its like a dystopian future movie. the hosts look like they're delivering a hostage vid
https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/980175772206993409

https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/how-americas-largest-local-tv-owner-turned-its-news-anc-1824233490

Earlier this month, CNN’s Brian Stelter broke the news that Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner or operator of nearly 200 television stations in the U.S., would be forcing its news anchors to record a promo about “the troubling trend of irresponsible, one sided news stories plaguing our country.” The script, which parrots Donald Trump’s oft-declarations of developments negative to his presidency as “fake news,” brought upheaval to newsrooms already dismayed with Sinclair’s consistent interference to bring right-wing propaganda to local television broadcasts.

You might remember Sinclair from its having been featured on John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight last year, or from its requiring in 2004 of affiliates to air anti-John Kerry propaganda, or perhaps because it’s your own local affiliate running inflammatory “Terrorism Alerts” or required editorials from former Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn, he of the famed Holocaust Remembrance Day statement that failed to mention Jewish people. (Sinclair also owns Ring of Honor wrestling, Tennis magazine, and the Tennis Channel.)

The net result of the company’s current mandate is dozens upon dozens of local news anchors looking like hostages in proof-of-life videos, trying their hardest to spit out words attacking the industry they’d chosen as a life vocation.

Not that any of it matters to Sinclair, which, with the help of a friendly federal government, is about to swallow up another 40 television stations—increasing its reach and its lead over competitors like Hearst and Scripps. The script, as transcribed by ThinkProgress based on the KOMO (Seattle) version, reads:

Hi, I’m(A) ____________, and I’m (B) _________________…

(B) Our greatest responsibility is to serve our Northwest communities. We are extremely proud of the quality, balanced journalism that KOMO News produces.

(A) But we’re concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one sided news stories plaguing our country. The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media.

(B) More alarming, some media outlets publish these same fake stories… stories that just aren’t true, without checking facts first.

(A) Unfortunately, some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control ‘exactly what people think’…This is extremely dangerous to a democracy.

(B) At KOMO it’s our responsibility to pursue and report the truth. We understand Truth is neither politically ‘left nor right.’ Our commitment to factual reporting is the foundation of our credibility, now more than ever.

(A) But we are human and sometimes our reporting might fall short. If you believe our coverage is unfair please reach out to us by going to KOMOnews.com and clicking on CONTENT CONCERNS. We value your comments. We will respond back to you.

(B) We work very hard to seek the truth and strive to be fair, balanced and factual… We consider it our honor, our privilege to responsibly deliver the news every day.

(A) Thank you for watching and we appreciate your feedback.

For a list of stations owned or operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, check here. If you’re a Sinclair employee who has something to say—anonymity guaranteed on request—let me know or use our anonymous SecureDrop.

<--- Big Baller World Order

Local TV news chain Sinclair literally hired someone from the Russian propaganda outlet RT to produce a story on "the Deep State." It ran on Seattle TVs during the KOMO 6 o'clock news. (Sinclair owns KOMO).

Again, Sinclair owns local TV stations in 40% of U.S. cities

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZhHxTEVwAAXeoR.jpg


https://twitter.com/ByRosenberg/status/979611965927522304

its a slow creep so most people dont notice. especially since the surface level signs of a fair democracy are still present like social media, entertainment, unfettered capitalism/materialism, etc.

but...

mass right wing propaganda outlets in sinclair and fox news.
right wing billionaires and hedge funds buying local papers and laying off staff, killing stories, mandating conservative-bent coverage, etc.
packing/attacking the courts.
voter suppression laws and gerrymandering.
transferring power to appointed officials from elected officials.
damn near immunity for extrajudicial police killings.

republicans realized they couldnt win elections with ideas/issues anymore. so instead of changing with the nation, they just gave up on democracy itself. when republicans gain control of state governments, they immediately start instituting policies to lock democrat-leaning voters and representatives out of power.

even in states where there arent black/brown voters to suppress like nh, they just pass laws to make it harder/impossible for young people and college students to vote since they lean democratic.

states like nc, tx and wi arent even democracies anymore. theyre getting closer and closer to resembling fiefdoms.

this is why the press needs to stop covering trump like an eventful temporary reality tv episode. they need to cover trump and the republican party like the existential threat to democracy that they are.

the motherfuckers are squeezed completely out of the power structure and the right has an armada of lackeys, lemmings, loafer-shiners to keep the machine well-oiled.

remove the legal protections against monopoly in media, and you will end up with monopoly in media.

I just read abt it this morning. crazy.

IG: amadu_me

"...Whateva, man..." (c) Redman

https://twitter.com/mattdpearce/status/980800914423406592