Sinclair forcing affiliates to prempt programming for anti-Kerry film

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Letter from David Brock to Sinclair Broadcast Group (10/10/04)

October 10, 2004

David D. Smith
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030

Dear Mr. Smith:

I'm writing to ask you to cancel plans, reported in the October 9 edition of the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/services/site/premium/access-registered.intercept), to force Sinclair Broadcasting Group stations to preempt regular programming and broadcast a film attacking Senator John Kerry between now and the November 2 presidential election.

According to the Times, the film, Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal, "features former POWs accusing Kerry -- a decorated Navy veteran turned war protester -- of worsening their ordeal by prolonging the war." The Times reported that the maker of the film, former Washington Times reporter (and former Bush administration official) Carlton Sherwood, tells viewers on the film's website: "Intended or not, Lt. Kerry painted a depraved portrait of Vietnam veterans, literally creating the images of those who served in combat as deranged, drug-addicted psychopaths, baby killers" that has endured for 30 years.

I don't have to remind you, as the Times pointed out, that "Sinclair stations are spread throughout the country, in major markets that include Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas. ... Fourteen of the 62 stations the company either owns or programs are in the key political swing stations of Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where the presidential election is being closely fought."

As described by the Times, Sinclair's plan to air the film raises questions about whether Sinclair would be running afoul of federal regulations "requiring broadcasters to provide equal time to major candidates in an election campaign ..." Provisions of the McCain-Feingold law would also appear to be at issue in your decision. The reported effort by Sinclair executives to instruct station managers to classify the film as "news," thus skirting these political broadcasting regulations, would be a charade given its blatant anti-Kerry slant.

I trust that in light of these concerns, you will reconsider your company's apparent decision to air "Stolen Honor."

Sincerely,

David Brock
President and CEO
Media Matters for America

http://mediamatters.org/items/200410100001

[still_one]

1. what can really be done that will work?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

2. honestly, i don't know-public pressure, maybe

looking into whether this is a violation of election laws is another

remeber sinclar wouldn't air the nightline reading of the dead because it was 'too political' and 'had an agenda'

unfortunately, sinclair has affiliates in almost all the swing states. expect them to promo this film on all their local newscasts

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. Has there been a complaint to the FCC?

Yeah, I know Powell runs it, but they have to placed on the spot and the protest in place.

[gospelized]

4. i think

dialogue (maybe boycott as a last resort) of the local affiliates would be more affective than contacting Sinclair itself.

if you can convince the local station that several hundred/a thousand people in your area will never watch their news again, they will do everything they can. their viewership is much smaller and more specific than the sinclair corperation as a whole.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

6. unfortunately, sinclair doesnt listen and threatens them

if they dont broadcast the specific wishes of sinclar, they get fired

an example is 'the point' with mark hyman, an opion spot by a conservative commentator. i had a friend who wotked on a local affiliate and they were told that they had to run hyman's spots, regardless of whether the viewers liked it

calls and email to their station over nightline were 9-1 in favor of airinf koppel's piece, but they had no choice- and the stationwas told they had to preempt nightline

[Shadowen]

5. Threats of legal action.

This will work because they are airing it within 60 days of the election, which I believe violates Federal Election law.

Amazing what you can learn at morons.org. Possibly the best non-partisan political site online.

[liberalitch]

7. i finally saw the first... Very brief mention of it..

I have ever seen on TV.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. Thank you, Mr. Brock...you're doing good work.

[Steelangel]

9. You can try New York Times?

and you are doing great :D