After a video mashup of dozens of Sinclair Broadcasting Group anchors delivering the exact same message went viral over the weekend, Americans across the country are outraged that top journalists are being forced to deliver the words of their right wing corporate bosses while pretending they are their own thoughts. And one Sinclair-installed general manager on Monday decided to toe the company line in what some are calling a threatening message to his own reporters.
The general manager of Sinclair Broadcasting Group KATU TV station in Portland, Oregon sent his reporters the threatening message, a message that also disparages his own viewers. Samantha Swindler, a journalist at The Oregonian newspaper posted to Twitter what she says is “what reporters at KATU news in Portland are dealing with from Sinclair Broadcasting.”
The note, which CNN’s Brian Stelter confirmed was sent to KATU staff, tells reporters to not “answer any questions or get into any discussion with callers,” and directs them to not “talk to any press about this issue.”
The name of the person who wrote it is cut off but appears to be “Robert T.” According to a January 2018 press release Robert Truman is KATU’s general manager. The note also directs reporters and staff to have viewers who “get through” to contact “Kyann.” Kyann Lewis is the news director at KATU. Swindler, who posted the note, confirmed to NCRM via email the note was sent by Truman today to the entire staff.
“I will also remind you that giving statements to the media or sharing negative information can have huge implications,” the note reads.
While noting the “promos” have been airing for over a week, Truman also denigrates local viewers, saying “these people calling are complaining about something they most likely haven’t watched and don’t have full context on due to social media.”
Thanks to social media, the Deadspin video compilation (above) has been liked on Twitter 85,000 times, and retweeted 63,000 times. It’s ooo been featured on cable news and other shows, including Joy Reid’s show on MSNBC and HBO’s “Last Week Tonight.” It’s likely callers have seen the “promo.”
On Twitter, the KATU note has also been getting a lot of attention – and a lot of negative response: