Today's Action Alert

Led by Media Matters for America and supported by MoveOn, MediaChannel.org, Free Press, Working Assets, Robert Greenwald (Director, Outfoxed), Alternet, and The Campaign for America's Future, we have launched a campaign to protest Sinclair Broadcast Group's continued misuse of public airwaves to air one-sided politically charged programming without a counterpoint.
Sinclair vice president Mark Hyman reacted to the nationwide initiative during an interview with Broadcasting & Cable magazine Tuesday, pointedly challenging MoveOn.org: "As soon as MoveOn.org allows me to use their email lists and post to their Web site, maybe then we will have a conversation."

Media Matters for America today distributed a press release on behalf of SinclairAction.com supporters, questioning Hyman's attempt to equate his broadcasting company with an advocacy organization and announcing MoveOn.org's counter-challenge. Hyman's comments prompted MoveOn.org executive director Eli Pariser to offer, "If Sinclair will agree on a way to share its license to broadcast into millions of homes, we'll gladly send our members an email with a Sinclair message."

The campaign aims to spur action against Sinclair's use of the 62 television stations it owns or operates to systematically promote partisan political interests. Of particular concern is a nightly "news and commentary" segment titled "The Point", in which Sinclair vice president Mark Hyman consistently attacks progressives and prominent Democrats and ardently supports President Bush and conservative policies.

We are hopeful advertisers will join our effort to encourage Sinclair to balance the content of their news programming by offering equal air time for a counterpoint.
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Please write a letter to at least one of the following large Sinclair advertisers: Kraft, Staples, Target, Geico, McDonalds, or Sprint. Urge them to encourage Sinclair to balance the content of their news programming by offering equal air time for a counterpoint.. The address for each of these advertisers can be found at www.sinclairaction.com. Thanks!