Sinclair Broadcasting’s Forced Propaganda Offers Yet Another Reason FCC Should Reject Tribune Media Purchase

Statement of Michael Copps former FCC Commissioner & Common Cause Special Adviser

Sinclair’s latest plan to force its local stations to air must-run segments criticizing other news outlets is another example of the company masking its editorialized content with trusted local broadcasters. President Trump’s tweet dismissing opposition to Sinclair’s destruction of local news shows how big media uses its money and power to influence our elected officials.

Sinclair’s proposed merger with Tribune would further the company’s efforts to eliminate local news coverage and give it a massive national audience reach. The FCC must block this merger and return to its roots of promoting broadcast localism where broadcasters produce independent and diverse content that meets the needs of the communities they serve.