The Sinclair Media Group

[kmack]

Who is it: The single largest television owner/operator in the U.S. (62 stations, 39 Markets), they own 20 FOX stations, and a few of all the other major networks reaching 1/4 of all American households. Every single night during the local newscasts it interjects a 2 minute conservative commentary called "the point". That is semi-acceptable, though it isn't exactly fair and balanced (not that news has to be, but news is just that, and "the point" is opinion, and there is no use denying their conservitive slant as they regularly contribute to Republican candidates, including Bush Jr.). They also FORBADE it's ABC affiliates from airing a Nightline special that showed the names and faces of the U.S. soldiers who died in Iraq. It also ordered every single of its 62 affiliates to air a slanderous documentary called "Stolen Honor: Wounds that Never Heal" which attacked (the allegations were later proved COMPLETELY FALSE, even gaining acknowledgement, and denouncement from President Bush) John Kerry and his service in Vietnam. The major problem with this is that they devoted only 4 Minutes to President Bush (and his very sketchy service in Vietnam) which infuriated stock holders and violated their equal time policies. On a local basis, they use general news stories from a central agency, in effect taking the local out of local news. The local news is also not allowed to discuss events that portray the war in Iraq negatively (no death tolls, no reports of daily insurgent attacks, basically no stories at all) This not only diminishes focus on local events, but also takes away news jobs from the local area.

Many groups oppose Sinclair, and recently Staples pulled ALL advertising from Sinclair networks. The afforementioned shareholders are also upset.

I'm from Western Mass and WGGB (ABC40) is a Sinclair affiliate which gives us our news. We also get an NBC channel (WWLP) which is not owned by Sinclair and the differences are amazing. If you can find a local sinclair affiliate, watch it, and then another local news and you will be surprised at the difference.

http://www.sbgi.net/business/news.shtml​

I feel that this is not what the media should become, it is supposed to be about the news, not the opinions of the company owners. Editing out portions of (Nightline, that was boderline censorship), and infusing local news with opinion (The Point commentary), as well as taking away local news time with general stories, is not fair to us as consumers. The problem is not enough people know about this because it is subtle and many people have no alternative.

Do you think this is fair?

*please do not use this as a chance to say that the media is liberal, while it may be true, there is nothing of this caliber happening with "liberal" news. If you want to discuss some aspect of the liberal media, and have sufficient proof, please, start your own thread, you can point us there with a link in here. And please, don't talk about the Daily Show :stare:

 

[kmack]

It is possible to find the Point Commentary on the internet (don't know if i can post links) and after watching a few i was shocked. The vice president of the Sinclair media group; Mark Hyman rants about the "angry left" and "clueless academia," and peace activists "wack jobs,". In what is most disturbing he calls the French "cheese-eating surrender monkeys". But it is not all hatred, he initiatives such as a national sales tax and the privatizing of Medicare.

This is a 2 minute segment that all 62 affiliates (which reach 25% of American households) MUST air. In some places it is the only channel people can get their news. These views are pretty harsh, if you don't believe me, fire up google and watch for yourself.

 

[jondy]

Yup, conglomerate media takes the piss. Goddamn glad we don't have to put up with that shit in the UK

 

[kmack]

Yup, conglomerate media takes the piss. Goddamn glad we don't have to put up with that shit in the UK

What kind of system do you have? Perhaps we could learn from it.
Also why is there no Liberal counter-part to the Sinclair group?

 

[jondy]

We have the BBC.

Some people on this forum seem to have a thing against it, but believe me, I'd rather have just our four channels than the whole of sky

EDIT: There's no incentive for a corporation to become liberal, as they would be undermining themselves; in response to your second question

 

[clarky003]

yup Jondy, Its a bugger that these people have so much say, just because they have more green paper than anyone else, its pathetic really. half these corporate types probably work hard, but they have some rotten moral issue's (which imo is way more important than being richer than the next man, I suppose it gives them a sense of superiority , being better than everyone else, which is kinda sick in the head) , small groups of people shouldnt be empowered so much, just because of their skills in obtaining money, although if you think about it, we are the ones with the power, all we have to do is stop paying any interest, we dont have to be leeched off of if we collectively choose.

