Take Action Against Sinclair NOW

[eaprez]

This is an email I got from FAIR. Sorry if its a repeat.

ACTION ALERT:
What Sinclair Doesn't Want You to See on Nightline

April 30, 2004

This evening, ABC's Nightline broadcast will be devoted to reading a list
of U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq. But some viewers won't be able to
see the program: The Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns several ABC
affiliates, has announced that it will not air Nightline on its stations
tonight.

A statement on Sinclair's website explains: "While the Sinclair Broadcast
Group honors the memory of the brave members of the military who have
sacrificed their lives in the service of our country, we do not believe
such political statements should be disguised as news content. As a
result, we have decided to preempt the broadcast of Nightline this Friday
on each of our stations which air ABC programming."

Sinclair's rationale for the censorship of Nightline is explicitly
political: "Before you judge our decision, however, we would ask that you
first question Mr. Koppel as to why he chose to read the names of the 523
troops killed in combat in Iraq, rather than the names of the thousands of
private citizens killed in terrorists attacks since and including the
events of September 11, 2001. In his answer, you will find the real
motivation behind his action scheduled for this Friday." A response
statement from ABC said that the network did broadcast a list of the
victims of the September 11 attacks on the one-year anniversary.

This is not the first time that Sinclair's conservative political leanings
-- 98 percent of its 2004 political contributions have gone to Republicans
(MediaChannel.org, 4/29/04)-- have led the company into journalistic
controversy. In February, a Sinclair news crew was sent to Iraq to cover
the "good news" that was allegedly going unreported in the rest of the
media (Baltimore Sun, 2/18/04). And shortly after the September 11
attacks, Sinclair executives required stations to air editorial statements
in support of the Bush administration (Extra!, 11-12/01).

Sinclair controls about 60 TV stations, including eight ABC affiliates,
some in substantial population centers:

WSYX-- Columbus, Ohio
KDNL-- St. Louis, Mo.
WXLV-- Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, N.C.
WEAR-- Mobile, AL & Pensacola, Fla.
WLOS-- Asheville, N.C.
WCHS-- Charleston & Huntington, W.V.
WGGB-- Springfield, Mass.
WTXL-- Tallahassee, Fla.

It's possible that some Nightline viewers, faced with how many American
lives have been lost in Iraq, may become opposed to the war. It's also
possible that others will see the show as an argument for fighting and
winning in Iraq, so that these deaths will not have been in vain.
Journalists, however, should not decide whether to report the reality of a
war depending on what they assume the political reaction might be. The
American people need full reporting on the situation in Iraq-- including
the toll in U.S. and Iraqi lives-- so that they can make an informed
judgment on whether the war's goals are worth the costs.

Sinclair may claim that it honors the memory of the dead members of the
military. It evidently prefers, however, that they should be remembered
without being mentioned-- a dishonorable position for a media outlet in a
democratic country.

ACTION: Contact the Sinclair Broadcast Group and share your thoughts about
the company's decision to censor the April 30 Nightline broadcast for
political reasons.

CONTACT:
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Phone: [phone]

Sinclair-owned TV station WLOS has announced that it will pass along email
messages to Sinclair-- send your comments to:

WLOS
mailto:[e-mail]

As always, please remember that your comments are taken more seriously if
you maintain a polite tone. Please cc [e-mail] with your
correspondence.

----------
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[goclark]

1. Done

I hope that it works.
At least I feel that I have tried to help our country heal.

[G_j]

3. I can assure you that it is making a big impression

even though Sinclair probably won't back down.

[Robbien]

2. Emailed. It is time Sinclair listens to the public

One man should not decide for the rest of us.

[revcarol]

6. Every one of those STATIONS has to have their license renewed

by the FCC. They do all sorts of things to "prove" they are acting "in the public interest."

WHAT IF, I say, WHAT IF, a bunch of letters just happened to say a particular station was NOT acting in the public interest at renewal time?? This is a BIG CLUB we hold over a station. If there is a BIG FIGHT over renewal, advertisers are less likely to want to advertise on that station, and the monetary value of the station goes DOWN.

Find out the procedure for writing your FCC letters, the station HAS to give it to you, and write your letters NOW!!

Then write letters to the editor telling the people that the "local" station is not acting in the public interest because they are being controlled by "OUTSIDERS!!" (That gets 'em.)Tell the editor you are not going to support local advertisers who won't support your community's public interest.

We did this to a station in Colorado. The value of the station went down by OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.And they damn near didn't get their FCC license renewed.

