Campaign Action
Sinclair Broadcasting Group CEO Chris Ripley sent an apology to Sinclair employees around the country Tuesday. He's not apologizing to them for forcing them to read company-provided statements accusing fellow journalists of bias and reiterating Trump's "fake news" rhetoric. He's not apologizing for compromising their journalistic integrity. No, he's apologizing because all of that offends some people, and the employees are the ones who have to face "politically motivated attacks" from it.
In a memo sent to staff, Ripley defended the scripts that anchors at more than 60 Sinclair stations were compelled to read, telling staff that the practice “is not unique to Sinclair, however, the blowback we received for doing so certainly is.”
"For having to field nasty calls, threats, personal confrontations and trolling on social media, I am truly sorry you had to endure such an experience," Ripley wrote. "However, as an organization it is important that we do not let extremists on any side of the political fence bully us because they do not like what they hear or see."
Suffice it to say, there likely won't be any loosening of the hard-right political bonds Sinclair has on its affiliates, no matter what the journalists might themselves think. This is coming from a group headed up by chairman David Smith, who told Trump after he won the Republican nomination that "we are here to deliver your message," and also has met with Trump in the White House "as part of an effort to discuss a product that would give authorities the ability to broadcast directly to peoples' phones."
Just what we need.