Sinclair's Scott Livingston is in Denial

Scott Livingston

Scott Livingston

FTVLive was the FIRST to tell you that Sinclair was asking some in its news departments to contribute to the company's Political Action Committee. 

Sinclair's VP of News Scott Livingston should be outraged that his company is asking for News Directors to donate money to the PAC.

But, Livingston tells Poynter's Al Tompkins that he has no problem with it. 

"I do understand the concern but I don’t believe this compromises our journalistic integrity. Our local stations don’t cover the ins and outs of the broadcast regulatory reform." And, Livingston said, the political action committee is "working to save local broadcasting."

Sinclair's PAC is trying to save local broadcasting? 

NBC News Executive Producer Andrew Springer posted a tweet this week saying he thinks that Sinclair is trying to "destroy local media."

Livingston himself has given thousands of dollars to the PAC. 

Bryan McGruder

Bryan McGruder

According to the Poynter story, the biggest recipient so far of Sinclair Pac money this year is Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, a Republican who chairs the House Communications and Technology subcommittee, which oversees the FCC.

Looking at the list of people inside Sinclair that gave the PAC money, you find the name Bryan McGruder, who is the News Director at Sinclair owned WZTV in Nashville, Tennesee. 

So, the News Director in Nashville, Tennesee contributed money that went to a Congresswoman from Tennesse. 

And Scott Livingston and the Sinclair suits see no problem with that? 

You can read the full story from Poynter at this link.