David D. Smith, executive chairman of media conglomerate Sinclair Broadcast Group, has purchased the Baltimore Sun from investment firm Alden Global Capital for an undisclosed sum. Given the Republican owner's business acumen and his business acumen, the acquisition could be a big boon for Maryland's largest newspaper.
pledge Trying to capitalize on that, liberals are upset that Mr. Smith is not a tourist.
The Associated Press newly characterized scalping as a white settler practice and left-wing plagiarism as a “conservative weapon.” stir up concern Mr Smith spoke about his “very particular political background” and “what will become of the 187-year-old publication” now that the Sun is back in local ownership for the first time in almost 40 years.
The Associated Press cited his foundation's past donations to Project Veritas as a reason to be concerned about the direction the Sun will take under Smith's administration. Project Veritas is “best known for planting hidden cameras on media and liberal figures.”
The Associated Press also suggested that the Sun might dare criticize Democrats, noting that the Sinclair-owned Fox station in Baltimore “frequently ran reports criticizing the city's Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott's gun ownership.” It's being broadcast,” he said.
violence And the school that failed. ”
Smith also had the audacity to sponsor a successful effort to impose term limits on Baltimore officials, according to the Associated Press.
“As a lifelong Baltimorean and reader of the Sun, I believe free, fair and unbiased reporting is critically important,” said Jim Shea, unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Liberal Publishing. told things. “I hope that The Sun will not be dominated by people who want to promote their own partisan views.”
The Associated Press wasn't the only place Liberals were trumpeting concerns about the takeover.
NPR Media correspondent David Folkenflik similarly sounded the alarm about the acquisition.
intimate Just as the Sinclair-owned TV stations were allegedly “pushed in a conservative direction” at Mr Smith's direction, so will the Sun.
“I don't think it was a coincidence,” said Folkenflik, a former Sun reporter. “David Smith has donated large sums of money to Republican candidates over the years, and has also contributed heavily to far-right groups, including Project Veritas of these Gotcha videos, and Turning Point USA, which is actually a far-right advocacy group. He has also given a lot of money to conservative causes.”
The Baltimore Banner was launched by nonprofit organization Stewart Baynham after its failed attempt to buy Sun in 2021.
Ran This week's article is titled “Introducing the Baltimore Sun's new owner: A conservative TV mogul who embraces controversy and profit.”
Ostensibly framed as an accusation, the article claimed that Smith doubled his 2018 performance in a meeting with new hires. suggestion New York Magazine said print media has become “left-wing to the point of meaningless dribble, which explains why the industry is and will be in decline.”
The Washington Post joins in the pearl-clutching, too.
playing Smith admitted he hadn't bothered to read the Sun in 40 years, and said former Sun editor-in-chief Tim Franklin's [Smith] He will use the sun to further his ideological agenda. ”
To give shape to Jeff Bezos' agenda, Jeff Bezos' newspaper reported that the David D. Smith Family Foundation donated $121,000 to the parental rights group Moms for America in 2018. said James O., referring to the foundation's two previous donations to Project Veritas. “Keefe's severance package totaled $536,000.
The paper also noted that while the local news industry “typically seeks to strike a nonpartisan tone,” Smith's “Sinclair has been able to influence conservative and right-wing voices on topics that are gaining national attention.” “By integrating the commentary, it is attracting criticism.”
Mr. Franklin predicted that the paper could find itself in deep blue territory if it adopts a “strict, ideological, conservative direction.”
new republic
was suggested The takeover could have implications for Black Democrats.
“Mr. Smith's acquisition will soon force the paper to emulate changes at the local stations acquired by Mr. Sinclair and focus on negative coverage of the state's black leaders, including Gov. Wes Moore. It could mean that,” the left-wing blog said.
David Simon, creator of the HBO series “The Wire,” which depicts a fictional version of the Sun, joined other leftists in lamenting the acquisition online.
claim He claimed those who chose not to subscribe to the Sun's moderate far-left competitor were “simply accomplices”.
according to “To the Sun” was chosen by Smith as an alternative to the Capital Gazette Papers in Annapolis, the Carroll County Times, the Towson Times, and other weeklies in the area because of their emphasis on local news. I purchased the paper along with magazines and magazines.
Mr. Sinclair made this clear in a statement. obtained Axios said it was “not involved in the transaction.”
“I'm in the news industry because I believe we have an absolute responsibility to serve the public interest,” Smith said. “I believe this newspaper will bring tremendous revenue and success, and serve the greater public good in the long run.”
“We have one job to do,” Smith added. “The truth is, we tell you the facts. That's what we do.”
Mr Smith has criticized the city's “mainstream media” for ignoring issues that actually “affect everyone”, particularly government corruption.
The newspaper's publisher and editor-in-chief, Trif Alatzas, said holding the region's politicians and elites accountable “has been part of Baltimore Sun Media's DNA for generations. We look forward to working together to further strengthen the organization.”
Mr. Smith reportedly suggested that the conservative commentator and nationally syndicated columnist also planned to join the Sun business.
armstrong williams.
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