KMAX-31, UPN (TV Station)

Fake TV News: A CMD Special Report

This article is part of the Center for Media and Democracy's special report, Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed. Click here to read the report summary.

KMAX-31 is a Sacramento-based television station and a part of the UPN network.

Station Owner

Viacom

Use of Video News Releases and/or Satellite Media Tours

In the 5am news bulletin on June 9, 2005 the station broadcast an edited and re-voiced version of a video news release produced by MultiVu for the American Dental Association on saliva testing for diseases. [1]

KMAX-31 aired a Karen Ryan VNR, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: [2]

On KMAX in Sacramento, she told viewers of the 9 p.m. show about how frequent flier miles were becoming easier to use, and interviewed a spokesman from Capital One, a credit card vendor, to show how.

According to the "Healthy Housekeeper" website, KMAX aired an SMT titled "Quick & Healthy Housekeeping with Laura Dellutri" on June 8, 2004, at 8:30 AM. [3]

Contact Details

UPN 31 / KMAX
500 Media Place
Sacramento, California 95815
Phone (general switch): 916-925-3100
Phone (News): 916-921-3019
Web: http://cbs13.com/gooddaysacramento

SourceWatch Resources

• Audio news releases
• B-Roll
• Brand Hype
• Branded Entertainment
• Media releases
• Satellite Media Tours
• Radio Media Tours
• Public Service Announcements
• Video news releases: PR for California's Schwarzenegger administration

External links

• Dennis Roddy, "She's not a reporter -- she just plays one on TV," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 20, 2004.
• Diane Farsetta and Daniel Price, "Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed: A multimedia report on television newsrooms' use of material provided by PR firms on behalf of paying clients", Center for Media and Democracy, April 6, 2006.