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MediaChannel Warns Sinclair's Action 'Smacks of Censorship'
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- MediaChannel, a global Internet community of 1103 organizations focused on media issues, this morning issued an e-mail alert to media activists that warns Sinclair Broadcast Group's decision not to broadcast tonight's "Nightline" program "smacks of censorship and political manipulation."Here is the full text of the email:On April 29, Sinclair Broadcast Group ordered its eight ABC affiliates to pre-empt the April 30 "Nightline" broadcast of the reading of the names of US military personnel killed in Iraq, saying the program is "motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq."If the Sinclair Broadcast Group's track record of political contributions is any indication, executives at the media group have allowed their own "political agenda" to dictate the decision to censor "Nightline." Sinclair executives give overwhelmingly to Republican causes and candidates. Of the top 20 TV and radio companies to make political contributions in 2004, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, is among the most conservative, giving 98% of its $65,434 in political contributions to GOP candidates. Sinclair CEO and President David Smith personally gave $2,000, the maximum individual contribution, to President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign.In a fax to press Thursday, the Baltimore-based media company, whose holdings include 62 local TV stations, said that by airing Friday's "Nightline" program, "ABC is disguising political statements as news content."During the ABC News broadcast, anchorman Ted Koppel will read aloud the names of more than 500 U.S. service men or women who have lost their lives in the war, as a corresponding photo appears on the screen along with that person's name, military branch, rank and age. In an emailed statement, ABC News "respectfully disagreed" with Sinclair's view of the program saying that the Nightline broadcast is intended "to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country."It's clear to Media for Democracy that the only "political agenda" in play is that of the Sinclair executives, who decided to blackout a television report intended to honor war dead.Demand that Sinclair reverse its decision and air the program. Their snub of Nightline -- and their disingenuous rationale for the action -- smacks of censorship and political manipulation.In an election year, we expect our media to report on all facets of the war in Iraq in a manner consistent with the standards of balance and accuracy that they themselves espouse.Visit MediaChannel at www.mediachannel.org"