Portland viewers who watched KATU-TV news over the weekend had plenty of chances to get a look at promotional spots featuring local anchors reading from a controversial script blasting "the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country." The script was prepared by Sinclair Broadcast Group, which reportedly mandated local stations the company owns to air the promo spots.

During KATU news broadcasts Saturday evening and throughout the day Sunday, two spots -- one featuring anchors Steve Dunn and Debora Knapp, the other with anchors Brian Wood and Angelica Thornton -- aired.

The KATU anchors were also included in a montage that appeared on Deadspin, in which anchors from Sinclair-owned stations around the country were seen delivering the same script, word for word.

The clip kicked off a viral storm that just got stronger over the weekend. As CNNMoney reported in early March, Sinclair Broadcast Group sent the script and directions to station news directors stating that "the 60- and 75-second spots should run frequently 'to create maximum reach and frequency.'"

As Brian Stelter wrote: "The promo requirements are the latest reason why some Sinclair journalists are upset with the company's Maryland-based management. In recent years Sinclair's owners, the Smith family, have made several programming decisions that reflect a right-wing agenda."

For example, stations owned by Sinclair air "Bottom Line With Boris," commentaries by Boris Epshteyn, who worked for Donald Trump as a campaign adviser and worked in the Trump White House. Epshteyn commentaries are generally favorable to Trump and his policies, as with his commentary -- which aired Sunday during the KATU morning news -- about the trade deal between the U.S. and South Korea being "a win" for American businesses and "our economy," not the start of a trade war.

The promo spots that have aired in Sinclair-owned stations across the country require anchors to read lines that many have said echo Trump's "fake news" criticism of CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post and other media outlets whose coverage the president doesn't agree with.

The script includes mentions of "the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country," and the "sharing of biased and false news" on social media and in "some media outlets" that publish "fake stories" without checking facts.

The script also decries some members of the media who use their platforms to "push their own personal bias and agenda," which is "extremely dangerous" to our democracy.

As the edited clip from Deadspin made the rounds over the weekend, a variety of people shared their thoughts about it.

And the chorus got louder Sunday night. John Oliver, who had criticized Sinclair Broadcast Group for instilling conservative bias into local news coverage in an extended segment last summer, returned to the topic in his "Last Week Tonight" broadcast on HBO Sunday.

Oliver again criticized Sinclair for pushing Epshteyn commentaries, and aired part of the Deadspin clip of anchors reading from the script.

"Yeah," Oliver said, with sarcasm, "nothing says, 'We value independent media' like dozens of reporters forced to repeat the same message over and over again," like "members of a brainwashed cult." (The Oliver clip includes R-rated language.)

Trump, in a Monday morning tweet, didn't agree with the criticisms of Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Trump wrote on Twitter: "So funny to watch Fake News Networks, among the most dishonest groups of people I have ever dealt with, criticize Sinclair Broadcasting for being biased. Sinclair is far superior to CNN and even more Fake NBC, which is a total joke."

So funny to watch Fake News Networks, among the most dishonest groups of people I have ever dealt with, criticize Sinclair Broadcasting for being biased. Sinclair is far superior to CNN and even more Fake NBC, which is a total joke. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2018

Sinclair Broadcast Group is also pursuing plans to buy Tribune Media Co. As Bloomberg reports: "The $3.9 billion deal, as proposed in May, would give Sinclair, which says its has 193 stations, an additional 42 stations in 33 more markets."

Note: We have left phone messages requesting comment from both KATU and Sinclair Broadcast Group, and will update if and when we hear back.

Update: Many have asked the question, if Sinclair-employed journalists are uncomfortable with company politics and policies why don't they just quit? Matt Pearce, national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, has been on Twitter, sharing responses from journalists who formerly worked for Sinclair. According to Pearce, he's been hearing from Sinclair veterans that their contracts penalize them if they quit.

A Sinclair journalist, who has been trying to resist from inside the newsroom — but who doesn’t have a union — explains why it’s so hard for TV anchors to refuse the Sinclair’s editorial edicts. They have contracts that penalize them if they quit. pic.twitter.com/pFGVglxAQU — Matt Pearce 🦅 (@mattdpearce) April 2, 2018

-- Kristi Turnquist



kturnquist@oregonian.com

503-221-8227

@Kristiturnquist