WASHINGTON, DC - In a letter sent to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell last night, U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) requested that the Commission investigate broadcasters’ usage of government-produced “video news releases” (VNRs) without providing any attribution for the source material.

“Until now, attention has largely focused on whether certain VNRs created by the federal government violated the restriction on using appropriated funds for publicity or propaganda,” wrote Inouye, co-chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the FCC. “However, equally as serious is growing evidence that certain broadcasters are editing government-created VNRs to make it appear as if such information is the result of independent news-gathering.”

Inouye continued, “Not only does this lack of disclosure represent a serious breach of journalistic ethics, but it also seems to violate FCC rules requiring attribution for the airing of ‘any political broadcast matter’ or ‘the discussion of a controversial issue of public importance.’ Moreover, additional scrutiny may be necessary to determine whether these practices also violate the Communications Act’s prohibition against a station’s acceptance of ‘money, service, or other valuable consideration’ for the airing of content.”

Inouye concluded his letter by requesting that the FCC “investigate the matter fully” and “take any remedial measures necessary to prevent station owners from misleading their viewers.”