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Sinclair to Air "Pow Story: Politics, Pressure & Media" (won't air Stolen Honor in entirety)
PR Us Newswire ^

Posted on 10/19/2004 1:30:20 PM PDT by cgk

Sinclair to Air `A POW Story: Politics, Pressure and the Media'

                 

http://www.sbgi.net Company Archive
    BALTIMORE, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sinclair Broadcast Group
(Nasdaq: SBGI) announced today that on Friday, October 22, 2004 at 8:00 p.m.
(7:00 p.m. central time) certain television stations owned by Sinclair
Broadcast Group, Inc. will air a special one-hour news program, entitled "A
POW Story: Politics, Pressure and the Media."  In order to minimize the
interruption of normally scheduled programming in those markets where Sinclair
owns and/or programs more than one television station, the news special will
be broadcast on only one of those stations.  A complete list of stations which
will be airing the program and the times of such broadcasts is attached.
    The news special will focus in part on the use of documentaries and other
media to influence voting, which emerged during the 2004 political campaigns,
as well as on the content of certain of these documentaries.  The program will
also examine the role of the media in filtering the information contained in
these documentaries, allegations of media bias by media organizations that
ignore or filter legitimate news and the attempts by candidates and other
organizations to influence media coverage.
    Contrary to numerous inaccurate political and press accounts, the Sinclair
stations will not be airing the documentary "Stolen Honor" in its entirety.
At no time did Sinclair ever publicly announce that it intended to do so.  In
fact, since the controversy began, Sinclair's website has prominently
displayed the following statement: "The program has not been videotaped and
the exact format of this unscripted event has not been finalized.
Characterizations regarding the content are premature and are based on ill-
informed sources."
    While the news special will discuss the allegations surrounding Senator
John Kerry's anti-Vietnam War activities in the early 1970s raised by a number
of former POWs in "Stolen Honor," it will do so in the context of the broader
discussion outlined above.  The program will be hosted by Jeff Barnd, the Emmy
award-winning co-anchor of Fox 45's 10:00 News which airs on WBFF-TV,
Sinclair's flagship station in Baltimore, Maryland.
    Joe DeFeo, Sinclair's Vice President of News, commented that, "As with all
news programming produced by Sinclair's News Central, `A POW Story' is being
produced with the highest journalistic standards and integrity.  We have not
ceded, and will not in the future cede, control of our news reporting to any
outside organization or political group.  We are endeavoring, as we do with
all of our news coverage, to present both sides of the issues covered in an
equal and impartial manner."
    In fact, Sinclair has been in private communication with Senator Kerry's
campaign, including a recent face-to-face meeting with senior campaign
officials, for approximately two weeks in order to negotiate participation in
the special by either Senator Kerry or his designee.  Although the Kerry
campaign declined to participate, Sinclair has left the invitation open and
will make every effort to accommodate the Senator up to the air date for the
program should he become willing to present his viewpoint for Sinclair's
audience.
    David Smith, CEO of Sinclair, noted that, "The experience of preparing to
air this news special has been trying for many of those involved.  The company
and many of its executives have endured personal attacks of the vilest nature,
as well as calls on our advertisers and our viewers to boycott our stations
and on our shareholders to sell their stock.  In addition, and more
shockingly, we have received threats of retribution from a member of Senator
John Kerry's campaign and have seen attempts by leading members of Congress to
influence the Federal Communications Commission to stop Sinclair from
broadcasting this news special.  Moreover, these coordinated attacks have
occurred without regard to the facts since they predated the broadcast of our
news special."
    Mr. Smith further stated, "We cannot in a free America yield to the
misguided attempts by a small but vocal minority to influence behavior and
trample on the First Amendment rights of those with whom they might not agree.
I have been encouraged, however, by the thousands of e-mails and other
messages I, and others, received supporting Sinclair's efforts to hold firm to
its ideals in the face of a firestorm of controversy which, ironically, was
actually based on misinformation.  We also took comfort in the positions of
other media organizations which supported our right to present this story
notwithstanding any disagreement they may have with the content, as well as in
the words of Michael Powell, Chairman of the FCC, who refused to block the
program, noting that to do so would be 'unconstitutional' and 'an absolute
disservice to the First Amendment.'"

