Re Advertisers affiliated with Sinclair

[Iceburg]

Once we have identified the adverisers on Sinclair networks, what is it that we are (or should be) requesting the advertisers to do? With respect to the FCC it is clear what the demand is ... stop Sinclair from ordering the networks to broadcast the film/"news". In contrast it is not clear to me or others what demands or requests are we to make of the advertisors. My recommendation is that we should have a clear strategy before e-pouncing on them.

Let us take a few moments to identify what we are asking them to do, and why we are doing it:

For starters, consider these questions...

What are we asking them to do?

1) Make a public declaration of discent?
2) Break contracts?
3) Refuse to air their commercial on the day?/week?/month? of the film broadcast?
4) Put pressure on the Sinclair and its affiliate stations? If so, by what means?

Why are we doing it?

1) Its morally wrong?
2) Its against the regulations? If so in what way?

[markus]

1. As a former journalist

it is *cleary* unethical from a news perspective to air a major story of any sort on the evening before/day of an election, when there is no opportunity for fair comment/rebuttal/correction.

There is also (I learned here) a little noted left-over from the Fairness Doctrine regulation repeal: if someone is personally attacked, they have the right to demand airtime to rebut it.

I no longer have that link. Any FCC reg experts around? Could Kerry demand equal time for a national address on all Sinclair stations, or perhaps to run Going Upriver?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. If this is true

then we can use that line with Sinclair advertisers. I'm sure Kerry's attorneys are already on the case. Personally, I'm wondering if this isn't Rove's October Surprise....

[Iceburg]

3. I agree but the problem with that argument is that the ba$terds have

have invited kerry to a post-air panel discussion.

[OKNancy]

5. Kerry's people should demand

not a panel discussion to fight a movie, but another movie to be aired.
"Going Upriver" should be the logical counter to the right-winger "movie".

[Iceburg]

6. yes but it begs the question "demand to whom?" and on what grounds?

and what are the consequences if "they" don't comply with the demands?

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to solicit clarity for the sake of "effective" action.

[G_j]

18. lets put the 'movie' aside for a moment

Mark Hyman has been doing his extended 'swift boat'type smears almost nightly for a long time now on "The Point" which is included in the nightly news at every Sinclair station with no equal time. IMO, we should start there.

[progdonkey]

7. looks like it's been repealed

This entry from Wikipedia.org concerning the fairness doctrine states at the end, "The Court of Appeals for Washington D.C. ordered the FCC to justify these (personal attack and political editorial) corollary rules in light of the decision to axe the fairness doctrine. The commission did not do so promptly, and in 2000 it ordered their repeal."

The most recent article at FCC.gov that came up when searching for "personal attack" was a press release from 2000 saying the FCC was suspending the rules for 60 days. There doesn't seem to be any mention on whether they finally scrapped them or not.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine

http://ftp.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/News_Releases/2000/nrmm0041.html

[Iceburg]

11. Bad news ... the personal attack and editorial rules no longer apply

well with the FCC the hook, that leaves us with the moral and pecuniary arguments

[Warpy]

8. What we are all forgetting here is that WE own the airwaves

and Sinclair only owns the bricks, mortar, and transmission towers. One of the things we need to do as citizens is start lodging protests, because this corporation is clearly not acting in the public interest by broadcasting only one twisted and partisan viewpoint with no chance for rebuttal. They are allowed to lease our airwaves when they act in the public's interest. Airing slander (and yes, Kerry MUST file suit this time) is clearly NOT acting in the public's interest.

We need to start lodging formal protests with the FCC NOW. We need to keep it going every time one of their stations comes up for FCC review. We need to deprive them of the ability to broadcast over the public's airwaves.

Powell's incompetent hack of a son won't head the FCC forever, folks.

In the meantime, notifying advertisers of an impending boycott certainly won't hurt, as will notifying the major networks that their stations will be boycotted if they are owned by Sinclair.

[liberal_in_GA]

9. Good points

Anyone had luck finding a list of Sinclair advertisers yet? If one isn't available, I guess the best way is just to watch your local Sinclair station for while and take note of the commercials.

[Iceburg]

14. Please see post #12

[KharmaTrain]

4. There Needs To Be Plans Of Action

Yesterday the strings flew all over this place...mine, included, with ideas and outrage.

