{"id":1582,"date":"2018-04-25T14:00:18","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T14:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/?p=1582"},"modified":"2018-08-13T00:22:27","modified_gmt":"2018-08-13T00:22:27","slug":"sinclair-propaganda-fight-back-against-far-right-control-of-local-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/sinclair-propaganda-fight-back-against-far-right-control-of-local-tv\/","title":{"rendered":"SINCLAIR PROPAGANDA: Fight Back Against Far-Right Control of Local TV"},"content":{"rendered":"
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Quick Action” title=”Quick Action” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%82%%” icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”809px” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”65px” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_text_align=”left” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#efb217″ background_color=”#00417f” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_starting_opacity=”20%” animation=”right”]<\/p>\n
Ultra-conservative Sinclair Broadcasting Group forces its affiliates to air “must run” segments that attack the press and promote pro-Trump propaganda, and is about to expand its reach to 7 out of 10 American homes.\u00a0<\/span>Tell Maine’s Sinclair-owned stations, WGME CBS 13 and WPFO FOX 23 (207-797-1313), that you refuse to watch propaganda, and ask your Rep to support HR 3478, limiting the number of stations Sinclair could own.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.89″]<\/p>\n Media Working Group C2A<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcasting Group currently owns 173 TV stations<\/a> across the country and is aiming to add even more by purchasing 42 stations owned by Tribune Media. If the purchase is approved, Sinclair stations would reach 7 out of 10 American homes. Currently pending an antitrust review, the path for the purchase was cleared by a recent FCC rule change<\/a> that clearly favored Sinclair. The rule change caused an outcry from lawmakers<\/a> and public interest groups, prompting the FCC’s Inspector General to launch an investigation<\/a> into Mr. Pai’s relationship to Sinclair. Sinclair has come under fire recently for strong-arming its affiliates –<\/span> including Portland\u2019s CBS and FOX stations<\/span><\/a> – into airing<\/span> ultra-biased<\/span><\/a> and misleading \u201cmust run\u201d segments<\/a> that are pulled from Trump\u2019s own talking points. Recently, stations have been required to increase airings of these segments<\/span>\u00a0from<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>3 to 9 times per week<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0Last summer John Oliver dedicated one of his shows to the<\/span> troubling Sinclair propaganda machine<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(and updated the story<\/a>\u00a0this month).\u00a0It’s possible that the inspector general’s investigation may complicate the antitrust review of the Sinclair-Tribune deal. Even if the deal is approved, improper conduct by Mr. Pai will empower critics to challenge the review in courts.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1. Contact Maine’s Sinclair-owned stations.\u00a0<\/b>Tell them that you refuse to watch propaganda, and that you want to see them protect the independence of their anchors and journalists by pushing back against Sinclair and refusing to participate in “must run” segments. Tell them you won’t watch their news shows until they do, and that local news should be written by locals. Use these hashtags on social media: #SinclairStrike #SinclairBrainswashing<\/p>\n WGME CBS 13<\/a> | (207) 797-1313\u00a0| Facebook<\/a> | Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n WPFO FOX 23<\/a> | (207-797-1313) | Facebook<\/a> | Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n Anchors:<\/strong> Gregg Lagerquist<\/a> @greggwgme | Jana Barnello<\/a>\u00a0@janawgme | Jeff Peterson<\/a>\u00a0@jeffwgme | Jon Chrisos<\/a>\u00a0@jonwgme | Kim Block<\/a>\u00a0@kimwgme<\/p>\n 2. Ask Reps Pingree and Poliquin to co-sponsor HR 3478<\/a><\/strong>, the\u00a0Local and Independent Television Protection Act. This bill would close the “UHF loophole” which allows Sinclair to undercount its reach, and would cap actual national reach for any one broadcaster at 39% of American households.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ background_color=”#00417f” module_class=”site-footer” _builder_version=”3.0.79″ custom_padding=”2px|0px|5px|0px” global_module=”845″][et_pb_row global_parent=”845″ make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”2600px” custom_padding=”22px||0px|” custom_margin=”|||” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” border_color_all=”#9e9e9e” module_alignment=”center”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image global_parent=”845″ src=”https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/suitup_new_new_FLAME_horiz-1.png” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ max_width=”45%” custom_margin=”||15px|” \/][et_pb_text global_parent=”845″ background_layout=”dark” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_text_color=”#efb217″ text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Suit Up Maine is an all-volunteer grassroots group of Mainers who work to raise awareness of and advocate for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. We are\u00a0beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians, and we aren\u2019t engaged in fundraising. Suit Up Maine fosters collaboration among our state\u2019s progressive groups and organizations to collectively connect, educate, and motivate Mainers to rise in non-violent resistance to a regressive agenda.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_social_media_follow global_parent=”845″ _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_orientation=”left”] [et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/suitupmaine\/” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_color=”#3b5998″ follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]facebook[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” url=”https:\/\/twitter.com\/SuitUpMaine” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_color=”#00aced” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]twitter[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”instagram” url=”https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/suitupmaine\/” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_color=”#517fa4″ follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]instagram[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network] [\/et_pb_social_media_follow][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar global_parent=”845″ orientation=”right” area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ background_layout=”dark” show_border=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ header_font=”Open Sans|on||on|” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”16px” header_text_color=”#ffffff” background_color=”#00417f” text_orientation=”center” max_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text global_parent=”845″ background_layout=”dark” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_letter_spacing=”1px” header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” max_width=”74%” module_alignment=”right” custom_margin=”||10px|” custom_padding=”||10px|”]<\/p>\n Civic Dashboard<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Email List Sign Up<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Call to Action Archive<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Get Involved<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Member Forum<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/h4>\n
THE ISSUE<\/span><\/h4>\n
THE ACTION<\/span><\/h4>\n