Good Afternoon . . .
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reminded broadcasters Wednesday of rules requiring them to identify the source of government videos packaged as news stories.
The notice to broadcasters was a response to thousands of complaints to investigate broadcasters failure to disclose the source of government materials.
The rules "are grounded in the principle that listeners and viewers have the right to know who seeks to persuade them" with TV programming, the public notice said.
The FCC is seeking public comment on the decades-old sponsor identification rules and may seek to clarify them further.
The complaints arose after stations aired a series of videos from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the HHS's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The videos touted programs from both departments. They were distributed to stations for use in news programs.
Several stations that aired the stories did not disclose the source of the program
Directly addressing such videos, the FCC said broadcast licensees and cable operators "generally must clearly disclose" to viewers the "nature, source and sponsorship of the material."
Violation of the rules could result in fines, imprisonment, or both.
FCC Warns Broadcasters About 'News' Videos - Yahoo! News
--
While Connecticut lawmakers consider legislation to support "civil unions," a court in Oregon has nullified 3,000 same-sex marriage licenses issued last year.
The Oregon Supreme Court ruled that Multnomah County could not go against state matrimonial law.
"Oregon law currently places the regulation of marriage exclusively within the province of the state's legislative power," the high court said in its unanimous ruling.
The court noted that Oregon voters approved an amendment to the state constitutional that prohibits same-sex marriages. The amendment coupled with existing state law defines marriage as one man and one woman. The court did not address the issue of civil unions.
Oregon Court Tosses Gay Marriage Licenses - Yahoo! News
--
A Delaware senator has vowed to block the president's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE) said he is going to place a "hold" on the nomination of Stephen Johnson.
Although Johnson was voted out of committee 17-1, the no vote being Carper's, the Delaware Senator is going to put a hold on the nomination to get "the right kind of legislation."
It is possible that Carper's hold and the Democrats action in the Foreign Relations Committee will trigger the so-called "nuclear option" in the Senate to change the rules on filibusters. Carper's action is a privledge accorded to all Senators, but is rarely used to "blackmail" Congress into creating legislation for a specific senator.
Dem. Senator to Block Vote on EPA Nominee - Yahoo! News
--
More later.
No comments:
Post a Comment