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies, owns and operates, programs, or provides sales services to 62 television stations in 39 markets. Sinclair's television group includes FOX, WB, ABC, CBS, NBC, and UPN affiliates and reaches approximately 24% of all U.S. television households.

Market & Stations To Air "A POW Story"

Baltimore WBFF Friday 10/22 8PM

Birmingham WTTO Friday 10/22 7PM

Buffalo WUTV Friday 10/22 8PM

Cedar Rapids KGAN Friday 10/22 7PM

Champaign, IL WICD Friday 10/22 7PM

Charleston, SC WMMP Friday 10/22 8PM

Charleston, WV WCHS Friday 10/22 8PM

Cincinnati WSTR Friday 10/22 8PM

Columbus WSYX Friday 10/22 8PM

Dayton WKEF Friday 10/22 8PM

Des Moines KDSM Friday 10/22 7PM

Flint WSMH Friday 10/22 8PM

Greensboro WXLV Friday 10/22 8PM

Greenville/Asheville WLOS Friday 10/22 8PM

Kansas City KSMO Friday 10/22 7PM

Las Vegas KVWB Friday 10/22 8PM

Lexington WDKY Friday 10/22 8PM

Madison WMSN Friday 10/22 7PM

Milwaukee WVTV Friday 10/22 7PM

Minneapolis KMWB Friday 10/22 7PM

Nashville WZTV Friday 10/22 7PM

Norfolk WTVZ Friday 10/22 8PM

Oklahoma City KOKH Friday 10/22 7PM

Paducah KBSI Friday 10/22 7PM

Pensacola/Mobile WEAR Friday 10/22 7PM

Peoria WYZZ Friday 10/22 7PM

Pittsburgh WPGH Friday 10/22 8PM

Portland WGME Friday 10/22 8PM

Raleigh WLFL Friday 10/22 8PM

Richmond WRLH Friday 10/22 8PM

Rochester WUHF Friday 10/22 8PM

Sacramento KOVR Friday 10/22 7PM

St. Louis KDNL Friday 10/22 7PM

San Antonio KABB Friday 10/22 7PM

Springfield, MA WGGB Friday 10/22 8PM

Springfield, IL WICS Friday 10/22 7PM

Syracuse WSYT Friday 10/22 8PM

Tallahassee WTWC Friday 10/22 8PM

Tampa WTTA Friday 10/22 8PM

Tri Cities WEMT Friday 10/22 8PM

SOURCE Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.sbgi.net
Company News On Call: Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/110203.html


TOPICS: Breaking News
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; aclu; faceoftheenemy; napalminthemorning; sinclair; stolenhonor; swiftvets; vietnam
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To: cgk

I'm doing the "kiss this" DUmmies dance! Won't see it here in Philly but would gladly pay for a copy of it.


21 posted on 10/19/2004 1:46:07 PM PDT by hipaatwo
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To: cgk
Kerry and the MSM are part of the Unholy Alliance . See David's new book:

____________________________________________________________

Unholy Alliance

by David Horowitz
Hardcover - (September 2004) - $27.95

In this tour de force on the most important issue of our time, David Horowitz, confronts the paradox of how so many Americans, including the leadership of the Democratic Party, could turn against the War on Terror. He finds an answer in a political Left that shares a view of America as the “Great Satan” with America’s radical Islamic enemies. In a remarkable exploration of the “Mind of the Left,” Horowitz traces the evolution of American radicalism from its Communist past to its “anti-war” present. He then shows how this Left was able to turn the Democratic Party presidential campaign around and reshape its views on the War on Terror.

22 posted on 10/19/2004 1:47:19 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: nuffsenuff
Is this correct? Their stock is going back up??


23 posted on 10/19/2004 1:47:30 PM PDT by cgk (Teresa Heinz Kerry: ``The Democratic machine in this country is putrid.'')
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To: hipaatwo

Hmmm...if no one else does one, I will.


