Sinclair not forcing broadcast of anti-Kerry film

[demnan]

Just heard on NPR.

Hope this isn't a dupe. no link yet.

[tsuki]

1. They are just

strongly suggesting?

[Aunt Anti-bush]

2. Sinclair retreats on airing Kerry film

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002067643_sinclair20.html
Under mounting political, legal and financial pressure, Sinclair Broadcast Group yesterday backed away from its plan to carry a film attacking Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam record, saying it would air only portions of the documentary in an hourlong special scheduled for Friday.
(snip)

All of the petitions and boycott threats are paying off!

[BlueEyedSon]

3. The People Have The Power

I awakened to the cry
that the people / have the power
to redeem / the work of fools
upon the meek / the graces shower
it's decreed / the people rule

--Patti Smith

[KharmaTrain]

4. Sinclair Doesn't Completely Own All Its Stations

Another shell game, folks.

Let's quickly recap the two things this company is doing to cover their asses for upcoming license and investor challenges.

1.) They will not be "showing" the film in its entirety, which could be viewed as an outside production and then under strong scrutiny for FEC violations. By just using exerpts and wrapping it around a discussion, this now can technically be called a news program. Local stations were ordered to produce their own pieces as well to give it even more cover...and a reason Jon Liebermann quit.

2.) Sinclair has LMA or Limited Management Agreement with some of the stations it controls, which means they operate everything except for the license...which is held by a third party. This arranagement was set up in anticipation of a deregulation bill Sinclair badly needs passed or it stands to lose stations and force the company into bankruptcy. Some stations that they don't own outright (Jacksonville) have already expressed their desire not to carry the program, so this is just blowing smoke. Be assured that if Sinclair owns the station outright, this crap is gonna run. They've gone too far down the road here to turn back now...and it's a highway to hell!

[Paradise]

5. here's a one-click-site to voice your disdain to all advertisers:

http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/emailall.aspx

[evilqueen]

6. washington post link

Anti-Kerry Film Won't Be Aired
Democrats, Investors Push TV Conglomerate to Alter Broadcast Plans

By Frank Ahrens and Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, October 20, 2004; Page A07

Under mounting political, legal and financial pressure, Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. yesterday backed away from its plan to carry a film attacking John F. Kerry's Vietnam War record, saying it would air only portions of the movie in an hour-long special scheduled for Friday.

"The experience of preparing to air this news special has been trying for many of those involved," Sinclair chief executive David D. Smith said in a statement. "The company and many of its executives have endured personal attacks of the vilest nature, as well as calls on our advertisers and our viewers to boycott our stations and on our shareholders to sell their stock."

Chad Clanton, a spokesman for the Kerry campaign, which had demanded equal time to respond to the planned airing of the 42-minute film "Stolen Honor," said Sinclair "has been all over the map on this issue. One thing that's certain is that they have a partisan agenda."

Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of the nonprofit Media Access Project, called the Sinclair move "a surprising cave-in" and said the 62-station television company "clearly felt a lot of pressure and this is an attempt to find a face-saving way out."

Read More

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. I have to say, I'm impressed

Thank God. I really am shocked, I didn't think they'd back down. Thanks to all the DUers who helped to force this through no matter what. You guys rule!

[helpisontheway]

9. They DID NOT back down

They are now simply going to used the vilest clips (such as the ones in the commercials) to get their POV across. They are acting like they are doing something for us when they are just playing word games. KEEP UP THE PRESSURE until they agree to cancel the whole special!!!!


Anti-Kerry Film Won't Be Aired
Democrats, Investors Push TV Conglomerate to Alter Broadcast Plans

By Frank Ahrens and Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, October 20, 2004; Page A07

Under mounting political, legal and financial pressure, Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. yesterday backed away from its plan to carry a film attacking John F. Kerry's Vietnam War record, saying it would air only portions of the movie in an hour-long special scheduled for Friday.

"The experience of preparing to air this news special has been trying for many of those involved," Sinclair chief executive David D. Smith said in a statement. "The company and many of its executives have endured personal attacks of the vilest nature, as well as calls on our advertisers and our viewers to boycott our stations and on our shareholders to sell their stock."

Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group owns 62 television stations. (Steve Ruark -- AP)

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Moderator]

10. helpisontheway

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thank you.


DU Moderator

[npincus]

8. Culture of Fear prevails at SINclair- will station managers be intimidated

by implicit wishes of the higher-ups to braodcast this crap anyway?

http://www.alternet.org/story/20240/

"Nobody will speak out at Sinclair. It’s a culture of fear. But I know in my heart what they’re doing is wrong. It’s not fair and balanced … It’s pure propaganda, and they’re trying to shoehorn what should be a format for editorials or commentary into news," Leiberman says.

<snip>

This top-down model reflects the authoritarian, hierarchical structure at Sinclair described by Leiberman: "Everything is dictated. Ideas are funneled down from the highest levels." He says CEO David Smith would often appear "in the newsroom and toss out ideas that ended up in the evening broadcasts." In fact, several days ago, Leiberman says, a proposed story on a new report critical of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s handling of the Iraq war was quickly spiked.