Sinclair and the news media landscape

Guests: Patrick Murray, John Nichols, Andy Kroll, Aaron Weiss

Recently a video compilation of local news anchors reading the same script decrying biased news highlighted the practices of Sinclair Broadcast Group, who is the largest owner of local television stations in the country. Sinclair has already come under scrutiny when it syndicated opinion segments from former advisers to President Trump. There are also concerns about the company’s attempt to consolidate the news media landscape even further by acquiring Tribune Media, another company that owns many television stations. Today, we’ll talk about the company, how it operates, and the questions this all raises about journalism, objectivity, and the news business. Joining us will be JOHN NICHOLS of The Nation, ANDY KROLL of Mother Jones and we’ll hear from AARON WEISS, who worked at a Sinclair-owned station as news director. But first, we’ll talk about which sources of information Americans trust the most when we talk with PATRICK MURRAY, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.