Sinclair Declares War, Uses Local TV Stations To Advertise CNN Attack Video
It appears that Sinclair has taken their media bashing to a whole new level.
Sinclair Broadcast Group has been mired in controversy recently over the revelation that it was forcing anchors at its local TV stations to read an anti-media script that decried “fake news” from other outlets. The story became a national sensation after Deadspin created a mashup video of dozens of Sinclair hosts and anchors reading off the promo.
Since then, the Trump-friendly media company has defended the promo, claiming they weren’t bashing the media but instead promoting “journalistic responsibility.” Meanwhile, they’ve had to weather negative media attention, especially as it’s been reported that employees at their stations are embarrassed and upset over the “must run” promos — largely pro-Trump — that they feel are propaganda.
With CNN giving a lot of coverage to this story, and CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter providing a lot of in-depth reporting, Sinclair has decided to put together a video claiming CNN is being hypocritical. In the three-plus minute attack clip from its just-hired PR firm 5WPR, Sinclair shows footage of Stelter warning of fake news and propaganda, all while claiming their promo was doing something similar. (It should be noted that Stelter was discussing purposely fake stories that were being spread online in order to confuse/agitate readers and not reporting from major media outlets.)
In order to promote the video, Sinclair is utilizing its affiliates’ websites, placing banner ads at the top of the pages directing viewers to their YouTube video on CNN’s “hypocritical attack on Sinclair.”
For instance, below is a screengrab of KDNL-30 in St. Louis,
The LA Times’ Matt Pearce included some other screengrabs, as well as a comment from a Sinclair staffer who stated: “I’m mortified.”
Sinclair is now using their local TV stations to attack CNN. A link on top of station homepages goes to a Sinclair YouTube video. “Never have they done something like this,” a staffer tells me. “I’m mortified.” https://t.co/Zx5k6MYcWp pic.twitter.com/TtCHWgKU12
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) April 10, 2018
WRAL reporter Tyler Dukes highlighted other stations where he saw the video being promoted.
In NC, I'm seeing this now on:@wlos_13 in Asheville@wcti12 in New Bern@ABC45TV in the Triad https://t.co/YABYFLbTCQ
— Tyler Dukes (@mtdukes) April 10, 2018
Stelter, meanwhile, had the following to say in response on Twitter, highlighting his recent piece about Sinclair employees expressing how uncomfortable they are over these “must runs”:
There's a huge difference between my coverage and Sinclair's mandatory promos. No one tells me what to say. But these anchors were told exactly what to say. https://t.co/kfmYw65LnJ
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 10, 2018
Here's the thing: These promos became a story because Sinclair staffers spoke up and said they were uncomfortable. They said they'd never seen anything like this before. https://t.co/N17jfUeyCm
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 10, 2018
Watch the attack video above, via Sinclair.
[image via screengrab]
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