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How Long Until Joan Lunden Disassociates Herself From World Progress Report?
from the anyone-want-to-take-a-guess? dept
Earlier this year, we wrote about the company called Vision Media TV, which was suing the site 800notes.com after people on that site had written reports about Vision Media TV, questioning its sales techniques. It seems that Vision Media TV would go around contacting organizations, heavily talking up its association with former TV newscaster Hugh Downs, and suggesting (heavily) that the TV broadcast it would put together for the organization contacted would air on "public television." Of course, to cover some basic "production costs," Vision Media TV just wanted a mere $20,000 to $30,000.
Investigations into Vision Media TV suggested that the questions raised by people at 800notes were reasonable concerns. The NY Times and NPR have debunked many of the claims from Vision Media TV, noting that PBS had clearly claimed that it has no association with Vision Media and that the promises from the company were questionable at best. From NPR:
Given all of this, and the history involved, I have to wonder how long it will be until there's some press attention on World Progress Report, and how long until Joan Lunden follows the lead of Downs, Cronkite, Douglas and others, and decides to disassociate herself from the company.
Investigations into Vision Media TV suggested that the questions raised by people at 800notes were reasonable concerns. The NY Times and NPR have debunked many of the claims from Vision Media TV, noting that PBS had clearly claimed that it has no association with Vision Media and that the promises from the company were questionable at best. From NPR:
They are promised the shows will be educational in nature and reach an estimated 60 million American households on public television stations across the country.From the NY Times:
But the programs aren't documentaries; they're marketing segments that will cost the firms that are their subjects roughly $25,000 apiece. And the spots, created by Vision Media of Boca Raton, Fla., are likely to receive little airtime, if any, on local PBS member stations.
"They are selling something that they generally cannot deliver," says Garry Denny, program director of Wisconsin Public Television and a past president of the professional association of programming officials for PBS member stations. "In fact, they are probably not carried by any public television station around the country."
Officials at PBS and at PBS member stations in California, Colorado, Kentucky, New York, South Carolina and Virginia were all aware of the Hugh Downs spots. Yet not one knew of a concrete instance in which the spots featuring Downs appeared on their stations or those of others. PBS and its member stations say they adhere to guidelines banning marketing programming paid for by subjects of the programs.
The caller suggests that the production will be shown on public television and major cable news stations. But the initial pitch, foundation representatives said, does not mention that the production would cost the university or foundation $20,000 or more.In defending 800notes against Vision Media TV's lawsuit, Paul Alan Levy dug up some interesting history on Vision Media TV, such as the fact that it had gone under a variety of other names, such as WJMK and United Media -- using other famous personalities including Walter Cronkite and Mike Douglas, both of whom ended up suing the company over being misled. Somewhere along the way, the company again changed its name to Great America HD. However, after more press attention, Hugh Downs disassociated himself with the company, with his representatives saying that his involvement hadn't gone very far, and that Downs was unaware of the company's practices:
PBS, the national public broadcasting program provider, has had a warning on its Web site for the last three years that it "is not associated with and does not endorse, distribute programming for, review underwriting for or otherwise have any business relationship" with a list of productions companies that includes Vision Media Television.
Lea Sloan, vice president for communications at PBS, said this week, "PBS has no actual knowledge of carriage of any Vision Media programming by any PBS member station."
On Tuesday, Rick Hersh, Downs' agent, said he had been unaware of Vision Media's practices. "It's not great for Hugh, the way that you portrayed them. We didn't know about some of the stuff you reported."Thankfully, the lawsuit against 800notes.com was dismissed, and the increased press attention, as well as the loss of Downs' support, meant trouble for Great America HD. However, Levy has continued to monitor the company and now notes that a brand new company, with remarkably similar content on its webpages and remarkably similar claims, has suddenly popped up under the name "World Progress Report," but this time the "celebrity" involved is former Good Morning America Host Joan Lunden. Levy also notes that apparently the folks behind World Progress Report have decided to be more proactive on their 800notes.com page, which has numerous posts from people talking up their wonderful experiences with the company, and quickly responding to comments that suggest this is a scam, by saying "there must have been a miscommunication."
But Hersh said Downs' involvement was limited to a single day's shooting of generic introductions to the videos at a television studio in Phoenix two years ago. And Hersh said Downs bore no responsibility for how Vision Media sold the videos to clients or what they contained.
As Downs' appearance was contractually limited to public television, Hersh said, "We took comfort in relying on public television not to put something on the air that they didn't find legitimate and honest and straightforward."
Given all of this, and the history involved, I have to wonder how long it will be until there's some press attention on World Progress Report, and how long until Joan Lunden follows the lead of Downs, Cronkite, Douglas and others, and decides to disassociate herself from the company.
I have an idea...
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now proactive?
Really trying to bury problems now.
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More importantly...
