FCC investigates Fake News

Following the scathing report on Fake News put together by the Center for Media and Democracy the FCC has announced that it is launching a major probe of 77 broadcast licensees that may have presented marketing material as news. Here's a statement from FCC Commisioner Adelstein:

I’m pleased that the Commission has issued these letters of inquiry. We need a full and thorough investigation to learn all of the facts surrounding the undisclosed broadcast of what appears to be commercial material, and prosecute any violations to the full extent of the law.

The public is misled by individuals who present themselves to be independent, unbiased experts or reporters, but are actually shills promoting a prepackaged corporate agenda. The public has a legal right to know who seeks to persuade them so they can make up their own minds about the credibility of the information presented. Shoddy practices make it difficult for viewers to tell the difference between news and propaganda.

Read more here.