Sinclair Backs Down!!!!

[The Doctor.]

Hey, Has anyone seen this yet?


10/20/2004 9:32am


Broadcaster backs off anti-Kerry film

BALTIMORE, Oct 20, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A 62-station
U.S. television group has backed down on plans to air a film attacking Sen. John
Kerry's military record.

The Sinclair Broadcast Group, based in the Baltimore area, made the announcement
Tuesday, saying it would instead air only extracts from the film "Stolen Honor"
as part of a news special.

Democrats had complained to three federal agencies about the Sinclair special,
noting chief executive David Smith and his three brothers have contributed
heavily to President Bush and the Republican Party.

Smith said the flare-up of opposition had been "trying" for the company.

"The company and many of its executives have endured personal attacks of the
vilest nature, as well as calls on our advertisers and our viewers to boycott
our stations and on our shareholders to sell their stock," Smith said in a
statement.

Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of the nonprofit Media Access Project, called
the Sinclair move "a surprising cave-in" and said the 62-station television
company "clearly felt a lot of pressure and this is an attempt to find a
face-saving way out," the Washington Post reported Wednesday


Copyright 2004 by United Press International."
http://www.acninc.net/dynamicportalfiles/newsspotlight.asp?newsid=2060&selectionid=3

PS: How do you put the article 'in a box' - what's the code?

[pelagius]

1. One can only say: WOO HOO!!!! n/t

[Bill McBlueState]

2. they really haven't

"it would instead air only extracts from the film "Stolen Honor"
as part of a news special."

So they're still airing an anti-Kerry special. I wouldn't say they backed down.

[cthrumatrix]

6. it's a PR move ...they are still showing.... BOYCOTT all Advertisers $$$$

[RoyGBiv]

3. This is not backing down ...

This is repackaging their original plan, most likely by extracting the most inflammatory parts of the film so as to make the most impact.

The intent here is frame the show so that it seems more like news, sort of like an info-mercial produces fake talk-shows to promote a specific product.

[amber dog democrat]

4. Yeah this is already out, but i do have a question

By airing excerpts presented as news... they are still using their TV stations to unfair advantage. This would have NEVER happend if the fairness doctrine were in place.
We need to re instate it.

My quesion; does it not seem that breaking it up into segments still carries the same messages and untruths?

[David__77]

5. This is NOT backing down!

I'm sorry, but they are still airing an anti-Kerry "news special." Until they cancel the show, they have not "backed down."

[The Doctor.]

8. Oh... I didn't say we should stop punishing them...

I realize that they have not backed down in a significant way, but this at least shows that what we do works.

The pressure from advertisers and stockholders has been working.

[auburngrad82]

7. They're still airing the program

The Sinclair Broadcast Group, based in the Baltimore area, made the announcement
Tuesday, saying it would instead air only extracts from the film "Stolen Honor"
as part of a news special.

They're still airing it. Just not all at once. Probably want to try to sell commercials rather than the original plans of running it uninterrupted and commercial free.

[The Doctor.]

9. I am still curious to know how much time they'll use...

We should still press the attack.
Drive them to the river!

[Moderator]

10. Yes, we've seen it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=917805

And please don't post the entire article when posting in LBN.