Brock and Media Matters surrender in Battle against Sinclair

[dolstein]

Very disappointing news. Here's the statement from David Brock:

<<"Sinclair Broadcast Group's statement this afternoon -- that it will not air the anti-Kerry film Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal in its entirety without commercial interruption this Thursday -- is a step toward addressing the concerns voiced in recent days by Media Matters for America and many others. MMFA had announced its intention to underwrite a shareholder action against the company in the event that Sinclair had not altered its plans by 5 p.m. today. We will be watching to see if Sinclair fulfills its stated pledge to air an impartial newscast in place of the anti-Kerry communication, and we trust that all sides of the issues addressed will be fairly and equally represented. I hope that the broadcast Sinclair is planning to air on Friday will meet the concerns of advocates for quality media and shareholders alike.">>

Why on EARTH would Brock believe that the broadcast is going to be anything even REMOTELY resembling fair and impartial journalism? Sure, they won't be airing Stolen Honor in its ENTIRELY, but they'll probably show lengthy excerpts. The top political reporter for Sinclair (now ex-reporter) has already told the world that the special is pure propaganda. Frankly, the words Brock uses -- words like "trust" and "hope" -- are completely unjustified by ANY action that Sinclair has taken or promised to take.

It sounds to me like Brock's lawyers told him they no longer had any grounds for an injunction, and Brock is simply trying to make the best of a bad situation. But I for one and completely confident that anyone watching the broadcast will come away with a less favorable impression of Kerry than they had going in. At this point, our best hope is that undecided voters simply don't bother tuning in.

[DemocracyInaction]

1. ahhh- what the hell are you saying

Let me go back and read. I thought what you posted is that Sinclair has done some kind of backing down and replacing the video. Would you care to explain while I read???????????

[dolstein]

5. They haven't backed down a bit

They NEVER said they would air the documentary in its entirety. They'll just end up showing the worst bits and pieces and then they'll have some right-wing commentary talking about how ridiculous it is that the librul media has refused to report the fact that Kerry is a traitor to his country.

[onenote]

2. I think you are exactly right

There's not a snowball's chance in hell that what Sinclair shows will be "balanced". Its just gonna show big pieces of Stolen Honor and then "report" the "news" that this "true story" has been suppressed by the "liberal media." In many ways, its even worse than if they'd just shown the pos documentary. The only good news is that Friday night at 8 pm is death valley on tv...folks are out at high school football games or on dates or sitting at home watching Joan of Arcadia.

onenote

[PretzelWarrior]

3. just keep calling people...telling your advertisers you are unhappy...

and watch the stock. Media Matters has already done a tremendous amount of good. No need to attack them for what is basically a Sinclair issue--not a Media Matters issue.

This is why Liberal organizations can't get traction. If they don't agree 100% with a bunch of LEFT WING WACKOS (yes, there are plenty) they get attacked as vociferously as the real enemy.

[DemocracyInaction]

4. double ahhhhh

You mean they are pushing this to FRIDAY---nobody will tune in except the choir.

[napi21]

6. Yes, the choir! I said this when it was first posted. Fri 8PM

and the ballgame is on opposite it!!! I think it's also a good sign that the stockholders are pissed off and on one post, they said 70 advertisers have pulled out.

[onenote]

7. no ballgame

unless I'm mistaken, the World Series starts on Saturday night. But a crappy tv night nonetheless

onenote

[hippiechick]

8. Also, isn't it a 'docudrama' -- like E! used to do ?

... with actors portraying the subjects ... in 're-enactments' ?

:shrug:

I am nearly 100% certain that Kerry has never peed on the American
flag, and if in the remotest of possibilities that he did, he sure as hell wasn't stupid enough to do it in front of a camera.



:hippie:

[fugop]

10. Aha!

Is that what that was? I remember reading a rumor on here that freepers or some similar idiots were all excited about film of Kerry peein' on a flag. I knew it had to be crap; is this really how low they've sunk? They're going to have re-fucking-enactors do a fake scene where some guy plays kerry peeing on a flag? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Oh man. This is so pathetic. I hope that's true. Sounds like a bad SNL skit!

[Born_A_Truman]

9. Too bad...

Sinclair Broadcast Group's statement this afternoon -- that it will not air the anti-Kerry film Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal in its entirety without commercial interruption this Thursday

Read between the lines: We're moving this to Friday and will edit out a few seconds of Stolen Honor and call it something else.

[IIgnoreNobody]

11. Quite a misleading title you've put on your post.

Considering that it is absolutely untrue.

[KharmaTrain]

12. They're Legally Covering Their Ass

By not showing it in its entirety as a "program", and cherry-picking it around a "news" documentary setting, this is how they are attempting to claim this is a News and not partisan program...and pull a fast one in protecting their broadcast licenses.

I want them to air it now...let them completely dig themselves into a hole that they can't get out of. It's not going to change mind...other than piss some folks off who were hoping to see The Simpsons and this crap is on.

[seabeyond]

13. they had a leg to stand on, sinclair just knocked that leg out

from underneath them. now we have to wait and see what sinclair produces because now they have formatted it as a news story. before they couldnt get away with that title.

we keep doing the same thing. making a fuss. dropping their shares. pointing the finger