 

[kmack]

yup Jondy, Its a bugger that these people have so much say, just because they have more green paper than anyone else, its pathetic really. half these corporate types probably work hard, but they have some rotten moral issue's (which imo is way more important than being richer than the next man, I suppose it gives them a sense of superiority , being better than everyone else, which is kinda sick in the head) , small groups of people shouldnt be empowered so much, just because of their skills in obtaining money, although if you think about it, we are the ones with the power, all we have to do is stop paying any interest, we dont have to be leeched off of if we collectively choose.

That's the way I feel about this as well. Fortunatly some progress is being made.

1. Staples is boycotting Sinclair and pulling all advertising from it's affiliates, watch for more companies to do the same.

2. Sinclair has several puppet companies (run by the CEO's mother :| ) which are being investigated.

3. As more people find out, there are actual boycotts and protests of the affiliates, local papers are addressing the problem.

Hopefully this will lead to some changes :thumbs:

 

[kmack]

We have the BBC.

There's no incentive for a corporation to become liberal, as they would be undermining themselves; in response to your second question

Ya, I hadn't thought of that, thanks

 

[No Limit]

Actually Staples said it wouldn't drop their advertising; there was some kind of 'miscommunication' (I think Staples just chickened out of this because of pressure). For more information on Sinclair I will again point to media matters, they did a great job documenting them:

http://mediamatters.org/archives/search.html?string=sinclair

this letter is especially interesting:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200502170005

 

[kmack]

Actually Staples said it wouldn't drop their advertising; there was some kind of 'miscommunication' (I think Staples just chickened out of this because of pressure)

That's a shame ;( . Still, if public opinion changes as more and more people see what Sinclair is doing (I don't think French-americans like being called "cheese-eating surrender monkey's" in their local new) there will be rammiffications on their business.

 

[kmack]

I'm surprised no one from America has an opinion on this :dozey: .

 

[Korgoth]

Isn't this the same group that ran the anti-kerry movie on some of there stations the night before the election, but refused to run farenheit 9/11 even after michael moore offered it to the free of charge? What a wonderfully fair and balanced media.

 

[kmack]

Isn't this the same group that ran the anti-kerry movie on some of there stations the night before the election, but refused to run farenheit 9/11 even after michael moore offered it to the free of charge? What a wonderfully fair and balanced media.

They ran the anti-kerry movie, I'm not sure about the fahrenheit 9/11 thing though, i think that was more speculative as other stations would pick it up besides just the affiliates. Big business must be kept out of the media.

 

[seinfeldrules]

I'm surprised no one from America has an opinion on this :dozey: .

Why should I? You are limiting the responses to match your criteria.

 

[kmack]

Why should I? You are limiting the responses to match your criteria.

How can i limit a response? Fine bring up the daily show or say that the media is liberal.

 

[seinfeldrules]

please do not use this as a chance to say that the media is liberal, while it may be true, there is nothing of this caliber happening with "liberal" news. If you want to discuss some aspect of the liberal media, and have sufficient proof, please, start your own thread, you can point us there with a link in here. And please, don't talk about the Daily Show

You put a nice little disclaimer on your post.

 

[kmack]

Ok, the post before yours clears that up, i shouldnt have done that, feel free to present your opinion in any way you see fit.

 

[seinfeldrules]

1. Liberal agenda owns the major newspapers. Read the NYT, LA Times, the Boston Globe, and others for evidence of that.
2. Liberal agenda owns the nightly news. Dan Rather speaks for himself on that front.
3. Conservative agenda owns talk radio. Hannity, Rush and others make that quite clear.
4. Liberal agenda owns Hollywood (movies). F 9/11, Yes Men, just as examples.

That is how I see the major outlets being run.

 

[kmack]

1. Liberal agenda owns the major newspapers. Read the NYT, LA Times, the Boston Globe, and others for evidence of that.
2. Liberal agenda owns the nightly news. Dan Rather speaks for himself on that front.
3. Conservative agenda owns talk radio. Hannity, Rush and others make that quite clear.
4. Liberal agenda owns Hollywood (movies). F 9/11, Yes Men, just as examples.

That is how I see the major outlets being run.

Please, tell me how this "liberal agenda" compares to a corporation. You are speculating on the OPINIONS OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE. This in no way correlates to the fact that a large corporation is taking away local jobs, censoring its programs, forcing its views onto local news programming, and supporting a conservative agenda.

