'Must-runs': Producer at Sinclair news station resigns in protest of those 'Orwellian' mass messages
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
The producer of a morning show on a TV station in Nebraska owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group has resigned after the latest promo handed down by management proved the last straw.
Sinclair's stations collectively went viral last week when they all aired a piece to camera from their respective anchors warning viewers about misleading news reports. Donald Trump, who is known for his 'fake news' rhetoric, was quick to back the broadcaster.
Justin Simmons handed in his notice at KHGI TV on 26 March, the producer telling CNNMoney that Sinclair's mandated messages, known as "must-runs" among local producers, had been causing him concern for more than a year.
"This is almost forcing local news anchors to lie to their viewers," he said.
"Making the local anchors do this was a big concern for me. I didn't go into news to give people biased information."
"Resigning seemed like the least I could do," he added. "I wish there was more."
Simmons told CNN that other "must-runs" have included a security threat segment called 'Terrorism Alert Desk' and commentaries from former Trump campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn.
When Simmons tried to only broadcast 60% of the "must-runs", "my boss got in big trouble," he said.
After the latest message, famous for its ominous "This is extremely dangerous to our democracy" line, went viral, Sinclair Broadcast Group insisted "the promos served no political agenda".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments