London Bureau

Stuart Maister, managing director of broadcast consultant and VNR producer London Bureau, supports the view that the VNRs are the equivalent to paper press releases and are there to be used, unused and edited by independent broadcasters. Mr. Maister is one of several in the field who have called-so far unsuccessfully-for broadcasters and VNR and PR firms to get together to thrash out more formal guidelines on VNR use. Mr. Maister said there may be anti-competitive threats to VNR companies who gain privileged access to broadcast production facilities. However, he said he sees that more as a VNR issue rather a political concern.