The Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner or operator of nearly 200 television stations in the U.S., has forced its news anchors to record a promo about not promoting fake news. Each of the groups television stations read a script that was written by the corporate office. Dozens of stations belonging to the nation’s largest broadcaster have aired video promotions in the last few weeks in which their local on-air news hosts voice concerns about “the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country.” The anchors then go on to say that many media outlets are publishing “fake stories” and pushing agendas. According to the “Concourse“, “You might remember Sinclair from its having been featured on John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight last year, or from its requiring in 2004 of affiliates to air anti-John Kerry propaganda, or perhaps because it’s your own local affiliate running inflammatory “Terrorism Alerts” or required editorials from former Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn of the famed Holocaust Remembrance Day statement, that failed to mention Jewish people.” Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee tweeted Monday his condemnation of the segments. “Local news stations now required by Sinclair Broadcasting to parrot the talking points of the President, moving America one step closer to its own version of state run media. And another freedom is assailed under this Administration.” When the anchors were asked how they felt about reading a statement many believed parroted the President sentiment on the media, many responded that they didn’t think anything of the announcement and that it was just a matter of journalistic integrity. However you can’t overlook the fact that if they refused to read the corporate edict, than it could lead to some very unpleasant situations and this national scripted promotion offers a hint at how an even-larger Sinclair could spread conservative-leaning messages across the largest-ever collection of local media outlets. The Sinclair Group is currently in talks about acquiring 40 additional channels and would need federal approval. Sinclair Broadcast Group is the largest owner of local stations in the country. For a list of Sinclair channels click here.
What a conservative leaning television monopoly looks like.
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