Following a report filed by a media watchdog, Center for Media and Democracy, back in April, the FFC sent letters to some 77 television stations in which these are asked to explain whether their video release news were labeled according to FCC stipulations or not.

The point of the Commission is that, in most cases, there is a much too vague line between objective news releases and media propaganda. The 77 stations are suspected to have aired video news releases as such when, in fact, they were not news but disguised commercials paid by sponsors, like Panasonic Corp., General Motors Corp. and the American Dental Association.

The targeted stations are owned by major networks, such as Walt Disney Co.'s ABC and CBS Corp. and all stand the chance of being heavily fined by the Commission, if the ongoing investigation proves that they were in the wrong. Practically, the fine can rise up to $32,500 per incident (every airing of the so-called 'news'), plus the revocation of the broadcast license.

'The public is misled by individuals who present themselves to be independent, unbiased experts or reporters but are actually shills promoting a prepackaged agenda. The public has a legal right to know who seeks to persuade them so they can make up their own minds about the credibility of the information presented. Shoddy practices make it difficult for viewers to tell the difference between news and propaganda.', an FCC commissioner said in a press statement released yesterday.