Last I check the New York Times didn't walk into the middle of my nightly local news and start reading itself opinions to me. (Since a newspaper can print only news, UNLESS IT IS EDITORIALS that is a moot point.)

IF it owns hollywood, thats fine, you don;t have to see Fahrenhei 9/11 if you dont want to. Unfortunatly if you have sinclair in control of your news, YOU HAVE to see what they are showing to get local news, and you can't see things like the nightline special even if you want to.

 

[staticprimer]

I hate the word agenda with a passion. It is misused far too much. One and two on your list are more of slants. Three and four are agendas. Agenda implies something more thought out, intentionally manipulative.

 

[seinfeldrules]

You are speculating on the OPINIONS OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.

Well if this massive corporation was so powerful, do you think they would really allow people like Dan Rather to report the news each night?

Last I check the New York Times didn't walk into the middle of my nightly local news and start reading itself opinions to me. (Since a newspaper can print only news, UNLESS IT IS EDITORIALS that is a moot point.)

You can slant 'news' whichever way you want. Thinking otherwise is foolish.

One and two on your list are more of slants. Three and four are agendas. Agenda implies something more thought out, intentionally manipulative.

Sounds good to me.

 

[kmack]

Well if this massive corporation was so powerful, do you think they would really allow people like Dan Rather to report the news each night?


You can slant 'news' whichever way you want.

slant is an okay word, agenda, not applicable.

And since sinclair does not own CBS NBC or ABC (i thought this was pretty obvious, not obvious enough i guess) they own affiliates, they have no control over who NBC CBS or ABC appoints to their nightly news. Do you understand the concept of affiliates?

 

[seinfeldrules]

And since sinclair does not own CBS NBC or ABC (i thought this was pretty obvious, not obvious enough i guess) they own affiliates, they have no control over who NBC CBS or ABC appoints to their nightly news. Do you understand the concept of affiliates?

They control which stations are broadcast, correct? Because of that, I'm sure they have quite a lot of pull with those companies.

 

[kmack]

They control which stations are broadcast, correct? Because of that, I'm sure they have quite a lot of pull with those companies.

actually, they have none whatsoever.

 

[seinfeldrules]

So they allow Dan Rather to air each night. They allow other liberal slanted programs air each night. Yet you are still complaining? Do you feel it is right Dan Rather slants the national news each night? Solid evidence can be found on his election day coverage. He was basically begging for Kerry to win.

 

[kmack]

So they allow Dan Rather to air each night. They allow other liberal slanted programs air each night. Yet you are still complaining? Do you feel it is right Dan Rather slants the national news each night? Solid evidence can be found on his election day coverage. He was basically begging for Kerry to win.

Haha, do you understand what sinclair is? It owns AFFILIATES OF STATIONS. It owns the stations on a purely local level, the actual companies of NBC ABC CBS and FOX are much larger they do whatever they want. THE ONLY thing that sinclair can directly control is what the 62 local stations they own do. This topic is NOT about whether or not dan rather wanted kerry to win.

It IS about a corporation affecting local news.

 

[seinfeldrules]

It IS about a corporation affecting local news.

So are you upset about individuals affecting national news?

 

[GhostFox]

They need to increase the regulations on owning multiple media outlets. Monopoly of information is a bad thing.

Of course at the same time the US probably has the least amount of this of any nation on the planet. I just think they should be stricter. Of course living in a place with govt. run media and monopolies everywhere you look, you guys should be thrilled with the system down there.

 

[seinfeldrules]

Of course at the same time the US probably has the least amount of this of any nation on the planet. I just think they should be stricter. Of course living in a place with govt. run media and monopolies everywhere you look, you guys should be thrilled with the system down there.

You just gotta use some common sense when listening to any source. Whats it like in Canda? BBC type media?

 

[kmack]

So are you upset about individuals affecting national news?

There is no fact behind that. News is news, NBC ABC and CBS have nightly news, watch whichever you like they are going to cover news stories, there is NO opinion in their shows whatsoever, it is unallowable. The CBS employees involved in the false document scandal were fired and cbs apologized.

 

[seinfeldrules]

There is no fact behind that. News is news, NBC ABC and CBS have nightly news, watch whichever you like they are going to cover news stories, there is NO opinion in their shows whatsoever, it is unallowable.

Hahahah keep thinking that man, keep thinking that.

