two shits about the American people.... and bush does not.... just to please daddy he has killed alot of good americans by fooling them into thinking they were protecting freedom.... instead they were protecting the almighty Bush bank roll..... and the bush family honor.....

Now you are babbling, when you were starting to learn.

There is nothing you can teach me.... I already know how to obfuscate the truth if need be.... but I do not need to do so as you do it well enough for at least 20 people.....

Do I need to get Corporate Pig over here to define obfuscate for you???

True, I can lead you to knowledge, but cannot make you think.


Pig has had little to say, since he gave up his dictionary, have you noticed?

There is no knowledge you can lead me to as it's all obfuscated truth.... you did catch that part right???

You tend to think you are above others and tend to post toward them in that manner.... try acting like a human being..... it works better.... and I do not mean you have to be obsequious.... just talk to people as equals... remember our constitution.... All Men Are Created Equal..... its right there in our wonderful document..... nice eh???

I must add this.. He is protecting the oil investments his family(and he) has.. That is their 'bankroll' to a significant decimal piont!!!