video news release

(TELEVISION JOURNALISM) video segment created by a specialized PR firm under commission from a company or government agency, that is made to look like a regular news segment. It is then submitted to news stations and run without attribution. In this way, the official opinion of (say) British Petroleum, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, or Regence Blue Shield is presented as journalism.

The practice is illegal, but fines are derisory, license suspension for the offender NEVER has happened, and all news networks and affiliates do it. Most do it a lot.

Medialink Worldwide is one of the largest producers of video news releases.

When VNRs are created for the government, they are called "informational news releases" and are typically made to justify policies of the current ruling party.

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Muhammad Mussadegh

(IRANIAN HISTORY) alternative spelling of Muhammad Mossadegh, democratically elected prime minister of Iran (1951-1953).

Because Iranian names are spelled with a modified version of the Arabic alphabet, there is some controversy over how to spell names like "Muhammad Mussadegh." Sometimes, for example, his name is spelled "Mohammed Mossadegh."

Muhammed Mussadegh struggled all his life to free Iran from colonial rule.

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