Friday, August 11, 2017

ACTION: CALL TO FIGHT POLITICIZATION OF LOCAL TV NEWS

From Indivisible Oregon...

**CALL TO ACTION**
Friday, August 11, 2017
————————————————————————————
FIGHT POLITICIZATION OF LOCAL TV NEWS
————————————————————————————
#StopBiasedNews
#ProtectFirstAmendement
Helped by Trump’s FCC, Sinclair Broadcast, a conservative television empire, is poised to take over 42 local stations through a merger with Tribune Media. Combined with the 173 it already controls, Sinclair would access 70% of American households and double its influence in Portland.
Sinclair is unbiased news that borders on propaganda:
• Sinclair has corporate ties to Republican politicians and forces local affiliates to broadcast on-air support for conservative causes http://cnnmon.ie/2qhy3ti, http://nyti.ms/2vK6Od2
• Trump campaign struck deal with Sinclair to provide coverage. Sinclair’s reporting heavily favored Trump http://politi.co/2gKQGMF, http://wapo.st/2vUPcLb
Critics urged the FCC to stop Sinclair’s merger 
• Sinclair would have unprecedented power to politicize local TV news, create less competition, fewer local program options. http://bit.ly/2wNhowT, http://bsun.md/2utWMwW
• Some suggest Sinclair’s favorable coverage of Trump greased the wheels for FCC’s using a regulation loop hole to make this merger happen http://bit.ly/2vrysJ5, http://politi.co/2wwXHci
• The loop hole used for this merger could violate anti-trust laws and almost doubles the limits Congress has set for media company ownership
Our democracy requires access by many voices to media markets. Democrats want Congressional hearings by the antitrust subcommittees but none are scheduled. Our MoCs must take the lead in pushing for them. 
—————————————————————————————
**ACTION 1: CALL YOUR SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE (if you can’t call during business hours, leave a voice mail! It all makes a difference!)** 
SAMPLE SCRIPT 
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am very concerned about the proposed Sinclair Broadcasting-Tribune merger. This undercuts the First Amendment’s encouragement of a robust marketplace of ideas. It also violates both antitrust law and the Congressional cap on media company ownership. I’m asking the [Senator/Representative] to demand anti-trust hearings and FCC oversight hearings on this topic. We must reinstate the rule that would stop this type of merger. In addition, we need the [Senator/Representative] to speak out as a strong leader in protecting our independent media, a cornerstone of our democracy. Thank you.”
————————————————————————————
**ACTION 2: GO TO A TOWN HALL AND ASK OUR MoCS TO PRESS FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSED SINCLAIR-TRIBUNE MERGER
(http://bit.ly/IO_Events)
SAMPLE SCRIPT for both Senators and all Reps, except Walden
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am very concerned about the proposed Sinclair Broadcasting-Tribune merger which will give Sinclair the ability to broadcast its conservative message to over 70% of American households. This proposed consolidation severely undercuts the First Amendment’s encouragement of a robust marketplace of ideas and violates both antitrust law and the 39% Congressional cap on media company ownership. Will you promise to push for hearings before the anti-trust subcommittee in your chamber? Will you also push for further hearings in the FCC oversight committee and work to reinstate the rule that would stop this type of merger?" 
SAMPLE SCRIPT for Walden:
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city]. I am very concerned about the proposed Sinclair Broadcasting-Tribune merger which will give Sinclair the ability to broadcast its conservative message to over 70% of American households. This proposed consolidation severely undercuts the First Amendment’s encouragement of a robust marketplace of ideas and violates both antitrust law and the 39% Congressional cap on media company ownership. Will you agree to push for hearings before the anti-trust subcommittee in your chamber? As the Chair of the House Commerce Committee, will you also push for further hearings in the FCC oversight sub-committee and work to reinstate the rule that would stop this type of merger?"
If you can’t get to a town hall, please call Senator Wyden’s, Senator Merkley’s and your Representative’s office and ask them the above questions.
—————————————————————————————
**ACTION 3: SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY**
Share this post with friends and family. And help them to call and tell their Senators to push for these Congressional hearings.
—————————————————————————————
**PHONE NUMBERS**
SENATOR MERKLEY 
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
SENATOR WYDEN 
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
CONGRESSWOMAN SUZANNE BONAMICI [D1] 
DC: (202) 225-0855, OR: (503) 469-6010 
CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN [D2] 
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646, 
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400 
CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER [D3] 
DC: (202) 225-4811, OR: (503) 231-2300 
CONGRESSMAN PETER DEFAZIO [D4] 
DC 202-225-6416, Eugene: (541) 465-6732, 
Roseburg: (541) 440-3523, Coos Bay (541) 269-2609 
CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER [D5] 
DC: (202) 225-5711, Salem (503) 588-9100, 
Oregon City (503) 557-1324 
** After you call, please comment below and briefly share your experience!** 
Posted by at