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* If you’ve been hiding under a rock the past several days, background is here. Here’s Laura Trendle Polus, Illinois News Broadcasters Association President…
A video featuring anchors at numerous Sinclair-owned stations reading promo copy has gone viral. In the copy, which apparently went to all 192 Sinclair stations, the anchors say they and their stations are concerned about “the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country.” The INBA is also troubled by this trend.
Of course, many believe Sinclair is a major offender when it comes to one-sided news stories. Criticism of their must-runs and conservative commentary has been swirling for months.
Sinclair has now responded to the outcry. SVP Scott Livingston sent a message to newsrooms Monday, firing back at the criticisms. We share Sinclair’s expressed concern about demonstrably fake stories such as “Pope Endorses Trump,” and “Pizzagate.”The Illinois News Broadcasters Association has long stood for the best parts of journalism. For fair, unbiased reporting. For using multiple sources. For emphasizing localism. Our Code of Ethics says we will “check the accuracy of the facts and report them objectively and impartially” and also that we will “vigorously defend guarantees in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
We have many current and former INBA members at Sinclair stations. They are not bad journalists. They are not bad people. But what they are being made to do is not good. Journalists should not be required to broadcast information with a specific agenda. Our democracy relies on an informed citizenry. If we are not given the freedoms to inform our citizenry with unbiased information, we have failed to do our jobs.
Amid growing criticism of cable news coverage, local TV news remains one of the most trusted sources, and local news is where INBA members are working every day, every night, and every weekend. But the trust is getting thinner, and what Sinclair is doing is threatening to destroy what’s left of it.
Local teevee news gets worse every year, particularly outside Chicago. There are the occasional bright spots, but too much of it is absolute dreck and always has been. Maybe this Sinclair controversy will wake people up, but I kinda doubt it. Too many stations are owned by highly leveraged corporations that are in the money-making business, not the news business.
* Related…
* ‘Chicago’s Very Own’ in peril: WGN tries to keep a lid on Sinclair resistance
* Sinclair bid to control WGN-TV on track as ‘fake stories’ video rocks internet
* Sinclair deal to sell WGN to chairman’s business partner gives broadcaster control: Sinclair Broadcast Group is selling WGN-TV to a Maryland auto dealer but would remain in control of the station in what critics say is a bid to skirt ownership limits and win federal regulatory approval for its proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:22 pm
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A couple of weeks ago, I saw on one of the Chicago stations footage of a car driving into a pond.
In California.
From two years ago (the footage just became available in some civil suit).
That was “news” of the day, on a Chicago channel.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:33 pm
I miss Bill and Walter - at least I got to see the apex of local tv news journalism.
The INBA should have left out the snark about Pizzagate and Pope Endorses Trump - it makes them look partisan. Sinclair can be called-out on their own “merits.”
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:36 pm
They would get channel 8 in the Quad Cities too . They have 7 in Quincy and 19 in Peoria. While losing the high quality Tribune station would be bad . I enjoy them on the Dish superstition package. I don’t think it would have a big impact politically. They are in the big blue markets and would mostly hurt themselves. The damage is what they do in a market like Peoria which now has only one legit tv news outlet compared to the qc which have 3.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:37 pm
I love the fact that Dan Rather chimed in on the subject.
Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:39 pm
Speakin’ of fake news did ya notice the Champaign News Gazette has stopped accepting on-line comments. That means readers will now get those fact free rants from Dey and the edit board without any balance.
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:40 pm
Whenever our local downstate tv stations get lazy or need something to report about, they spew some crap from Illinois Policy Institute. No checks and balances. Just the propaganda.
And the newspapers who run the free cartoons from Illinois Policy Institute on their editorial pages are no different. It’s like running a political ad without the disclaimer. Should be illegal.
Comment by Winnin’ Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:42 pm
lcd - Pizzagate and the Pope were the two examples of “fake news” cited by the VP of Sinclair to justify its forced script. Of course, no major news organization other than Fox and Breitbart ever reported those stories as being true.
Comment by TominChicago Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:44 pm
–The INBA should have left out the snark about Pizzagate and Pope Endorses Trump - it makes them look partisan.–
How so? The INBA is agreeing with “fake news” examples that were cited by the Sinclair veep in his message to its newsrooms.
Your “partisan” concern: Are you implying that belief in those whackadoo stories is Republican dogma?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:45 pm
That Sincalir video montage is one of the most Orwellian things that I have ever seen.
Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:48 pm
Sinclair has been using its news broadcasts and stations to run desired editorial content for several years. First, it was truly an editorial comment. Then it was some ‘Full Measure’ segment on the news. Then it was a ‘Full measure’ half hour segment on Sunday. Now it is canned scripts for the news anchors. This is why I hardly ever watch WICS 20 news.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 12:51 pm
We have an amazing range of tv market size from number 3 to Quincy. Just outside Quincy is one of the smallest Kirksville Ottumwa. It’s interesting that the other station In that market started doing news after Sinclair showed up.I think the networks could do something the affiliates do use those trademarks. Sinclair’s actions are harming their brands.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Simple fix, reach out to the Sinclair network’s advertisers and tell them you won’t patronize their business. Only way to counter the message.
Pritzker and Raoul should also withhold advertising on Sinclair owned stations and challenge Rauner/Harold to do the same. Most Sinclair stations are in downstate markets, so not running ads on those stations won’t hurt the Pritzker/Raoul campaigns too much.
Comment by Swift Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:08 pm
It would be cool if these folks could learn Morse code and blink the truth while telling lies, like Cmdr. Denton did when his captors forced him in front of cameras.
Comment by Just An Idea Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:21 pm
If you get your “news” from a local television station you deserve all the stupidity you can eat.
Comment by Wallinger Dickus Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 1:51 pm
Wordslinger - only because it wasn’t in the aired message. But yes on Pizzagate, at least for many it clung on like birthergate.
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 2:31 pm
The Sinclair St. Louis ABC affiliate doesn’t even have a newscast. They have a so-called “‘non-traditional newscast.’” It’s basically a Hanity type named Allman giving us his interpretation of the news. Ridiculous.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 2:42 pm
Like Rich said, small market “news” is and has been pretty brutal. This Sinclair issue is only cementing that concern. I watch WGN News every morning on my laptop and would really miss their broadcasts. They are very unique and a huge diversion from everything else that is available in the morning. I cannot watch cable news which has become either “I hate Trump” 24/7 or I love Trump 24/7. Losing WGN will hurt my brain.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 3:57 pm
==Journalist should not be required to broadcast information with a specific agenda==
Comment by Jaded Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 5:22 pm
JSM, great minds. I stream WGN every evening at 9 or 10.
As far as Sinclair, I really hope the Trib deal gets unwound. I mean, WICS (Springfield ABC) is just about unwatchable. Give me WCIA any time-for Mark Maxwell if no other reason.
Hey Anonnin’ were you stirrin’ up trouble over there on the comment boards at the News-Gazoo? They really had a handful of idiots that ruined it for everyone else. AA was proud to get one in on what turned out to be the last day.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 8:09 pm
Notabillionaire: “They have 7 in Quincy and 19 in Peoria.
The do own 19 in Peoria, but it is no longer the ABC affiliate. That affiliate is now owned by Quincy Media. Since 2016 WEEK 25 operats ABC (as HOI) on digital 25.1 and CW on digital 25.2. The Sinclair owned channel 19 shows old re-runs and does not have a local newscast.
Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Apr 3, 18 @ 9:15 pm