PR/Drugs
It's pitiful but not surprising that the Office of National Drug Control Policy was able to pass this off on willing TV news broadcasters.
The Post reports:
Shortly before last year's Super Bowl, local news stations across the country aired a story by Mike Morris describing plans for a new White House ad campaign on the dangers of drug abuse.
What viewers did not know was that Morris is not a journalist and his "report" was produced by the government, actions that constituted illegal "covert propaganda," according to an investigation by the Government Accountability Office.
We're so used to hearing lies about drugs that it hardly seems to matter. Hence, the following evidently did not set off many viewers' bullshit meters:
In one video, titled "Urging Parents to Get the Facts Straight on Teen Marijuana Use," news stations were provided a script for the news anchor. It reads: "Despite the fact that marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug among today's youth, many parents admit they're still not taking the drug seriously. Now, the nation's experts in health, education and safety have joined the Drug Czar to speak directly to parents about the very real risks of teen marijuana use. Mike Morris has more."
So: Government volunteering to help the press is just as scary as government trying to hurt the press.
The Post reports:
Shortly before last year's Super Bowl, local news stations across the country aired a story by Mike Morris describing plans for a new White House ad campaign on the dangers of drug abuse.
What viewers did not know was that Morris is not a journalist and his "report" was produced by the government, actions that constituted illegal "covert propaganda," according to an investigation by the Government Accountability Office.
We're so used to hearing lies about drugs that it hardly seems to matter. Hence, the following evidently did not set off many viewers' bullshit meters:
In one video, titled "Urging Parents to Get the Facts Straight on Teen Marijuana Use," news stations were provided a script for the news anchor. It reads: "Despite the fact that marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug among today's youth, many parents admit they're still not taking the drug seriously. Now, the nation's experts in health, education and safety have joined the Drug Czar to speak directly to parents about the very real risks of teen marijuana use. Mike Morris has more."
So: Government volunteering to help the press is just as scary as government trying to hurt the press.
posted by Scott at 2:10 PM
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