Even my husband, who is probably the least PC person I know personally, thinks what Armstrong Williams did stinks.
There is a name for it, payola, and it's illegal (at least with respect to radio - I can't seem to find parallel laws for TV). N.B., it's illegal for both Williams and whoever gave him the money.
47 U.S.C. § 317 - Announcement of payment for broadcast
(a) Disclosure of person furnishing
(1) All matter broadcast by any radio station for which any money, service or other valuable consideration is directly or indirectly paid, or promised to or charged or accepted by, the station so broadcasting, from any person, shall, at the time the same is so broadcast, be announced as paid for or furnished, as the case may be, by such person: Provided, That "service or other valuable consideration" shall not include any service or property furnished without charge or at a nominal charge for use on, or in connection with, a broadcast unless it is so furnished in consideration for an identification in a broadcast of any person, product, service, trademark, or brand name beyond an identification which is reasonably related to the use of such service or property on the broadcast.
U.S. Code 47 U.S.C. § 317 |
