Sinclair critics to fight license renewal ("Nightline" censorship)

No quarter!

ASHEVILLE, NC /citizen-times.com/ - Sinclair Broadcast Group's decision not to show a controversial "Nightline" program on WLOS/Channel 13 and its other stations means area critics will be taping WLOS news programs to catch what one organizer calls "Sinclair's heavy-handed censorship and propaganda practices."

Wally Bowen, executive director of the nonprofit Mountain Area Information Network, is asking supporters to videotape nightly news broadcasts to gather material it will use to argue against Sinclair's being able to renew its license to operate WLOS.

...

"It's our fear," Bowen said, "that (Sinclair) will phase out local news gathering here in Western North Carolina and that many of the journalists at WLOS will lose their jobs. The other concern is that even if they don't downsize the news staff there, those folks will feel pressure from corporate headquarters to tow the party line and be discouraged from doing in-depth investigative reporting."

More here. Let the games begin!

Good to know Wally is taking this to the next level. Unfortunately, their license doesn't expire until December 1st, giving them enough time to do some damage before the election.

Let's hope this works.

they need to work with someone who is: a local with deep pockets to buy the station in the somewhat unlikely circumstance the FCC denies renewal; a good FCC lawyer with the right contact to make sure their guy has as much of a chance of being granted a license as Viacom, King, or anyone major corp waiting in the wings.

...but with Michael Powell in charge of the FCC, I doubt Sinclair has anything to worry about, unfortunately. :(

But Michael Powell won't be in his job on January 21st.

This is excellent. So long as it is properly framed in terms of investigative freedom and not using the public airwaves for blatant propaganda then it can only succeed in the long run.

Below is my own brief note to my local ABC affiliate station that chose not to air Friday's Nightline program.

"As a local viewer of WAAY, I just want to express my disgust regarding your decision to not honor the U.S. war dead from Iraq via the Nightline program on Friday, 30 April. It is difficult for me to remember a more clear cut demonstration of unpatriotic behavior by a media outlet. Everyone at your station should hang their heads in shame."

Go Wally, go!

is my ISP. Here's the homepage address.

http://main.nc.us/

They provide reasonably-priced internet connection for western North Carolina...and a whole lot of information on progressive issues on their home page.

I'm sure they'd love to have DU'ers' support and contributions.

Balls!!!!


:argh: