Opposition to Fake News Grows

Jay Rosen posts "a unanimous resolution passed by the Boston University Journalism Faculty and circulated to other J-Schools by Bob Zelnick, the former ABC News correspondent" and self-described conservative. The resolution condemns "the use of 'phony' reporters hired by the government to perform in (video news releases) where their affiliation with government is unstated," urges "the Administration to identify and cease other practices with respect to VNRs that run a substantial risk of misleading the public," and condemns "the deliberate use by television news outlets of material ... without clear identification of its origin." Zelnick says such practices strike "at the core of journalistic integrity." Even PR Week reported on the "Stop Fake News" petition drive launched by the Center for Media and Democracy and Free Press, although one VNR producer said "it would not have any long-term effect."