A spliced together video featuring various scripted broadcasts of Sinclair Broadcasting Group news anchors discussing “the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country” has been making its rounds on the internet. The video comes after CNN’s Brian Stelter reported earlier in March that Sinclair, who owns roughly 200 local news stations around the United States would be directed its on air staff to read the promo which hits on plenty of Trump catch phrases that decry’s any kind of negative media attention about his presidency.
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 31, 2018
How America’s largest local TV owner turned its news anchors into soldiers in Trump’s war on the media: https://t.co/iLVtKRQycL pic.twitter.com/dMdSGellH3
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) March 31, 2018
According to Timothy Burke of The Concourse, Sinclair has further benefitted from their pro-Trump take on the news and “friendly” federal government as the Media Company is set to absorb 40 more stations around the country.
And when it comes to that script, ThinkProgress has transcribed the Seattle KOMO version which you can read below:
Hi, I’m(A) ____________, and I’m (B) _________________…
(B) Our greatest responsibility is to serve our Northwest communities. We are extremely proud of the quality, balanced journalism that KOMO News produces.
(A) But we’re concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one sided news stories plaguing our country. The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media.
(B) More alarming, some media outlets publish these same fake stories… stories that just aren’t true, without checking facts first.
(A) Unfortunately, some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control ‘exactly what people think’…This is extremely dangerous to a democracy.
(B) At KOMO it’s our responsibility to pursue and report the truth. We understand Truth is neither politically ‘left nor right.’ Our commitment to factual reporting is the foundation of our credibility, now more than ever.
(A) But we are human and sometimes our reporting might fall short. If you believe our coverage is unfair please reach out to us by going to KOMOnews.com and clicking on CONTENT CONCERNS. We value your comments. We will respond back to you.
(B) We work very hard to seek the truth and strive to be fair, balanced and factual… We consider it our honor, our privilege to responsibly deliver the news every day.
(A) Thank you for watching and we appreciate your feedback.
However these latest revelations isn’t the first time Sinclair has been exposed for pushing propoganda rather than news.
In April of 2017 Sinclair hired former Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn as their chief political analyst and as a result all Sinclair owned stations are required to air Epshteyn’s commentary at least nine times a week.
Epshteyn’s commentary however is just one example of Sinclair’s ‘must-run’ content that is pushed on the local stations.
Following the September 11th attacks, Sinclair ordered their stations to read editorials in support of President George W. Bush which the Baltimore WBFF staff thought would “undermine public faith in their political objectivity”.
In July of 2017, John Oliver of Last Week Tonight aired a segment displaying Sinclair anchors reading a similar script speaking out against the FBI’s ‘personal vendetta’ towards former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
In April of 2004 during Nightline, Ted Koppel read the names of U.S. soldiers who were killed during the invasion and occupations of Iraq. Sinclair stations affiliated with ABC were told not to air this segment as it thought that it was politically motivated to disparage the war.
In late October of 2004 just weeks prior to the Presidential Election, Sinclair stations opted to air Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal, a documentary critical of U.S. presidential candidate John Kerry‘s anti-Vietnam War activism.
In November of 2010, five FOX affiliates and one ABC affiliate, all owned by Sinclair broadcasted an infomercial critical of then-President Barack Obama, Breaking Point: 25 Minutes that will Change America. The infomercial was sponsored by the National Republican Trust Political Action Group and claimed that President Obama was an ‘extremist’ and took money from Hamas during the 2008 Presidential Election.
Sinclair also divulged themselves into some very questionable media practices during the 2016 Presidential Election including striking a deal with Jared Kushner for extended access to the Trump Campaign.