Stop the Sinclair-Tribune Merger

CWA President Chris Shelton is urging State Attorneys General to take action to stop the proposed merger between Sinclair Broadcasting Group and Tribune Media.

The merger would result in one company becoming the largest owner of local broadcast stations in the country, with more than 220 stations in 108 markets. This would extend the reach of Sinclair from 38 percent of U.S. television households to 72 percent.

This would have a destructive effect on what Americans see and who they hear on their local news by stifling independent media voices through media consolidation. Sinclair requires local affiliates to air editorials and materials that show significant bias and are produced at the corporate headquarters – not locally in individual markets.

Sinclair also has "a long history of scaling back local news and killing jobs," Shelton wrote, citing multiple locations where Sinclair purchased stations and fired news staff. Members of NABET-CWA and TNG-CWA work at both Sinclair and Tribune media operations.

CWAers can take action to help stop this job-killing merger that threatens competition and independent, quality journalism by signing the petition here.