 

[kmack]

Hahahah keep thinking that man, keep thinking that.

It is not what I am thinking, it is the truth. The news stories are news stories, watch NBC nightly news, when does peter jennings ever give an opinion? GIVE ME ONE QUOTE. This doesn't even begin to address what the sinclair corporation is doing. Did you read my first post? this is about the local news.

What does nightly news (which is not opinion) have to do with a corporation taking away local jobs, censoring nightline, attacking kerry, insulting the french, promoting a conservative agenda by forceably interjecting 2 minutes of opinion into the local news. Not one major networks nightly news does this.

 

[seinfeldrules]

It is not what I am thinking, it is the truth. The news stories are news stories, watch NBC nightly news, when does peter jennings ever give an opinion? GIVE ME ONE QUOTE. This doesn't even begin to address what the sinclair corporation is doing. Did you read my first post? this is about the local news.

The prime example is the RatherGate situation. Do you really think that was a 'news' story? It was an attempt to alter the Presidential elections in favor of Kerry.

 

[seinfeldrules]

http://www.townhall.com/bookclub/goldberg.html

I've listened to parts of this in the car as well. Makes some very interesting points.

 

[kmack]

The prime example is the RatherGate situation. Do you really think that was a 'news' story? It was an attempt to alter the Presidential elections in favor of Kerry.

I'm sorry, where is the quote that supports any of your claims that the nightly news on either NBC ABC or CBS is anything but news. You are grabbing at straws, this is in no way true, the simple fact is the news is news, no opinion whatsoever. Prove me wrong with facts, not opinions.

 

[seinfeldrules]

Here:

http://www.townhall.com/bookclub/goldberg.html

It addresses some of your concerns.

Taken from a man who worked for 28 years under CBS:

The reason we don't identify NOW as a liberal group or Laurence Tribe as a liberal professor or Tom Daschle as a liberal Democrat is that, by and large, the media elites don't see them that way. It may be hard to believe, but liberals in the newsroom, pretty much, see NOW and Tribe and even left-wing Democrats as middle of the road. Not coincidentally, just as they see themselves. When you get right down to it, liberals in the newsroom see liberal views as just plain…reasonable.

You can report the news all you want, but there is always room to add a spin to it.

 

[kmack]

Here:

http://www.townhall.com/bookclub/goldberg.html

It addresses some of your concerns.

Taken from a man who worked for 28 years under CBS:



You can report the news all you want, but there is always room to add a spin to it.

um, that is speculation, all i ask is one single quote from NBC CBS or ABC nightly news that even slightly sounds as if there is opinion in it.

 

[seinfeldrules]

um, that is speculation, all i ask is one single quote from NBC CBS or ABC nightly news that even slightly sounds as if there is opinion in it.

How is it speculation? He was there for 28 years. Its not like he was on the outside guessing what is going on behind closed doors. And if you are looking for more evidence, I again implore you to look at the RatherGate scandal more closely.

 

[staticprimer]

Its no secret that most media has bias of some sort, as it is created by humans. It is very difficult to report on something without having some sort of bias, whether you realize it or not. There is a difference between a media source being bias, and one being a propagandizer. Bias is a fact of life in the media world, you just have to know how to recognize it.

 

[GhostFox]

Whats it like in Canda? BBC type media?

Basically. The primary source of news in Canada is the CBC (both TV and Radio), which is govt. owned and operated. The rest of the media is owned by a small handful of people who have an absolute monopolistic stranglehold on the market (90% of all media in Canada is in the hands of FOUR companies). CanWest Global, which is very big here in Winnipeg, alone owns more then 40% of the major newspapers across Canada as well as the second largest television network, Global. If that isn't scary enough, they keep aquiring more outlets and have plans to aquire BellGlobe Media, which owns the Globe and Mail (a big national paper) among others and CTV (the third of the 3 major television networks in Canada). When this is finalized CanWest Global will control the majority of Canadian newspapers and 2/3 of the countires news sources. This is ONE company. To make things worse, the controlling interest on what is left is the Liberal Govt. of Canada.

If you want to know why Canadians are so easily manipulated by the media (not that everyone isn't, but it is more prolific here then other places I have been) this is why. Just look at the BMD issue.

EDIT: On top of all that, this is all regulated by the CRTC, which is so bad it makes the FCC seem like a good idea.