CA Water Organization Uses Taxpayer Money to Fool Taxpayers
A California water agency has dragged Google News into a scandal over a serious case of astroturfing.
The Central Basin Municipal Water District, in Los Angeles County, has been called out for writing fake news stories promoting itself, disguised in a website called the Hawks News Review. Google News had approved the faux-news site as a legitimate source.
The Los Angeles Times covered this story, asserting that the Water District paid more than $200,00o to a public relations firm for planting the positive coverage.
It’s one thing when WalMart, the nation’s biggest private company, does this
WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.
Subscribe today!
To Read the Full Story Become an Adweek+ Subscriber
Already a member? Sign in