Sinclair employee attacks anti-Kerry film as 'Biased Propaganda'

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/elections/bal-te.sinclair18oct18,1,1814607.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

Sinclair employee decries planned program on Kerry

D.C. bureau chief calls it 'biased political propaganda'

By David Folkenflik
Sun Staff

Originally published October 18, 2004

The Washington bureau chief for Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group's news division angrily denounced his employer last night for plans to air an hourlong program that is to include incendiary allegations against Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry for his anti-war activism three decades ago.

"It's biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway this election," said Jon Leiberman, Sinclair's lead political reporter for more than a year. "For me, it's not about right or left -- it's about what's right or wrong in news coverage this close to an election."

(snip)

Leiberman spoke out yesterday after a mandatory staff meeting attended by Sinclair's corporate news division at company headquarters in Hunt Valley.

"I have nothing to gain here -- and really, I have a lot to lose," Leiberman said. "At the end of the day, though, all you really have is your credibility."

(snip)

Leiberman said he was anguished by his decision to speak out. But, he said, the influence of commentator Mark Hyman and Chief Executive David D. Smith has been devastating. "There is going to be a concerted effort on the part of my colleagues to make this as balanced a program as they can," Leiberman said. "But the selection of the material -- dumping it on the news department, and giving them four days, and running it this close to the election -- it's indefensible, in my opinion."

Leiberman said he told Sinclair's vice president for news, Joseph DeFeo, that he would not contribute to the program and that DeFeo suggested the reporter could lose his job.

...more...

[proud patriot]

1. :-)

:-)

[JUS]

2. good news

Is it on Drudge, just curious?

[MissB]

4. Why should one care if it is on Drudge or not? (nt)

[WilliamPitt]

5. This poster has Drudge on the brain

[JUS]

7. you shouldn't

but some people around here seem to post everything that comes up on Drudge...

of course, Drudge would never post anything that is not favorable to * or good for Kerry.

[MissB]

9. "Some people"

And who would that be?

[JUS]

12. lots of people post Drudge's mud here

are telling me they don't?

[MissB]

14. Like who? (nt)

[JUS]

16. who are you kidding?

every time Drudge has a big 'exclusive' full of lies it winds up here...with everyone getting in a big huff about it.

Drudge should be ignored - it's like posting crap from the NY Post. It's yellow journalism.

[MissB]

18. Why do you think this came from Drudge? (nt)

[JUS]

23. the point is that it wouldn't be posted on Drudge

because he wouldn't even put up the Bush bulge story, after he hyped the mysterious pen Kerry pulled out of jacket in the first debate. Salon had a story about this not to long ago...

Therefore, no one should post shit from Drudge - even if they are statistics.

[MissB]

25. Perhaps you should volunteer to be a moderator

next time around.

[JUS]

26. well there's no rule against posting Drudge's slop here

but people should refain from doing so on their own...

[MissB]

28. If there is no rule against it

Then you don't really have a leg to stand on here, do you? I see no evidence that WilliamPitt got this from Drudge. In fact, I've never seen WilliamPitt post anything from Drudge.

I do find it odd that you would suggest that he got the info from there.

[JUS]

30. I didn't say he got this article from Drudge

Drudge would never link to it. The point was that it wasn't on Drudge. The question itself was so absurd that merely asking it made a point.

But some people can't seem to keep their snouts out of Drudge's slop bucket of a web site.

[MissB]

31. Ah, there you go with "some people" again. (nt)

[JUS]

32. All I can say

is do a search of 'Drudge' - and see how many times DU asked 'how high?' when Sludge said 'jump'.

[WilliamPitt]

21. This is the BALTIMORE SUN

Are you OK?

[SammyWinstonJack]

44. some people?

:eyes:

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JUS]

10. I hate freepers

trust me...

[MissB]

3. Well done, Mr. Leiberman.

It is nice to see a journalist with morals. They are so rare nowadays.

[crispini]

6. Wow.

Mr. Jon Lieberman, thank you for having the stones to stand up for yourself.

Where can we email this guy? I would like to give him a big fat THANK YOU.

[meganmonkey]

27. GO HERE TO EMAIL LEIBERMAN!!!

http://www.wb49.net/station/bios/jleiberman.shtml

[Cooley Hurd]

11. "At the end of the day, though, all you really have is your credibility."

Great quote... and so true! I hope Jon Leiberman gets a job with CBS News!

[WMliberal]

13. well dug will!

good to see we've got support within sinclair. there's still time.

[farmbo]

15. At least one person in that organization has guts!

Lieberman's integrity means more to him than his salary.

Bravo!

[kokomo]

22. I hope this employee doesn't get "oursourced!"

[crispini]

17. Found a "contact me" form

http://www.foxrochester.com/station/bios/jleiberman.shtml

Think I might have to drop him a line with a pat on the back.

[Zorra]

19. I'd pick up aluminum cans on the side of the road before I would work

for an anti-American corporation like Sinclair.

Good for Jon Leiberman for risking his job to stand up for what is right.

[PA Democrat]

20. I think it's time to send out a new batch of letters to advertisers

quoting Mr. Leiberman.

"It's biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway this election," said Jon Leiberman, Sinclair's lead political reporter for more than a year. "For me, it's not about right or left -- it's about what's right or wrong in news coverage this close to an election."

[BootinUp]

24. Still some people with integrity

on tv news. One less now. :(

[Pithy Cherub]

29. Integrity with Honor

A true champ - and courageous to speak up and out! The employees are openly revolting and once that happens corporations rot from within with poor leadership. Could not happen to a more deserving despot!

I hope the ROI on this continues in an extremely negative vein for them. Bleed cash - Sinclair! Americans are bleeding real blood for your right to be slime.

[Killarney]

33. Clapping for this man of integrity!

[PretzelWarrior]

34. KICKETY-KICK! USe this guy's words in new emails and calls to sinclair

if the Sinclair people are barraged with all of this outcry, some are bound to think twice about what they blindly support and might create a more mutinous environment.

THIS IS GREAT!

[WilliamPitt]

35. .

[WilliamPitt]

36. .

[Cooley Hurd]

37. He's been fired according to CNN...

...according to Anderson Cooper at 7:30 - Zahn supposedly is going to interview him on her show tonight.

[Bleacher Creature]

39. Good lord!

I was just going to post that this guy should start getting his resume ready. That was awfully quick -- though I won't give myself any props for the prediction as it was a no brainer.

[MADem]

40. I think they have already shitcanned his email account n/t

[Stephanie]

41. That was quick.

Is there a job market for journalists with integrity? Or is he out of luck?

[MissB]

42. It is a very small market.

Hopefully he'll be able to find something.

[TexasSissy]

38. Wow. What a brave soul.

[SammyWinstonJack]

43. Yes!

:-)

[Cha]

45. Ain't that the fucking truth!

"I have nothing to gain here -- and really, I have a lot to lose," Leiberman said. "At the end of the day, though, all you really have is your credibility."