What other kind of report have they ever made?
Publicity Campaign Under Scrutiny
Bush Administration Releases Fake News Reports Touting Medicare
ABCNEWS.com
W A S H I N G T O N, March 15— The Bush administration has rolled out a $100 million campaign to publicize its new Medicare law, which is supposed to assist elderly Americans with the costs of their prescription medicines. But part of the campaign is proving to be as controversial as the law.
Federal investigators are examining pre-produced television news stories, written and paid for by the government, which have the appearance of legitimate news segments delivered by independent reporters. Recorded in both English and Spanish, they were sent to local television stations across the country to publicize the new law.
The tape even includes a suggested lead-in for anchors to read. But it's up to local news stations to decide whether to air the stories, voiced by those posing as reporters, in their news programs.
