KTNV Settles FCC Fake News Report Investigation

Journal Broadcast Group's KTNV-TV Las Vegas will pay $115,000 to settle an Federal Communications Commission investigation into the broadcasting of paid commercials masquerading as special reports.

The FCC's Enforcement Bureau said that an ad agency had paid KTNV to produce and air so-called special reports about liquidation sales at local Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Nissan and Hyundai car dealerships. "KTNV formatted the commercials in the style of news reports, which featured a KTNV staff person on location at the dealerships posing as a journalist," the bureau said. Under the terms of the settlement, Journal admits to violating the commercial sponsorship identification rule, will pay the $115,000 and will create a three-year compliance plan and report periodically to the FCC.