“At least 10 TV stations aired Amazon-produced segment on local newscasts”

Robert Thompson, a Trustee Professor of Television, Radio and Film, was interviewed by NBC News for the article “At least 10 TV stations aired Amazon-produced segment on local newscasts.” The article discusses how there were at least 10 TV stations across the U.S. that aired a news package which was “scripted and produced by Amazon without identification — even featuring a voiceover from a company spokesman.” Professor Thompson said that “the incident reflects poorly on all journalism at a particularly sensitive time” when the country is facing a global pandemic. In the article Thompson expresses how ” journalism is a key part of the way democracy functions, and it is so under siege,” therefore he believes airing news cast that have been produced by others is a violation of journalistic integrity.