It can be done!!

[eaprez]

8. Its Not the Local Stations

I spoke to my local station today. They were very apologetic - said they disagreed and guided me to Sinclair. I am in Columbus, OH. Reaction was swift. There was a demonstration downtown with a reading of the names.

[revcarol]

10. THEY can pressure Sinclair.

Put the pressure on the locals. They'll report to Sinclair that they are getting nasty letters against their license renewals and the management at Sinclair will have fits because thewir investment isn't paying off gobs of profits.

The local stations ARE OWNED by Sinclair.

[eaprez]

11. The Point Was

that the decision was not a decision which was made at the local level.

[Renew Deal]

4. Done

I pasted this long list in there so they knew we are watching.

BUTLER, M W MR
REISTERSTOWN,MD 21136 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING GROUPS INC./T 2/4/2004 $250 Bush, George W
BUTLER, M W MR
REISTERSTOWN,MD 21136 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T.V. EXECU 2/19/2004 $234 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, M WILLIAM
BALTIMORE,MD 21211 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 3/24/1999 $500 McCain, John
BUTLER, M WILLIAM
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 9/25/2000 $300 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, M WILLIAM
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 10/16/2000 $400 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, M WILLIAM
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 11/29/2000 $400 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, M WILLIAM
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING 8/16/1999 $300 Bush, George W
BUTLER, M WILLIAM
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 8/23/2000 $200 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, M WILLIAM
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 10/4/2000 $300 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, M WILLIAM
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 10/23/2000 $300 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, M WILLIAM
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING 6/30/1999 $500 Bush, George W
BUTLER, M WILLIAM MR
REISTERSTOWN,MD 21136 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T.V. EXECU 8/11/2003 $500 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, M WILLIAM MR
REISTERSTOWN,MD 21136 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T.V. EXECU 12/17/2003 $300 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, MWILLIAM MR
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T. V. EXEC 5/21/2001 $400 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, MWILLIAM MR
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T.V. EXECU 9/17/2001 $270 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, MWILLIAM MR
REISTERSTOWN,MD 21136 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T.V. EXECU 7/5/2002 $340 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, MWILLIAM MR
REISTERSTOWN,MD 21136 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T.V. EXECU 2/14/2003 $400 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, MWILLIAM MR
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T. V. EXEC 2/1/2001 $400 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, MWILLIAM MR
BALTIMORE,MD 21218 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T.V. EXECU 8/20/2001 $200 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, MWILLIAM MR
REISTERSTOWN,MD 21136 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T.V. EXECU 2/22/2002 $225 Republican National Cmte
BUTLER, MWILLIAM MR
REISTERSTOWN,MD 21136 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/T.V. EXECU 12/30/2002 $400 Republican National Cmte
CONFER, KERBY E
STEVENSON,MD 21153 SINCLAIR BROADCAST 3/24/1999 $500 McCain, John
DRAKE, BARRY P
BALTIMORE,MD 21208 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 6/8/1999 $500 Bush, George W
HEYDE, ROBERT HAROLD MR
NEW ALBANY,OH 43054 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/TELEVISION 9/16/2003 $2,000 Bush, George W
HYMAN, MARK E MR
COCKEYSVILLE,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC./VP - 12/29/2000 $2,061 Republican State Central Cmte/Maryland
MILLAR, CRAIG
BRENTWOOD,TN 37027 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 6/22/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W
OSTROFF, NATHANIEL
ANNAPOLIS,MD 21401 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC 7/23/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W
SMITH, DAVID
BALTIMORE,MD 21211 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING/PRESIDENT 6/29/2002 $1,000 Ruppersberger, Dutch
SMITH, DAVID
BALTIMORE,MD 21211 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING GROUP 3/29/1999 $1,000 Ehrlich, Robert Jr
SMITH, DAVID D
BALTIMORE,MD 21211 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING 5/31/2000 $1,000 Burns, Conrad
SMITH, DAVID D
BALTIMORE,MD 21211 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING GROUP 3/24/1999 $1,000 McCain, John
SMITH, DAVID D MR
BALTIMORE,MD 21211 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING/BROADCASTER 10/6/1999 $1,000 Gore, Al
SMITH, DAVID D MR
COCKEYSVILLE,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/EXECUTIVE 12/8/2003 $2,000 Bush, George W
SMITH, DUNCAN
TOWSON,MD 21204 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 12/17/1999 $1,000 Giuliani, Rudolph W
SMITH, FRED G
BALTIMORE,MD 21211 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 9/23/1999 $1,500 National Republican Congressional Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 9/30/2000 $900 Ehrlich, Robert Jr
SMITH, FREDERICK
LUTHERVILLE TIMONI,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 4/11/2000 $1,000 Ensign, John
SMITH, FREDERICK
COCKEYSVILLE HUNT,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/BROADCASTI 2/22/2002 $5,000 Republican Pty of Fla Fed Campaign Acct
SMITH, FREDERICK
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 3/29/1999 $1,000 Ehrlich, Robert Jr
SMITH, FREDERICK
LUTHERVILLE TIMONI,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 12/17/1999 $1,000 Giuliani, Rudolph W
SMITH, FREDERICK
COCKEYSVILLE,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC 7/13/1999 $5,000 Sinclair Broadcast Group
SMITH, FREDERICK G
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 5/12/2003 $500 Scott, Marvin B
SMITH, FREDERICK G
COCKEYSVILLE,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 1/22/2001 $1,000 National Republican Senatorial Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G
LUTHERVILLE TIMONI,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING/DENTIST 9/17/2002 $1,000 Bentley, Helen Delich
SMITH, FREDERICK G
HUNT VALLEY,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 3/31/2000 $3,000 Republican State Central Cmte/Maryland
SMITH, FREDERICK G
LUTHERVILLE TIMONI,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 3/24/1999 $1,000 McCain, John
SMITH, FREDERICK G
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/BROADCASTI 10/16/2001 $1,000 Harris, Katherine


