Democratic Candidate Pulls Campaign Ads From Sinclair-Owned Station

[DonViejo]

Source: The Daily Beast

Kentucky congressional hopeful Amy McGrath removed her ads in response to local stations owned by the right-leaning conglomerate reading from the same anti-“media bias” script.

GIDEON RESNICK
04.02.18 1:31 PM ET

A Democratic congressional candidate will pull her campaign ads from local Sinclair-owned television stations, in response to new controversy over the right-leaning media conglomerate’s practices.

“Today, I have instructed my campaign team to cease and pull all campaign advertising on WDKY-TV (Channel 56), the Sinclair-owned television station in our congressional district, as soon as possible,” Amy McGrath, an ex-Marine running in Kentucky’s 6th congressional district, wrote in her statement.

Sinclair came under fire this weekend after Deadspin created an eerie compilation video showing local anchors at Sinclair-owned networks reading from the same promo script decrying “the troubling trend of irresponsible, one sided news stories plaguing our country.”

Link to tweet

The script was reportedly given to Sinclair’s nearly 200 television stations for required on-air reading.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/democratic-candidate-pulls-campaign-ads-from-sinclair-owned-station?ref=home

[global1]

1. Is It Time To Become A Hermit And Give Up All Forms Of Communication Means & Devices.....

like newspapers, phones, TV's, radios, the Internet with its Facebooks, etc?

There is no privacy. You don't know who or what to believe anymore.

Might as well just go hermit and read the classic novels.

[Hortensis]

8. Or just time to drop pants and grab ankles?

Refusing, or being too confused, to act on principles doesn't require becoming a hermit. Everyone can do that just fine without giving up a thing. In fact, that's the usual way it's done.

[MyOwnPeace]

2. While I understand...........

the desire to not fund the efforts of "opposing" venues, there is the reality that those people watching those stations are the ones that need the opportunity to see what a qualified candidate has to offer - you know, doing contrary to "preaching to the choir."

[brooklynite]

17. Add to which, all that does is add advertising slots for the Republican.

[elleng]

20. Right

[grantcart]

18. Exactly

[elleng]

19. Right

[bagimin]

3. Recommended

Go Amy!

[msongs]

4. not such a great idea IMO to cut one's self off from people who may wish to vote for you nt

[Demit]

6. It's one station. Presumably CBS, ABC and NBC have plenty of viewers to appeal to.

[gay texan]

5. That's a dumb idea

So what if its Sinclair owned. This is what kills us. The time for "clean" fighting by the Democratic party is long gone.

Saturate the airwaves, and take the fight to their front door....

[Angry Dragon]

7. Lock step news...................bad idea

[cab67]

9. is it me...

...or do the voices sound jarring like the Borg Collective when played at once?

[calimary]

12. NO. It's not just you, cab67. I think that's a great and terrifyingly accurate metaphor.

However, resistance in THIS case is NOT futile. It's actually URGENTLY needed.

[SCVDem]

14. I thought the same. nt

[TheDebbieDee]

15. Resistance is futile!

That exactly the impression that I got watching the Deadzone video...

[erronis]

10. There are few "other" voices in Kentucky

If you live in Louisville, Lexington, and near Covington/Cincinnati there may be some alternate news sources.

But just like most of the us (rural especially) we listen to/watch shows that our friends/neighbors/barbershop want to talk about.

It's one thing to say we should all get our "news" from various sources (and I don't listen to RWNJ), but it's hard to be the sole NPR quoter when sitting on the barbershop chair.

"How them gun laws doin in Tennessee"
vs
"Did you see our boys reenactment of Dixie's Run last night"?

[mountain grammy]

11. I agree and disagee..

I want this woman to win.. If a good, positive ad or two on WDKY will win her some votes, yay.. and maybe those viewers might also benefit from a truthful ad about her opponent.

[mwooldri]

13. Not the best move IMO.

If it was a non Big 4 affiliate with no local news... then no big deal (who is watching MyTV or CW anyway?)...

WDKY is Fox 56. Local Fox.

If she gets past the primary then she should advertise on WDKY. Unless she has a mass army of door knockers, she will need the right of center vote, and they will be watching the local Fox station.

FWIW our local Sinclair stations outsource their news to Spectrum Cable (Charter, was TWC). When the Tribune merger is complete, our Fox will be Sinclaired. I'm in Greensboro, NC.

[Silver Gaia]

16. I have to agree with those here saying this was not a good idea.

At first glance, it seems like something to cheer, but on further thinking, it becomes apparent that this is not ultimately helpful. We need our message out there on as many venues as possible, possibly even more so in "enemy" territory.

[pecosbob]

21. I disagree with the concensus here...these stations should be boycotted in all ways

Don't watch them, don't advertise with them, and boycott the businesses that do advertise with them. The only thing that will grab their attention is hurting their bottom line. They see themselves on some sort of holy crusade and the only way to make them change their behavior is with a two by four.

[Hekate]

22. I hope they reconsider. If this is the only local news outlet, Dems need to use it to reach the most

...people. To back off silently holding one's skirts away from the mud means to allow the opposition free rein.