24 posted on 10/19/2004 1:48:08 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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To: cgk

I wouldn't be surprised.

Again, the guy who concocted this elaborate publicity stunt is a genius.


25 posted on 10/19/2004 1:48:29 PM PDT by nuffsenuff
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To: cgk

So maybe they will only air 41 of 42 minutes.

LOL. They have suckered the dems into publicising this broadcast. Even if they only show half of the documentary they will show the best half.

And what about the rest of the hour? If it's all about POWs, it can't be good for Kerry.


26 posted on 10/19/2004 1:48:49 PM PDT by js1138 (D*mn, I Missed!)
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To: hipaatwo

For five bucks you can see the whole thing.


27 posted on 10/19/2004 1:50:49 PM PDT by js1138 (D*mn, I Missed!)
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To: cgk

Everybody chill. This is so the story can come out, Sinclair can call it a 'news event' and escape equal time requirements.


28 posted on 10/19/2004 1:51:35 PM PDT by Keith in Iowa (At CBS - "We don't just report news - we make it - up.")
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

Thank you.


29 posted on 10/19/2004 1:51:54 PM PDT by hipaatwo
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To: js1138

I want to see Sinclair's hit piece.


30 posted on 10/19/2004 1:52:23 PM PDT by hipaatwo
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To: All

Frankly, IT WAS STATED FROM THE TIME THIS BEGAN THAT THE ***MEDIA REPORTERS WERE INACCURATE***

They were never going to air Stolen Honor from day one even though that was what was reported.

They were going to use it in this special about documentaries and Kerry's past.


31 posted on 10/19/2004 1:53:01 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (BYPASS FORCED WEB REGISTRATION! **** http://www.bugmenot.com ****)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past; Admin Moderator

Anyone have the mods' ears? I need them to check freepmail.


32 posted on 10/19/2004 1:55:42 PM PDT by cgk (Teresa Heinz Kerry: ``The Democratic machine in this country is putrid.'')
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To: cgk; Admin Moderator
Allow me...

Hey Admin Moderator.......check your freepmail.

Thank you.

33 posted on 10/19/2004 1:58:23 PM PDT by Dog
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

"I get to see it. Yeessssss!"

Me too. But now I have to make the rounds again to tell all the people I told to watch it saturday.

At least Paul Revere only had to do it once....gee whiz and dang!


34 posted on 10/19/2004 1:59:54 PM PDT by fizziwig
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To: Dog

LOL thanks... Trying to alert them to a possible troll who chose to private reply to me about this thread. Newly created name, today, calling it propaganda... in my freepmail only.

Troll? Maybe. Coward? Yes.


35 posted on 10/19/2004 2:00:37 PM PDT by cgk (Teresa Heinz Kerry: ``The Democratic machine in this country is putrid.'')
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To: cgk
Already posted HERE
36 posted on 10/19/2004 2:03:39 PM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
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To: areafiftyone

Now go easy on cgk...a troll is bugging him in freepmail.


37 posted on 10/19/2004 2:06:17 PM PDT by Dog
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To: areafiftyone

Sorry!! I searched also ... using SINCLAIR and nothing else.

It wasn't that far apart by time, so I certainly didn't mean to step on your toes? :/


38 posted on 10/19/2004 2:06:58 PM PDT by cgk (Teresa Heinz Kerry: ``The Democratic machine in this country is putrid.'')
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To: cgk

You didn't step on my toes at all!!! LOL look at the difference in times I beat you only by 1 minute if you did a search it would never have come up! I've done that so many times! ;-)


39 posted on 10/19/2004 2:07:57 PM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
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To: areafiftyone

Oh Good! I hate double posts... I will keep one window open JUST to search to make sure before I actually hit post. It's about 60% successful I think. Heh.

BTW - Get any strange freepmails? ;)


40 posted on 10/19/2004 2:09:28 PM PDT by cgk (Teresa Heinz Kerry: ``The Democratic machine in this country is putrid.'')
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