SMITH, FREDERICK G
LUTHERVILLE TIMONI,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING/DENTIST 9/17/2002 $1,000 Bentley, Helen Delich
SMITH, FREDERICK G
LUTHARVILE,MD SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 8/28/2000 $1,000 American PAC/Bellevue, WA
SMITH, FREDERICK G
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC 6/21/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W
SMITH, FREDERICK G
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING 4/15/2000 $1,000 Burns, Conrad
SMITH, FREDERICK G DR
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 4/20/1999 $5,000 Republican National Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G DR
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 9/13/2000 $5,000 Republican National Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G DR
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 10/4/2000 $5,000 RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G DR
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 11/15/2001 $25,000 RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G DR
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 9/27/1999 $500 Republican National Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G DR
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 9/29/2000 $80,000 RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G DR
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 10/5/2000 $15,000 Republican National Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G MR
COCKEYSVILLE,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC./BUSIN 12/8/2003 $2,000 Bush, George W
SMITH, FREDERICK G MR
HUNT VALLEY,MD 21080 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/BUSINESSMA 2/17/2004 $25,000 Republican National Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G MR
HUNT VALLEY,MD 21080 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/BUSINESSMA 10/1/2003 $25,000 Republican National Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G MR
LUTHERVILLE,MD 21093 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING/BROADCASTER 10/6/1999 $1,000 Gore, Al
SMITH, FREDRICK
, SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC 9/23/2002 $5,000 Sinclair Broadcast Group
SMITH, FREDRICK
,MD SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC 9/23/2002 $5,000 Sinclair Broadcast Group
SMITH, J DUNCAN
TOWSON,MD 21204 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 3/24/1999 $1,000 McCain, John
SMITH, J DUNCAN
TOWSON,MD 21204 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC 6/21/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W
SMITH, J DUNCAN
TOWSON,MD 21204 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING 4/15/2000 $1,000 Burns, Conrad
SMITH, J DUNCAN
COCKEYSVILLE,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING/CEO 11/13/2003 $1,000 Ruppersberger, Dutch
SMITH, J DUNCAN
COCKEYSVILLE,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 3/29/1999 $1,000 Ehrlich, Robert Jr
SMITH, J DUNCAN
TOWSON,MD 21204 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 4/11/2000 $1,000 Ensign, John
SMITH, J DUNCAN MR
TOWSON,MD 21204 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/VICE PRESI 10/6/1999 $1,000 Gore, Al
SMITH, J MR
COCKEYSVILLE,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/PARTNER 11/1/1999 $250 Bradley, Bill
SMITH, JULIAN DUNCAN MR
COCKEYSVILLE,MD 21030 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP/EXECUTIVE 12/8/2003 $2,000 Bush, George W
SMITH, ROBERT
GLYNDON,MD 21071 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING 2/26/1999 $1,000 Ehrlich, Robert Jr
SMITH, ROBERT E
GLYNDON,MD 21071 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC 6/21/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W
SMITH, ROBERT E MR
GLYNDON,MD 21071 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC./BROAD 10/28/2003 $2,000 Bush, George W
SMITH, ROBERT E MR
GLYNDON,MD 21071 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING/BROADCAST EXE 10/6/1999 $1,000 Gore, Al
SMITH, ROBERT E MR
GLYNDON,MD 21071 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC. 5/19/1999 $1,000 McCain, John
SMITH, ROBIN A MRS
BALTIMORE,MD 21209 SINCLAIR BROADCAST 6/13/2003 $500 McCain, John
SMITH, ROBIN A MRS
BALTIMORE,MD 21209 SINCLAIR BROADCAST/VICE PRESIDENT O 2/10/2000 $250 McCain, John
TALAMANTES, PATRICK J
BALTIMORE,MD 21210 SINCLAIR BROADCASTING 3/24/1999 $250 McCain, John
OSTROFF, NATHANIEL
ANNAPOLIS,MD 21401 SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC 7/23/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W
AMY, DAVID A
BALTIMORE,MD 21236 ATTORNEY 6/30/1999 $1,000 Bush, George W
PARKS, DELBERT R MR III
MANCHESTER,MD 21102 SINCLAIR 9/13/1999 $200 McCain, John

