Sinclair-owned TV station chooses not to air media bias promo

A Sinclair-owned television station in Wisconsin spoke out Monday against the company’s new mandated promotional message, choosing not to air the announcement over the weekend.

The conservative broadcasting company has caused a stir for requiring its anchors to read aloud a promotional message warning against “fake stories” in other media outlets.

“WMSN/FOX47 Madison did not air the Sinclair promotional announcement during our 9pm news this weekend,” the station tweeted.

In response to the Sinclair message aired: “WMSN/FOX47 Madison did not air the Sinclair promotional announcement during our 9pm news this weekend. Rather, we stayed true to our commitment to provide our Madison area viewers local news, weather and sports of interest to them.” pic.twitter.com/MdQ568cWrH

— FOX 47 Madison (@fox47madison) April 2, 2018

{mosads}Several prominent media figures, including Joe Scarborough, Jimmy Kimmel and John Oliver, have criticized the message, which calls out “biased and fake news,” and says “national media outlets are publishing these same fake stories without checking facts first.”

“Nothing says ‘We value independent media’ like dozens of reporters forced to repeat the same message over and over again like members of a brainwashed cult,” Oliver said on his HBO show.

A Democratic congressional candidate pulled her campaign ads from a Sinclair-owned station, calling the message right-wing “propaganda.”

President Trump defended Sinclair against the backlash in a tweet Monday morning.

So funny to watch Fake News Networks, among the most dishonest groups of people I have ever dealt with, criticize Sinclair Broadcasting for being biased. Sinclair is far superior to CNN and even more Fake NBC, which is a total joke.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2018

A Sinclair Broadcasting Group senior executive also defended the company, saying the promos show the company’s “commitment to our communities.”

“The critics are now upset about our well-researched journalistic initiative focused on fair and objective reporting,” Scott Livingston, senior vice president of news, wrote in an internal memo.