Freedom of the Press in the Age of Fake News: Sinclair Broadcasting, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Freedom of the Press in the Age of Fake News: Sinclair Broadcasting, the FCC and Citizen Action ELLICOTT CITY HUDDLE SAT., SEPT. 9, 2017 MILLER LIBRARY Welcome Danilsa Marciniak Leader, Ellicott City Huddle Mission: to encourage, empower and
Sinclair Broadcasting, the FCC and Citizen Action
ELLICOTT CITY HUDDLE SAT., SEPT. 9, 2017 MILLER LIBRARY
Danilsa Marciniak Leader, Ellicott City Huddle
Mission: to encourage, empower and engage our community in positive, inclusive sustained political activity. ellicottcityhuddle@gmail.com
independent press
Think: Why is this topic important to you? What are you hoping to get out of the program today?
Is anyone concerned about media bias? Are you concerned about accusations (or realities) of “fake news?” Do you want to learn more about Sinclair Broadcasting? Are you concerned about the erosion of trust in mainstream media? Have you lost trust in the media?
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Philip Merrill College of Journalism University of Maryland
Introduced by Beth Kelly, Mini-Huddle Member
Freedom
the Pres ess Palla llavi Guha Univ iversit ity of
ryland
Source of Image: Pixabay
Michael Macor/Courtesy San Francisco Chronicle
Photography ban:
Harassments of journalists
Courtesy: Newseum
Courtesy: Newseum
When President Lincoln shut down
newspapers for fake news!
Source: BBC News
New York Times “Sinclair unveils Tribune deal, raising worries it will be too powerful,” Ember, 5/8/17 “Sinclair requires TV stations to air segments that tilt to the right,” Ember, 5/12/17 The Washington Post “Sinclairs’S TV deal would be good for Trump. And his new FCC is clearing the way,” Sullivan, 5/21/17 “Boris Epshteyn, a former Trump surrogate, now defends him as a Sinclair TV pundit,” Farhi, 6/19/17 The Baltimore Sun “Sinclair taking perilous path with Boris Epshteyn,” Zurawik, 7/14/17 HBO, online Last Week Tonight with John Oliver 7/2/17
Almost half of these Americans get their news from LOCAL TV
Independent federal agency; interstate communication by radio, tv, wire, satellite and cable Legislative and regulatory authority, granted and overseen by Congress 5 commissioners, including the chair, appointed by the President, confirmed by the U.S. Senate
To grant broadcast licenses, they must be in “The Public Interest” (includes protecting consumers [us!], diversity, localism)
Headquarters: Hunt Valley, Md. Ownership: Largest owner of local TV stations across the U.S. with 191, in 89 media markets, affiliated with networks including Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC Local News Station Ownership: WBFF Fox 45 in Baltimore; WJLA ABC 7 in Washington, DC Tribune Merger: Sinclair’s $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media’s 42 stations in an additional 33 markets, would give Sinclair ownership of well over 200 local stations FCC Status: The Sinclair/Tribune merger is currently before the FCC for approval. If approved, Sinclair will control channels that reach up to 72% of U.S. households (7 of 10 homes).
Source: New York Times
Too big, too powerful
Largest owner of local stations = one broadcaster; monopoly concerns
FCC is failing in priorities
Ownership expansion versus consumers
Advancing political agenda
Replacing local programming with required prepackaged national content and politically conservative commentary; potential electoral impact
David Zurawik, Media Reporter, The Baltimore Sun
David Zurawik, Propaganda
Baltimore Sun
Free Press
Introduced by Betty Freeland, Mini-Huddle Member
Example of commentary that all Sinclair stations across the nation are REQUIRED to run (“must-run”). This piece, titled “Ignoring History” aired the week before the Charlottesville Protests. Mark Hyman “Behind the Headlines” 8/8/17
Brandon Forester
Free Press
One America News Network Media Mobilizing Project American News Network The Prometheus Radio Project American Cable Association The National Hispanic Coalition Newsmax Allied Progress Glenn Beck’s The Blaze Common Cause Dish Network, LLC Free Press
Public Knowledge have told the FCC they oppose the merger
Freedom of the press is under attack
An informed electorate is essential to democracy
Sinclair is too big, too powerful
Largest owner of local stations = one broadcaster with unprecedented influence
The FCC is failing us
Protecting the public interest should take precedence over industry expansion, wealth
Sinclair’s political agenda exploits local news
Should not be the business of LOCAL news broadcasters to advocate a national political agenda
MB Docket No. 17-179
antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov
Sinclair Broadcasting 10706 Beaver Dam Road, Hunt Valley, MD Sun., Sept. 24 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Public sidewalk in front of Sinclair building & across the street (permit granted, Balto. County)
202 Warren Road (MD 943); Cockeysville, Maryland 21030
Planning an Action Slide Presentation Brandon Forester, Free Press
For more information: ellicottcityhuddle@gmail.com echuddle.conflicts@gmail.com
“… communities are enriched by a diversity of viewpoints and that [Sinclair/Tribune] consolidation would limit programming options for viewers, and impact local news editorial operations. And as regulators, we are supposed to be the public interest torch bearer for this nation. Today I am sad to report that we have failed miserably." (emphasis ours)
“[Sinclair has] a decided agenda and [is] not shy about pushing it. It’s about more than one company getting a monopoly on widgets. This is about ideas and information that the public needs to make wise choices as democratic citizens.”