We noted yesterday that KATV-7 in Little Rock was among the dozens of local television stations forced to air an identical script blaming the media for “fake news.” Sinclair, the right-wing broadcasting behemoth, mandated that local anchors read the hokey speech, which echoes Donald Trump talking points. KATV anchor Chris May was featured on one of the many YouTube compilations mocking the Sinclair script, a sad chorus of rote apparatchiks. Local viewers would have no idea that the message came not form local stations but from Sinclair.
Lots of local news reporters have complained about the script. Sinclair also gave instructions on what outfits to wear while reading it in order to project neutrality and a strict mandate that any response from local audience members should be engaged with by Sinclair, not the local station. Charming.
One station is refusing marching orders. WMSN/FOX47 in Madison, Wisconsin, declined to air the segment this weekend and released the following message on social media:
In response to the Sinclair message aired: ‘WMSN/FOX47 Madison did not air the Sinclair promotional announcement during our 9pm news this weekend. Rather, we stayed true to our commitment to provide our Madison area viewers local news, weather and sports of interest to them.’
Previously, complaints from local stations have all been anonymous. (“I felt like a POW recording a message,” said one. Another: “This is so manipulative.”)
The move by WMSN comes with risks for the journalists at the station. Critics might say that anonymous reporters’ lodging complaints should go on the record, protest, fight against the mandate, or quit. But it’s not that simple, as L.A. Times journalist Matt Pearce explains in this thread. Many journalists working under Sinclair, which can fire employees without cause, do not have a union and have harsh penalties built into their contracts if they quit.
One Sinclair journalist explained:
Usually there’s a provision in your contract saying that if you quit you owe something along the lines of your base pay times 40% and then times what percentage of your contract is left. And then if you’ve gotten any bonuses of a certain kind you pay those back. So for me that’s like $5,000 or $6,000. But I’ve heard of people having to pay more. … And then there’s usually a provision saying you can’t work at another station within the same market.
Another passed along a portion of her contract. She wanted to leave but it was financially impossible given these terms:
Journalists told Pearce that Sinclair is aggressive about enforcing these terms, including taking legal action against former employees.
Sinclair owns almost 200 stations in more than 100 U.S. markets, reaching more than 2 million American households. It is attempting to acquire 40 more, pending approval from the Trump administration, including three that broadcast in Arkansas markets.
President Donald Trump offered a different perspective on the company offering canned speeches and segments that disseminate his favorite barbs and talking points. The president believes that critics are wrong and that Sinclair is making America great again:
So funny to watch Fake News Networks, among the most dishonest groups of people I have ever dealt with, criticize Sinclair Broadcasting for being biased. Sinclair is far superior to CNN and even more Fake NBC, which is a total joke.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2018