Pay-for-Praise Comes Under Scrutiny [1]
Submitted by Diane Farsetta [2] on
Jonathan Adelstein [3] of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission [4] called "for an investigation of experts who tout products on television without disclosing payments from the manufacturers [5]." The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post have reported on "technology and other experts who are paid tens of thousands of dollars by such companies as Sony, Apple and Hewlett-Packard" and who have praised those companies' products [6] "on NBC's 'Today' show, other network programs and during 'satellite tours [7]' of local TV stations." Such payola [8] violates federal law and could result in fines of up to $10,000 for repeat offenders. "It's very deceptive [9] to pretend to be an objective expert when in fact you're shilling for some private company," said Adelstein.