Hopefully a little cooler heads are prevailing and we can, collectively, start forming a plan to not only shine the light on Sinclair and their obvious attempt to use public airwaves for partisan purposes, but also to use it as a platform to take back airwaves and use our intelligence, creativity and community to revisit the deregulations that have led to companies like Sinclair, Cheap...err Clear Channel and others to amass such large control of the eyes and ears on our public airwaves.

I have 30 years of knowledge in a lot of these issues and know we could make life real uncomfortable for Sinclair legally and how the right wing has created such a large dominance in these industries.

I've been looking for a "central thread", and I'd strongly suggest Skinner set up a folder with "stickys" in the other forums to pull all of us who want to really take action here...especially those of us with broadcasting, legal and financial contacts, experience and resources.

Cheers!

[Iceburg]

15. Thanks for the feedback IMR ... too many threads- I agree

Its not the easiest medium to channel energy and ideas. Knowing that the advertisers will inevitably become part of "the overall plan" if and when it does arrive, my aim here is to solicit a clear set of talking points(specific demands) that can be used effectively with the advertisers. IMHO it is not sufficient to scream "we will boycott".

[KharmaTrain]

16. Advertising, Licenses...Many, Many Ways

I've worked in this industry for 30 years and have a lot of experience in these areas...and a lot of pent up frustration that would love to dig into something of this sort.

There's many facets involved here...the broadcast side, the advertising, the legal, the other media (newspapers, cable) and then really examining and learning about all the players involved.

Honestly, Iceburg, I'm in favor of the "torches and pitchforks" (rhetorically speaking) of using these Sinclair showings as a chance to rally DU'ers across the country in non-violent demonstrations/show of force/party in front of all Sinclair Broadcast stations while this crap is being shown.

Not only is this a great chance for us to express our outrage, but a chance for ourselves, to see how much of a force DU and our own resolve has become. Plus I'm certain with simultaneous protests trumpted here and our affiliated blogs, we'll get a ton of news coverage on the other channels in town. We can't remain silent any longer.

Cheers!

[BeFree]

10. Influencing the advertisers

How many adverts are there? 100 - 200?

Who are the main corporate advertisers with Sinclair?

From what I've seen, the local adverts are the key players, with my locale having a Sinclair station as the only broadcast station for the area. Are most Sinclair stations the singular source in their respective areas, or do they have competition?

One of the most offensive reports Sinclair airs is that "Point" at the end their one sided, openly biased broadsword they swing as us nightly. Absolute garbage. Let's put that out on the curb.

[Iceburg]

12. Agreed ... but "influence" them how? is the question

Getting the list of advertisers is the easy part, presenting an effective argument is much harder.

The "threat of a boycott" is ominous to any product company but we need to be very clear about the actual demand not simply the consequences. Thus I pose the questions again...

What exactly are we asking them to do?

1) Make a public declaration of discent?
2) Break contracts?
3) Refuse to air their commercial on the day?/week?/month? of the film broadcast?
4) Put pressure on the Sinclair and its affiliate stations? If so, by what means?


If you/we can answer the above question then we have the seeds to sew an effective camoaign.

[BeFree]

17. Influencing the adverts

I doubt we will get the adverts to make any kind of public statements. Any action we accomplish will be one that stays in the background. The adverts will begin declining to spend their money at the station, type of background.

I wonder, is Sinclair in markets where they are the singular provider? If so, then a nationwide campaign is barking up the wrong tree.

If so, then local application of our efforts seems to be the right tree.

If anyone can come up with a study of what the Sinclair markets are like, that would be a bit of info leading to answering some of your questions.

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Just before the invasion, several adverts on my Sinclair station received calls informing them that I would not buy their products since they seemed to be supporting the slanted news I was seeing.

Another time, I called a national advert. Left no info on said call, but soon received a mailing from said advert. Seems they traced my phone back to my address. Oh well, they wasted money on me. And maybe that is the key: Show adverts they are wasting $$ on Sinclair?

[JPZenger]

13. Guess Who Killed the Fairness Doctrine?

Guess which Federal Appeals Court judges killed the Fairness Doctrine that required equal time for political issues on public airwaves?

Answer: Scalia and Bork.*

* For you younger folks, Bork was a very extreme right-winger that Reagan tried to get appointed to the Supreme Court. However, he was so far to the right that even some GOP Senators refuse to go along, so his nomination was killed.

[G_j]

19. **Sinclair Broadcasting**

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1024259
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