WFAA-8, ABC (TV Station)

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Fake TV News: A CMD Special Report
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This article is part of the Center for Media and Democracy's special report, Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed.
Click here to read the report summary.

WFAA-8 is a Dallas, texas-based television station and a part of the ABC network.

Station Owner

Belo Corporation

Use of Video News Releases and/or Satellite Media Tours

In the 5.30pm news bulletin on February 22, 2006 the station broadcast an edited and re-voiced version of a video news release produced by D S Simon Productions for Bioibérica promoting a nutritional supplement for treating joint pain from osteoarthritis. The television station used the VNR but the reporter actually undertook independent research and put the company's claimed benefits in their proper context. [1]

According to a case study on the website of the PR firm Access Communications, WFAA-8 aired a VNR produced for Acheiva.com. The case study reads, "[T]o generate maximum coverage on May 15th [2000], the day of the launch, Access created a Video News Release using the pre-existing B-roll. ... All clips used portions of the B-roll including site footage and interviews with Acheiva.com’s CEO and Center students." The website lists WFAA's "Good Morning Texas" as one of eight stations that aired the VNR. [2]

Contact Details

WFAA-8 ABC
Communications Center
606 Young St.,
Dallas, TX, 75202-4810
Main phone number: 214-748-9631
Fax: 214-977-6268
Email: news8@wfaa.com
Web: http://www.wfaa.com/

SourceWatch Resources

External links

  • Diane Farsetta and Daniel Price, "Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed: A multimedia report on television newsrooms' use of material provided by PR firms on behalf of paying clients", Center for Media and Democracy, April 6, 2006.