Be a sport and do a story on this--
http://is.gd/fkoRM
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For those that don't want to invest 20 minutes reading Mike's post ...
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Irony
At least they have a sense of humor.....
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Re: World Progress Report
Thanks,
Michael Mark McCallum
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Re: Re: World Progress Report
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Re: Irony
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"How Long Until Joan Lunden Disassociates"?
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geez, who's next?
http://www.joanlunden.com/appearance_schedule.asp
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not funny if you fell for it
http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/publish/mandolins_001260.shtml
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Re: not funny if you fell for it
"The Owensboro Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau was directly responsible for making the arrangements for World Progress Report to feature the museum."
Good for you, Bureau, good for you. Don't let anyone else take credit for your good stewardship.
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Repeat Offenders
Even when they are completely exposed, and any "moron in a hurry" can see that it is a scam, we use words like "looks questionable" and "alleged fraud" and such. I understand they are innocent until proven guilty, and that's good. However, when does the "proven guilty" part of that happen? Seems never.
So, after exposing them as almost-certain grifters, they simply close up shop, take their HTML, and just set up under a new state, new PO Box, new numbered company, and new URL. It's not just World Progress Report, either, it's almost every scammer, spammer, fraudster, etc.
Why does our system have no tools to stop them?
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Re: World Progress Report
"I have done additional research and spoken with the executives at World Progress Report. They are not criminals and have not scammed me. They were reasonable to deal with and I, therefore retract my previous blog."
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Re: Re: World Progress Report
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Its too bad
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Re: Its too bad
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thebioseries
I've been approached by some people from http://www.thebioseries.com with Joan Lunden. I had a phone call.
They are offering a public television spot, with over 60 million households covered, primetime spot on CNN, Fox News etc. All for the low, low price of 18-19K. Too good to be true?
My first red flag was when I was on there site and spotlightedu.com showed up. The second was a whois of their site is hidden with domainsByProxy.
Can someone confirm this is definitely a scam?
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Re: thebioseries
The Names just keep on changing. First www.biographypt.com, then biographyps.com and on and on - once a phone number gets tagged anotherone pops up. These people call themselves Christians... They are anything but!!!! PLEASE BEWARE!!!!
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LOOK WHO'S LYING
Vision Media is a company with a lot of integrity, compassion, and a GIGANTIC commitment to giving voice to companies and associations that could otherwise never afford to broadcast their message publicly. On many occasions, companies received reduced fees, flexible payment plans, and sponsorship support to cover the production costs, which are explained in PERFECT detail before entering into contract with any clients.
The finished productions are exceptional quality, filmed in beta and recorded and played in HD for the best effect and impact. With thousands of business relationships over 25 years in the business, only 3 companies have ever asked for their money back, because they decided that they were not able to handle the increased volume of callers and business that their production had the potential to bring.
It is so very easy for people to point fingers and blast each other when their own private worlds are filled with hardship and unhappiness...but, it is not acceptable to discredit a company that is dedicated to quality programming, education, and providing the opportunity for all companies, all for-profit, to make their personal mark in the market.
If all of the critics of Vision Media would produce pieces of equal quality and focus on their own work, they would not need to discredit and destroy the livelihood of others. Success is something that is earned. Vision Media deserves every award they have received and kudos for their integrity and steadfastness in a world of hatred, hardship, and disrespect.
In addition, they were fine employers until the horrible media attacks caused them to cut back on staff, leaving me without an income. They provided severence, benefits, and offered a non-salaried position if I wanted it.
These are GOOD, UPSTANDING people who want the best for everyone! Meet them in person, ask them to their faces, and see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes before casting stones! Afterall, you would wish to be treated as fairly, no?
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Re: LOOK WHO'S LYING
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Re: LOOK WHO'S LYING
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Re: LOOK WHO'S LYING
So do think that the above link is also wrong. What a shame.
Just a matter of time till a new host comes out with more...
And, as a matter of fact, did you really work for Television Producers or Just Telemarketers???
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Re: LOOK WHO'S LYING
Are you proud of yourslelf! You are disgraceful!!
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SCAMMERS
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The Corporate Observer
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JOAN LUNDEN SCAM
Read it from a Lawyer himself who specializes is scams!!!
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They are at it again!
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Not true, sir
Of course anyone who has any doubts can quickly contact Joan Lunden's office directly:
http://www.joanlunden.com/contactus.asp
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they have morphed again
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New show
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Beware Of Joan Lunden Scam
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The scam continues...
Additionally, they have purchased a staggering number of domain names, started a Facebook and a Google +, and even made themselves a Wikipedia entry in an effort to appear legitimate, but be assured, In Focus with Martin Sheen is a SCAM. Repeat, InFocus with Martin Sheen is a scam! Not a report on a scam, an ACTUAL scam. Do not give money to Public Television Distributors, Inc and their show, they guarantee you nothing as return on a more than $20,000 investment.
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