U Of I Calls Out Sinclair

The University of Illinois has been added their name to the list of journalism programs voicing disapproval of Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, interim dean of the College of Media, joined 15 other journalism colleges in signing an open letter denouncing Sinclair.

“My signature on this letter reflected a relatively narrow case of not adequately disclosing the motives of the story that went out over a large number of local stations,” Chodzko-Zajko said. “I think that Sinclair Broadcasting overstepped the line.”

The open letter, addressed to Sinclair Executive Chairman David Smith, began at the University of Maryland and has been circulating to deans of journalism schools across the country, Chodzko-Zajko said.

“The fears articulated in the Sinclair script regarding an extreme danger posed to democracy by news media telling the public what to think describes our fears about the impact of the Sinclair must-carry script,” the letter said.

“They did not disclose efficiently that this was actually editorial commentary coming from Sinclair Broadcasting as an organization,” Chodzko-Zajko said. “I think that’s where the real problem comes, because the viewer would have felt that this was a story written and originated at the local level, and it’s very important to remember that these are local TV stations.”

H/T The Daily Illini

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