Legal Definitions - Video news release

A video news release is a prepackaged news story created or funded by private corporations or government agencies. These segments are designed to look like standard news programs and are often broadcast on the air without disclosing their government origins. This violates prohibitions on sponsorship disclosure.

For example, in 2004 and 2005, the Government Accountability Office found that prepackaged news stories produced by government contractors were illegal covert propaganda. The GAO noted that allowing the government to produce domestic news broadcasts would infringe upon the freedom of the press and constitute an attempt to control public opinion.

However, prepackaged news stories can be used without violating the law if there is clear disclosure to the television viewing audience that the material was prepared by or in cooperation with the government department or agency.

The scandal over the use of video news releases by the Bush administration led to a legislative reform effort in 2005. A bill was introduced in the House that would have required congressional notification for all public-relations contracts and mandated that agency-produced news materials carry a prominent notice of their source.