It took a while, but our collective efforts against Sinclair have made a difference.
Office-supply retailer Staples Inc. is pulling its advertising from news programming on Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. television stations, saying the decision was fueled in part by e-mails from customers angry at what they consider to be the broadcaster’s right-wing bias in news and commentary.
The Hunt Valley-based Sinclair drew attention and criticism from some quarters in the weeks leading up to November’s presidential election for airing parts of “Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal,” a film critical of Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry and his war record.
Staples, which has 1,400 stores, will continue to buy advertising during other programs on Sinclair’s 62 stations but, as of Jan. 10, no longer will advertise during news programs, which include “The Point,” a daily conservative commentary by Sinclair Vice President Mark E. Hyman.
Staples acknowledged that it received complaints from customers about its relationship with Sinclair, though it wouldn’t say how many it received. Either way, Media Matters, which helped organize the SinclairAction.com campaign, deserves a lot of credit for this.
On the heels of the www.SinclairAction.com nationwide campaign, the website has recorded more than 113,000 visitors and approximately 36,200 emails sent to advertisers.
Staples, Inc. recently replied via email to consumers who registered concerns about Sinclair newscasts, stating: “As a result of Staples’ ongoing review of its advertising media buy activity, Staples will no longer be airing advertising on any Sinclair station’s local news programs as of Jan 10, 2005.”
“As stewards of the public airwaves, Sinclair Broadcast Group has a responsibility to provide balanced programming,” said David Brock, President and CEO of Media Matters for America. “We applaud Staples’ action, which gives a big boost to our effort to encourage Sinclair to provide balanced coverage.”
Nice work, guys.