Sinclair Seeks to Expand as ‘False News’ Script Raises Eyebrows
It's a bizarre viral video: Dozens of local news anchors in markets all over the country, reading word-for-word from a script decrying "false news" and media bias.
The compilation — created by the website Deadspin — comes from stations owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, the local news giant known for its conservative management and right-leaning commentary. Sinclair gave the scripts for the promotional television spot to every station in its network, noting they were "must-run" segments.
As the video spread, it's raised questions about the ownership and politics of a company that owns and operates 193 news stations around the country. And the controversy comes as Sinclair wants to grow by buying Tribune Media's 42 stations for $3.9 billion in a deal that needs government approval.
This week on Money Talking, Charlie Herman talks to two media reporters, CNN's Hadas Gold and The Daily Beast's Maxwell Tani, about how Sinclair operates, how the chair of the FCC is under investigation for changing rules that help the company's expansion plans and what they’re doing next.
