Some of us don't like government propoganda, even if it comes from the right. I couldn't care less what the 'media' makes if it. I am bothered by it. I can only imagine how I would feel to learn that reporters were promoting policies I disagree with, becuase they were paid by the government to do so.
Actually, Williams is not a journalist (by the working definition of journalist) when he is in the role of a talk-show host. All talk-show hosts promote various products. As listeners, we hope that it is a product that they like.
So the Ed Dept. hired a PR firm to promote a policy. The anti-drug arm of the fed govt runs anti-drug spots all of the time.