Sinclair Anchors Balking at Reading “Pro-Trump Propaganda” Script

sinclairbroadcast_getty.jpg

On March 8th, FTVLive told you that Sinclair was telling their local news Anchors to read a script from corporate on the station's air.  

The "promo" is nothing more than Donald Trump's talking points about the "fake media."

Sinclair was calling the promo,  "anchor delivered journalistic responsibility message."

Many staffers at Sinclair were calling it "complete bullshit."

The script, which is required to be read during the newscast rather than using up commercial time, includes anchors saying they’re “extremely proud of the quality, balanced journalism that [insert station's name here] produces.” 

The anchors are then supposed to follow by saying, “But I’m [we are] concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country.”

The blowback against Sinclair and their “Pro-Trump Propaganda” script has been loud and clear. 

Sinclair has not backed off on the script, but some of their Anchors have. A number of Anchors have told their bosses that they are not comfortable reading the script and don't want to do it. 

Other Anchors have said that they have no problem reading the Trump talking points script on air. Those are the Anchors that you have to question if they are really Journalists to begin with? 

News Directors don't want to have to do either, but they feel their hands are tied. They are being forced to stand behind the company demands, even though they themselves don't believe that this should be put on the air. 

"What can I do? I agree 100% with what my Anchor is telling me, yet I still have to tell them to do it," said one very frustrated News Director to FTVLive. 

Sinclair says they stand behind their employees, but this right here proves they don't. Many staff members don't want to air this “Pro-Trump Propaganda.” The Anchors don't want to read and the News Directors don't want it to be read. Yet, Sinclair is still forcing them to do so.

How is this different from the Russian "news anchors" that are forced to read pro-Putin propaganda?

It's not, and that my friends is the problem. 

This is also a company that wants to take over more stations in bigger markets, a company that wants to force its message on more and more people. 

This has to be stopped.