This past month, dozens of news stations across the country read incredibly similar scripts on air, saying this like, “The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media” and “Some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias.” These scripts were mandated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, the company that owns these news outlets, and last month, CNN reported that the scripts made local news anchors “uncomfortable.”
You may not have heard of Sinclair Broadcast Group, but you’ve likely heard of some of the television stations that it owns. It’s affiliated with ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox, and owns many local news stations. You can check out this list to see if your local news station is owned by Sinclair.
Updated list of local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC affiliates, owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, who are using their local news as State TV to deliver scripted right wing propaganda in support of the Dear Leader. pic.twitter.com/OxJYrqxu5T
— Facts Do Matter (@WilDonnelly) April 2, 2018
Over the weekend, Timothy Burke, the video director at Deadspin, stitched together dozens of speeches from local news anchors, emphasizing how eerily similar they were.
This video has resulted in widespread criticism, as Sinclair has been accused of having ties with the Trump administration, and these forced reads seem to support Trump’s war on the media.
Trump responded to the criticism of Sinclair via Twitter on Monday.
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
The speeches about media bias aren’t the only scripts that Sinclair has mandated of its news stations. According to CNN, news stations owned by Sinclair are also required to feature the recurring segment “Terrorism Alert Desk: and commentaries from former Trump campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn.