Doc Refrains ACTION NEEDED ALERT

[docwebster]

(from the L.A. Times)

"NEW YORK — The conservative-leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group, whose television outlets reach nearly a quarter of the nation's homes with TV, is ordering its stations to preempt regular programming just days before the Nov. 2 election to air a film that attacks Sen. John F. Kerry's activism against the Vietnam War, network and station executives familiarwith the plan said Friday.

Sinclair's programming plan, communicated to executives in recent days and coming in the thick of a close and intense presidential race, is highly unusual even in a political season that has been marked by media controversies."

This is utter bullshit and pandering of the worst sort. If you'd like to let these neo-con bastards know exactly what you think, here's the info:

Sinclair Broadcast Group

but basically, you know what you have to do...

Corporate Headquarters
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030
410-568-1500 (Main Telephone)
410-568-1533 (Main Fax)

Investor Relations Contact
Lucy A. Rutishauser
VP Corporate Finance and
Corporate Treasurer
investor@sbgi.net

Sales Questions
Darren Shapiro
VP Sales
410-568-1500

-or-

Jeff Sleete
VP Marketing
410-568-1500

Web Site Concerns
Mike O'Malley
Corporate Webmaster
webmaster@sbgi.net

For the love of all that's holy, please be polite when you contact these people. But be insistent, and demand answers to your questions. Write your local newspapers, do whatever you have to do, but this cannon stand UNLESS they're willing to offer equal time and run "Going Upriver" in counterbalance.

Spread this around. Post it wherever you have to, but this cannot stand. This is bald faced pandering to the neo-cons and I will not stand for it.

Comments

[bunyip.livejournal.com]

I checked their web site and noted that their stations are in predominately conservative areas of Illinois (Springfield, Bloomington, C-U), and this is not the first time that they've done something pro-conservative. also from the LA time article quoted above

The company made headlines in April when it ordered seven of its stations not to air Ted Koppel's "Nightline" roll call of military dead in Iraq, deeming it a political statement "disguised as news content." Sen. John McCain, the Republican from Arizona who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, was among those who criticized Sinclair's decision not to air the "Nightline" program, which featured the names and pictures of more than 700 U.S. troops.

Even before the "Nightline" controversy, Sinclair drew criticism because of the combination of its highly centralized news operations, which often include conservative commentary, and its almost exclusively Republican political giving. In the 2004 political cycle, Sinclair executives have given nearly $68,000 in political contributions, 97% to Republicans, ranking it 12th among top radio and TV station group contributors, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign finance watchdog group.

[darthgeek.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know where that building is. I used to live up that way and would see this big-ass building that said "SINCLAIR" on it. I never know what it was though.