Saturday, March 10, 2018

Sinclair Broadcasting, Donald Trump's favorite broadcasting company, to air conservative attacks on the media on local stations around the country.

Courtesy of CNN: 

As scripted, the promos decry "fake stories" from national news outlets -- echoing President Trump's inflammatory rhetoric about "fake news.

"The promos are supposed to start airing on local stations later this month. The instructions sent to station news directors say that the 60- and 75-second spots should run frequently "to create maximum reach and frequency." 

The promo requirements are the latest reason why some Sinclair journalists are upset with the company's Maryland-based management. In recent years Sinclair's owners, the Smith family, have made several programming decisions that reflect a right-wing agenda. 

Most noticeably, pro-Trump commentaries by former Trump aide Boris Epshteyn have cut into local news time. Local journalists have also bristled at so-called "must run" packages about subjects that aren't relevant to local audiences -- but are hot-button stories for conservatives. The "Terrorism Alert Desk" is a regular segment about security threats around the world.

The instructions to local stations say that the promos "should play using news time, not commercial time." Like the Epshteyn commentaries, this takes away from local news time. 

"Please produce the attached scripts exactly as they are written," the instructions say. "This copy has been thoroughly tested and speaks to our Journalistic Responsibility as advocates to seek the truth on behalf of the audience." 

The promos begin with one or two anchors introducing themselves and saying "I'm [we are] extremely proud of the quality, balanced journalism that [proper news brand name of local station] produces. But I'm [we are] concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one sided news stories plaguing our country." 

Then the media bashing begins.

"The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media," the script says. "More alarming, national media outlets are publishing these same fake stories without checking facts first. Unfortunately, some members of the national media are using their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control 'exactly what people think' ... This is extremely dangerous to our democracy." 

Then the anchors are supposed to strike a more positive tone and say that their local station pursues the truth. "We understand Truth is neither politically 'left or right.' Our commitment to factual reporting is the foundation of our credibility, now more than ever."

If all of that sounds familiar it is because those are the talking points espoused by Fox News for decades now.

"All other news is false, and the truth can only be found here."

It used to be that you could avoif this kind of conservative propaganda simply by avoiding Fox News, and similar Right Wing news outlets.

But with his agenda now coming into your homes on your local stations, that now becomes almost impossible.

Sinclair is now in the process of trying to acquire Tribune Media which will expand its reach even further.

The FCC is yet to sign off on the deal, but with Trump's man Ajit Pai now in charge, it is likely going to go through with only minimal resistance.

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:53 AM

    Terrifying

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous5:43 AM

    I commented on this a couple of days ago. We are creeping into Orwellian territory. It seems like we may have a combo of Oceania/Republic of Gilead if we can't change things in this next election. Flip the House. Work on the Senate, if possible. Get that BlueNami going. Help to register friends, young potential voters, educate the misinformed or apathetic, and get a carpool system together to get those that need it to the polls! Or let people know that they *can* vote by mail! That may be best this time (I no longer trust those damned machines!)...

    November can't get here quickly enough.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:10 AM

      This article and your post is just more projection on the part of the Orwellian Left. Nothing puts the "Orwellian" in "Orwellian" like Leftist politics from Marx forward.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:21 AM

      This article and your reply is just more projection on the part of the Orwellian Left. Nothing puts the "Orwellian" in "Orwellian" better than Leftist politics from Marx forward.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous6:02 AM

    So much for freedom of the press.

    For centuries, we have claimed to be a shining example of democracy for the world to emulate. Now we have become the dangerous example of a government whose actions betray the very people it is sworn to protect.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous6:12 AM

    KATU-2 in Portland OR is owned by Sinclair.
    Just a heads up for any living within broadcast range.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous7:30 AM

    Nazi/Putin propaganda at its best.
    We are F_CKED!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. WA Skeptic7:51 AM

    How do I find out which stations are being run by Sinclair? I have tried their websites, but that info is pretty carefully screened; I would be happy to not support this group's ravings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the great RWNJ wurlitzer of whacko9:20 AM

      Here is the list!


      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stations_owned_or_operated_by_Sinclair_Broadcast_Group

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:46 AM

      I had to go to each individual website of stations in my area and click "about us" to find who owns them.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous8:00 AM

    Just saw a few trucks driving by carrying giant front-loading ovens.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous8:54 AM

    https://www.politicususa.com/2018/03/10/stormy-daniels-cover-up.html

    "Even Donald Trump seems to understand that he can't hate tweet his way out of the Stormy Daniels scandal."
    " this explosive scandal continues to unfold and finally garner the media attention it has deserved all along, it remains to be seen if – like previous controversies – it will fade into the background, or if the president and his campaign will pay a serious price for what appear to be campaign finance violations.

    Regardless, one thing is clear: Trump’s behavior surrounding this sex scandal is far different from the others he had endured during his time in politics, and that suggests he knows something bad is cUming."

    ReplyDelete
  9. When it comes to mergers and monopolies, I guess Sinclair gets a pass.

    This is how Goebbels and the Nazis did it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous10:45 AM

    Remember this is how Putin holds his people in place by providing State operated news. And tho people like to put it on the back burners of their minds, Trump is under Putin's tutelage.
    Even when Putin took his tool aside under public scrutiny and whispered in his ear, people knew something was up but they denied anyone could be so obvious.
    Sometimes things just stare you in the face and you just don't want to see it. Hitler took advantage of this tendency to look the other way. It's happening again, and no one wants to see.

    ReplyDelete

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