Payola Rulez! [1]
Submitted by Diane Farsetta [2] on
The Federal Communications Commission [3] added a web page [4] outlining the restrictions against pay-for-broadcast arrangements and explaining how individuals can report suspected payola [5]. The move happened as "the agency comes under growing pressure to investigate stealth product promotions on television and radio shows," notes the Los Angeles Times. FCC Commissioner Adelstein [6] compared the effort to a Neighborhood Watch program and said, "The American people have a right to know who is promoting a product, policy or message to them." FCC Chair Martin [7] pointed out that complaints are necessary to launch an investigation. Although the last FCC enforcement on payola was five years ago, recent news reports have exposed pundits [8] receiving funds [9] from the [10] Bush administration and consumer "experts" [11] promoting the products of companies [12] that have paid them.