To Democrats: $0 (0%)
To Republicans: $39,400 (100%)
Total: $39,400

Contributor Occupation Date Amount Recipient
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC
COCKEYSVILLE, MD 1/18/2001 $14,400 Republican National Cmte
SMITH, FREDERICK G DR
LUTHERVILLE, MD SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP 11/15/2001 $25,000 Republican National Cmte

[G_j]

5. Bleachers7

could you please add this to my thread? I'm compiling some of the ugly truth about Sinclair.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1504101&mesg_id=1504101

[Renew Deal]

7. Here is a Sinclair guy with a working voice mail.

410-568-1565


HYMAN, MARK E MR
COCKEYSVILLE,MD 21030
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP INC./VP -
12/29/2000
$2,061
Republican State Central Cmte/Maryland

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

13. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE flood hyman's mail -he's an ass (here's why)

The Death of Local News
By Paul Schmelzer, AlterNet
April 23, 2003

Tune into the evening news on Madison, Wisconsin's Fox TV affiliate and behold the future of local news. In the program's concluding segment, "The Point," Mark Hyman rants against peace activists ("wack-jobs"), the French ("cheese-eating surrender monkeys"), progressives ("loony left") and the so-called liberal media, usually referred to as the "hate-America crowd" or the "Axis of Drivel." Colorful, if creatively anemic, this is TV's version of talk radio, with the precisely tanned Hyman

more at:
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=15718

and
SINCLAIR PRODUCES CENTRALIZED RIGHT-WING CONTENT FOR 'LOCAL STATIONS': In a controversial business practice, Sinclair Broadcasting has fired much of the staff for the local affiliates it owns, instead producing content for its local stations from a central facility outside Baltimore which it then airs on "local" news broadcasts. The centralized content features nightly commentary by Sinclair corporate communications chief Mark Hyman. Hyman regularly refers to the French as "cheese-eating surrender monkeys," the so-called liberal media as the "hate-America crowd," and progressives as "the lonely left" On one recent commentary, Hyman called members of Congress who voted against a recent resolution affirming the righteousness of the Iraq war "unpatriotic politicians who hate our military."
http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=63020#1

You can see all of Hyman's commentaries this month HERE.
http://www.newscentral.tv/thepoint/editorial.shtml

I have to deal with this asshole on our airwaves every day here in WV

[SoCalDem]

9. Employee list & executive compensation info online..I found it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1504740

[CBHagman]

12. For those of us who use USPS

The mailing address for Sinclair is:

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030

[FailureNoOption]

14. How is this any different?

What if Air America was forced to report on only the good news out of Iraq? How is that different form forcing Sinclair to air the bad news out of Iraq?

[snippy]

15. Who is forcing or attempting to force Sinclair to do anything?

Contacting Sinclair and expressing disapproval of their membership in the Brown Shirts for Bush does not force Sinclair to do anything.

[eaprez]

16. Its Not Doing Anything?

.....I beg to differ. The public out cry over this has turned this into a MAJOR story nationwide. There will be consequences. Maybe not tonight - but there will be. You can bet they got their marching orders from the White House.