OK, over on the Part 15 Facebook group I'm in, it was announced that the "Mutual Radio News" service has returned (this is NOT the old MBS).
Anyway, after some discussion it appears that you can use this news on your Part 15 for $15 a month, which is what I pay for FSN (which I like). If you are seeking such, this is another option, apparently at the same price.
The newscasts are very good, certainly of professional caliber, so it might be worth investigating if you're seeking such. They also have some weather services available, where they'll upload a custom forcast for your station (more expensive) which could be a nice option for somone who needs it.
I'm in no way affiliated with them, in fact got into it a bit with them on FB when I mentioned FSN as an option in a reply to their announcement.
Anyway....
TIB
The ALPB Latest News thread reported on this news service calling itself "Mutual News" and determined that if you read the fine print they are a religious organization.
I myself would not trust news presented by a religious entity.
The Mutual News Home Page linked by Tim up above has been sanitized from an older version which conspicuously showed their religious ties.
Here is another page from somewhere on their website that reveals their secret:
One story, not hosted by their news staff, from 6 months ago makes them tied to religious broadcasters? Should we check with all news presenters and writers to see if they are church attendees? I would think ANY church going employee of a news operation could be claimed to have religious ties that may influence their news coverage.
I heard no hint of religion in any of their newscasts.
It's up to each individual programmer what they choose to use. I found no religious overtones in anything offered by their news service. And even if there was (is) some may prefer it that way.
TIB
In its present form the Mutual News website gives zero information about who owns it or who runs it or any other identifying information.
I would agree that most radio stations will not over-think by analyzing the content or lack of content so long as they have newscasts that sound "newsy".
The news service is owned by Leo Ashcraft a guy that helped a lot of LPFM's get on the air.
Christian LPFMs?
All LPFM's. There is an oldies just down the road. Plays 50's-60's Rock and Roll. Leo processed all the paperwork. $$$ very reasonable. Don't know what's worse Come to Jesus LPFM's or Jewish Amy Goodman.
Jewish lesbian Amy Goodman.