The real threat to our democracy
I think we Americans need to pause and realize what is happening right under our noses in yet another form of corporate monopolization.
Case in point: the Sinclair Broadcasting Group using its TV newscasts the last week of March as a "megaphone for its corporate views." The problem with this is that Sinclair took the liberty to mandate its news anchors from 45 out of its 173 stations across the country to read from scripts with the exact same wording produced by Sinclair executives, how dangerous "fake news" in mainstream reporting is to our democracy - clearly backing Trump's attacks on the news media. Thanks to websites ThinkProgress and Deadspin this transgression went viral Easter weekend.
America's majority doesn't want to have Trump and his "fake news" jammed down its throat any more than it already is. Yet an even sadder and more ominous situation is on the horizon. The Sinclair company is planning to buy out Tribune Media (including our very own WGN) which will add another 42 TV stations to its stable.
Hitler began his reign of terror by dispersing street leaflets within Germany's cities and broadcasting Nazi propaganda from speaker trucks and movie house newsreels. TV was not a household mainstay then like it is now. The Sinclair Broadcasting Group is testing the waters with its ability to abuse our viewing rights in forcing us to endure unwelcome political propaganda under the guise of condemning "fake news."
Our freedom to enjoy and learn about local and world events through TV viewing is beginning to erode; it is becoming compromised. Next will be the elimination of the free press by a cowardly administration that surrounds itself with only bobble head supporters and media and shuts out all others in opposition.
Hitler did that, too.
Judy Cittadino
Naperville